St.

FRANCIS SCHOOL
Koramangala, Bengaluru -560 034
(Affiliated to CISCE Board, New Delhi)

English Language Project

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 St. FRANCIS SCHOOL
Koramangala, Bengaluru -560 034
(Affiliated to CISCE Board, New Delhi)

PROJECT RECORD

NAME: SANKEERTH SURESH

SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ROLL NO: 4

ACADEMIC YEAR:2024-2025

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Topic: “The Boy Who Raced Against The Wind”- An
Autobiographical Experience

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 Submitted to:

Mr. Johnichan Job

Submitted by:
Sankeerth Suresh
Grade XII:
PCMB
Roll No:4

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 Certificate of Completion (font size 14)

This is to certify that Sankeerth Suresh., a student of Grade XII (PCMB), has
successfully completed the English Literature Project titled:

Topic: “The Boy Who Raced Against The Wind”-An Autobiographical experience

under the guidance of Mr. Johnichan Job, Faculty of English, during the Academic
Session 2024-2025.

Principal’s Signature Internal Examiner’s Signature

Bro. Antony D Vayalil Mr. Johnichan Job

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 Acknowledgement
The project titled ‘: “The Boy Who Raced Against The Wind”-An Autobiographical
experience.’ is done as part of the internal assessment for the English Literature at ISC
level. As the curriculum demands I have made it as original as possible avoiding
plagiarism as far as possible. I have acknowledged in the bibliography section all the
resources that I used to complete the project
I place on record my sincere thanks to Rev. Bro. Antony Vayalil, the principal, for his
constant guidance and encouragement. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Johnichan Job, my
English teacher, for his valuable assistance and guidance throughout the project.

Thanks to all my friends who helped me in different ways to complete the project.

Sankeerth Suresh.
Grade XII, PMCB

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 English Literature Project

Title: : “The Boy Who Raced Against The Wind”-An

Writer: Sankeerth Suresh

School: St. Francis School , Koramangala

Class: XII, PCMB

Internal Examiner: Mr. Johnichan Job

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Sl. No Index Page Number

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 Topic: “The Boy Who Raced Against The Wind”-An Autobiographical
experience

Introduction
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” This profound quote by a great personality
encapsulates the essence of my journey—a life shaped by turbulence and resilience. The challenges
I’ve faced have instilled in me the courage to rise again, to race against the wind no matter how fierce
the storm.

I was born in Chennai, the ‘Gateway to South India,’ on a day when the sun shone its brightest. This
vibrant city, rich in culture and history, witnessed the birth of a young boy who dared to defy the odds
and dream beyond boundaries. The lessons I’ve learned in life are unique—ones you won’t find in any
schoolbook.

I am sharing this experience at a time when speed skating has transcended its niche, gaining fame
alongside sports like cricket and football. Today, it stands as an Olympic sport, inspiring parents
across India to introduce their newborns to skates before they even learn to walk. Through this book, I
aim to validate the lessons of my life by sharing a few pivotal moments from my journey.

Above all, this autobiographical experience is a tribute to the individuals who profoundly shaped my
life—my mother, my coaches, and the many mentors who guided me. Their unwavering support and
belief in me were instrumental in my growth and achievements. It is also an offering of gratitude to
God, whose grace and will have been my guiding light.

Each of us is born with a divine purpose, a spark of fire within. My accomplishments and records are
not mine alone—they are the result of divine grace working through me. The teachers, colleagues, and
friends I’ve encountered have been blessings, filling my path with wisdom and encouragement.

Let this autobiographical experience serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, gratitude, and
faith. May we all strive to ignite the divine fire within us, illuminating the world with its goodness and
leaving an indelible mark of positivity and impact.

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First Glance of My Dream
When I was just 10 years old, I dared to dream of becoming the ‘World’s Fastest Skater’—a skater
whom the entire world would admire, an inspiration to all, a sportsperson who never gave up. Every
time I fell, I would rise again, stronger and more determined, racing against the wind. I still don’t
know why this dream came to me at such a young age, but today, I am deeply thankful to God for
planting it in my heart. Without that vision, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today.

That dream gave my life purpose: to work relentlessly, to push my body to its limits, to endure the
sweat and pain, and to shine in the darkest moments. My goal was clear—to make my country proud.
Coming from a family where no one had ever pursued sports as a profession, and academics always
took precedence, I was fortunate enough to break the mold. I became the first in my family to chase a
career in sports, and I am grateful to have gone on to become one of the most victorious sports
persons of all time.

