India’s Bhavani Thekkada, a 30‑year‑old cross‑country skier, has turned a childhood spent on a coffee farm in southern India into a quest for an Olympic spot in Milan Cortina 2026. She grew up without skis and only saw snow for the first time at the age of 20. Despite this late start, she has won several national titles in India and now competes on European tracks. Her journey has captured the imagination of young Indians who have never seen a ski slope.
A Newcomer on the Skiing Scene
Thekkada’s story is unusual for a winter sport athlete from a country with limited snowfall. She first became interested in mountaineering after watching Bollywood movies, a passion that led her to work as a mountaineering instructor in the Himalayas. While instructing, she also picked up Alpine skiing, which laid the groundwork for her cross‑country career. She has now been training for international competitions for a few years, often with limited resources.
International Milestones
In September, Thekkada earned a bronze medal in a 5‑kilometer race in Chile. The event drew only a handful of athletes, yet her performance was hailed as India’s first international medal in women’s cross‑country skiing. The win boosted her confidence and increased media attention back home. She has since been chronicling her progress on social media, gaining a following among Indian sports fans.
World Cup Challenges
The last month’s 10‑kilometer World Cup race in Finland was a stark reality check. In an elite field of 81 athletes, Thekkada finished last, more than 16 minutes behind the winner, Frida Karlsson of Sweden. U.S. star Jessie Diggins finished fifth in the same race. “The top 80 girls who were competing with me had a whole team with them. They had coaches, they had wax technicians, they had managers,” said Thekkada.
The Spirit of Competition
Thekkada acknowledged that she was standing there with “a few years of skiing (experience)… a couple of hours of training with some coaches.” She explained that the Olympic qualification season’s flexible eligibility allows her to start on the start line. “I may not be the best in the world but I’m really trying to be there,” she said. Her goal is to close the time gap and improve her score rather than beat opponents outright.
Trondheim and International Support
She had a similar result at last weekend’s 10‑kilometer World Cup race in Trondheim, Norway, which leaves the upcoming event in Davos, Switzerland, as her last chance to unlock an Olympic quota spot for India. Largely self‑funded, Thekkada operates independently and was grateful when several national teams lent a hand in Trondheim. The Canadians and Chileans helped with waxing and training, and the Italians transported her equipment, she said. These international collaborations have been vital for her preparation.
Cheering from Jessie Diggins
During the race, Thekkada heard from Diggins. “Jessie was out there cheering the loudest for me during the race. It really meant a lot to me,” Thekkada said in an update on Instagram. Diggins’ support highlighted the camaraderie that exists among athletes in the sport. Thekkada’s appreciation for the gesture was shared widely by her followers.
Political Attention
Besides media coverage in India, a member of Parliament from her Karnataka region, Tejasvi Surya, wrote on X: “Her feats make her an inspiration for the young generation.” Thekkada has used her growing public profile to nudge Indian leaders. After her podium finish in Chile, she wrote on X: “I hope at least now the government starts noticing (and) supporting the winter sports athletes,” and tagged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The messages have sparked conversations about support for winter sports.
Past Olympic Participation
Alpine skier Arif Khan was the only Indian to compete at the 2022 Beijing Games. Only two Indian women — Shailaja Kumar and Neha Ahuja — have competed at the Winter Games, according to the Olympics’ website. Thekkada’s pursuit of an Olympic berth adds to a small but growing list of Indian winter athletes.
Inspiration from Marit Bjørgen
Thekkada didn’t see snow until she was 20. She had become interested in mountaineering “after watching some Bollywood movies,” she said. As a mountaineering instructor in the Himalayas, she also picked up Alpine skiing. Watching the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where Marit Bjørgen became the most‑decorated Winter Olympian, fascinated her. “Her journey fascinated me,” Thekkada said. She has seen in the Indian community that “women can’t do that. Once you have a baby, once you are 30-plus, you can’t do this.”
Future Aspirations
After Milan Cortina there is the 2030 French Alps Olympics. “If not this year,” Thekkada said, “then I want to push for the next four years.” She remains determined to secure a quota spot for India and to inspire others to pursue winter sports. Her story is a testament to perseverance and the possibility of breaking traditional boundaries.
Key Takeaways
- Thekkada’s bronze medal in Chile marks India’s first international women’s cross‑country skiing medal.
- She finished last in the 10‑kilometer World Cup races in Finland and Trondheim, but remains focused on improving her time gap.
- International support from Canada, Chile, and Italy has helped her prepare for the Olympic qualification process.
The journey of Bhavani Thekkada illustrates how dedication can turn a coffee‑farm upbringing into a platform for international competition. Her efforts not only aim for an Olympic berth but also seek to inspire a generation of Indians to explore winter sports.
