Dreams are never small, especially for para swimmers whose determination knows no bounds. They navigate challenges with resilience, striving for excellence and inspiring others. Jiya Rai embodies this spirit. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at two, she discovered a passion for swimming during daily park visits. Despite being non-verbal, her parents coached her through videos, leading to a successful para swimming career with numerous accolades. On July 21, Jiya will attempt to cross the English Channel, a 34 km journey from England to France as part of Autism awareness.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Jiya’s father Madan Rai spoke about Jiya’s journey as a para swimmer, challenges she faced and much more.
Can you tell us about Jiya's journey into para swimming and how she discovered her passion for open water swimming?
Jiya Rai, born on May 10, 2008, showed typical development until signs of autism emerged around her second birthday. After a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), we embraced her condition. At age two and a half, Jiya’s love for water led us to a nearby pool, where swimming became her daily joy. Despite challenges integrating her into mainstream school due to autism awareness issues in India, Jiya excelled in swimming. Winning medals in para swimming competitions, she shifted her focus to para swimming, where she continues to excel.
In 2019, at just 10 years old, Jiya faced challenges entering the National Para Swimming Championship in Porbandar due to the minimum age requirement of 14. After persistent requests, she was allowed to compete and won the 5-kilometre event, setting a national record. By 2019, she had earned 42 medals in national and state para swimming championships, including three world records. From December 17 to 29, 2022, Jiya swam 1100 km in a relay from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort, becoming the youngest and only female participant. On March 20, 2022, she swam across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanuskodi (India) in 13 hours and 10 minutes, setting a world record as the youngest and fastest female swimmer to achieve this feat. Her efforts were recognised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his radio show "Mann Ki Baat." Jiya was also honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puruskar and other prestigious accolades.
What challenges did Jiya face in her swimming career, especially considering her Autism spectrum disorder?
Jiya’s autism presents unique challenges, especially in competitive swimming. For instance, during her first event at Porbandar sea, organisers hesitated due to her condition, delaying her entry. Similarly, getting approval for her English Channel swim in September 2023 took months, as no autistic swimmer had participated before. By raising autism awareness, we hope future athletes won't face these barriers. Jiya’s journey demonstrates that with understanding and support, autistic individuals can achieve remarkable feats.
Jiya struggles to understand verbal instructions, making it challenging for her to learn from coaches. To address this, we started showing her YouTube videos from a young age to help her grasp swimming techniques and pacing. Visual learning proved highly effective, enabling Jiya to better understand and apply what she saw, significantly enhancing her swimming skills.
In everyday life, misconceptions about autism persist. Initially, even neighbours excluded Jiya from events, inviting only her younger brother. Now, after witnessing her achievements, they seek her presence, though we remain cautious of their previous bias. As parents, we aim to spread the message that autism is not an illness but a characteristic, deserving of respect and inclusion. Jiya’s Palk Strait swim video garnered 10 million views on YouTube, proving that her actions speak volumes. Raising awareness about autism is crucial, and through Jiya’s successes, we hope to inspire a more inclusive world.
What role has swimming played in Jiya's life, both in terms of physical health and personal development?
Before swimming entered her life, Jiya was often seen as just a "special child" by doctors. Now, through her swimming, she has earned her identity as Jiya Rai, the swimmer. She competes not just for medals and awards, but to raise autism awareness. Her upcoming swim across the English Channel is dedicated to this cause. While autism awareness is higher in parts of Europe, many parts of the world remain unaware, often seeing autism as a barrier. Jiya's journey challenges this perception, proving that autism does not limit success. She is set to make history as the first girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder to swim the Channel, overcoming both legal and technical barriers.
Every aspect of Jiya's training involves physical and mental exercises. We constantly remind her that earning respect comes from hard work and dedication. Jiya's daily routine is rigorous: waking up at 4 AM, she spends 40-50 minutes preparing for her day before beginning her three and a half hours of physical training by 5 AM. This is followed by her academic studies and school. Every day, she dedicates six to seven hours to swimming and three to four hours to physical training. As she grows, her training hours have increased.
Mentally, we show her numerous swimming videos for inspiration, reinforcing the idea that winning leads to medals. We've found creative ways to keep Jiya motivated. Swimming, known as the best exercise, has significantly helped reduce her hyperactivity associated with autism. Jiya's dedication and resilience are truly inspiring.
Looking ahead, what are Jiya's future goals in swimming and advocacy, particularly related to autism awareness?
Jiya’s goal is to swim the seven oceans and the Palk Strait again, aiming to become the first female para swimmer to complete the seven ocean challenge. Jiya serves as an inspiration for millions of parents, demonstrating that children with autism should not be confined indoors. Instead, parents should nurture their skills, helping them become independent and forge their own identities. Today, I am known not as Madan Rai, but as Jiya Rai’s father. My message to parents is to believe in yourself and your children, focus on their strengths, and you will achieve remarkable results.
