‘Dad Ate Cattle Feed So That I Had Enough Food To Train Well’: Asian Athletics Gold Medallist Gomathi Marimuthu

The recently concluded Asian Athletics Championship saw Indian sprinter Gomathi Marimuthu win the Gold medal in the 800 metre race. On returning to Chennai, the 30-year-old has paid an emotional tribute to her later father, ESPN reports.

The 30-year-old clocked a personal best of 2.02.70 to clinch the gold medal. Gomathi said, “When I used to do sports, my father had a leg ailment, and he was unable to walk. He had a two-wheeler (a TVS XL moped), and that was a big deal for us back then. We did not have good bus facility to go to the city, there was no electricity in my town, and the roads weren't good either”.

Marimuthu remembers the sacrifices her late father including waking her up at four every morning, taking care of her mother during illness. “I miss my father. Since I was into sports, and we didn't have much food, he kept aside some for me and ate cattle feed for himself," she said while adding that she considers him to be like God.