I still vividly remember the first time my mother took me to the National Games Village (NGV) in
Koramangala. There, at a small skating rink, I saw children whizzing past on wheels, gliding
effortlessly with speed and grace. As a little boy, I stood in awe, wondering, How can they move so
fast just by rolling? What started as a moment of curiosity quickly turned into a lifelong passion.

From that day forward, skating became my dream, my obsession, and my purpose. I dedicated every
waking moment to the sport. Missing friends’ birthday parties, family gatherings, school reunions, and
even sacrificing the comfort of deep sleep never bothered me. My focus was unwavering—I knew that
achieving greatness demanded sacrifice.

That little boy who stood mesmerized by the skaters at NGV has come a long way. And through this
journey, I’ve learned that dreams, no matter how improbable they seem, have the power to shape your
destiny if you have the courage to chase them with all your heart.

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My Best Friend, the Sun!
When you’re truly serious about something, you pour your heart into it, no matter what. For me,
improvement meant building an unbreakable bond with the sun. Waking up at 4:00 a.m. wasn’t a
chore—it was fueled by passion. I’d rise before my dear friend, the sun, just to practice. Stepping into
the rink in the stillness of dawn, with only moonlight casting a glow on the track, was an indescribable
feeling—one of the purest joys I’ve ever known.

Discipline wasn’t easy. There were days my body felt shattered from grueling workouts or practice
sessions. But this is where the line between the ‘good’ and the ‘great’ is drawn. Greatness comes from
showing up even when every part of you wants to stop. A thousand squats, a 15-kilometer run, or
endless crunches might sound unbearable, but I knew that becoming the ‘Unbeatable World
Champion’ required breaking barriers—again and again.

Coming from a middle-class family with a single parent, finances were always tight. Skating was
expensive, and daily travel alone cost ₹650—a significant burden. Yet my mother, my unwavering
pillar of support, told me something I’ll never forget: “Sankeerth, work hard and give your 100%.
Don’t worry about anything else—I’ll take care of it.”

Her words ignited a fire within me. I realized how lucky I was to have someone who believed in me
so deeply. From that moment, I vowed never to give up. Quitting would be an insult to her faith and
the sacrifices she made. Dedication became my way of honoring her, and giving anything less than my
all was simply not an option.

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Work behind the scenes
Competition is the easy part; the real struggle lies in the work that leads up to it. To win in front of an
audience, you must have practiced at least a thousand times before doing it one final time. I still
remember the day after our yearly competition when my coach announced, “From January until
district selections, we will train intensely, and this time, everyone will win—no excuses!”

Every morning at 5 a.m., we began with a 15-minute football match as a warm-up. Next came 1,000
squats that tore through my leg muscles, followed by grueling skating practice. I had to sprint 10–15
sets with my seniors, who were far faster than me. My coach insisted I not only catch up but overtake
them. If I didn’t, she had her "motivation tools" ready: a steel baton for relays on normal days, a
thorny stick on bad ones, and a bamboo stick when she was in a good mood. It sounds harsh, but those
beatings pushed me beyond what I thought I could endure. Without them, I might never have
improved.

I hated my coaches back then for being so strict. They would scold me, beat me, and "demotivate" me
if I messed up a set. Sprint again after just 30 seconds? No rest, just do one more! Legs dead? Do one
more! Can’t breathe? Do one more! Didn’t sleep well? Do one more! Even if I fell, I was told to get
up and do one more! By the end of each session, I felt like I was in heaven from sheer exhaustion.

Over time, I realized that every scolding and every hit shaped me. It forged my character, instilled
discipline, and pushed me to unlock my full potential. Those grueling sessions turned me into the best

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version of myself, enabling me to break multiple world records and become the greatest skater of all
time. Looking back, I’m grateful for every hardship—it was the foundation of my greatness.

4o

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Race time!
September 2016, 7 a.m.—I stood at the starting line of my first race of the year. My heart was
pounding, nerves were racing, and butterflies filled my stomach. All I could think about was my mom
and coach standing in front of me, wishing me luck. In my mind, I kept repeating, “Come on,
Sankeerth, you can do this!”

The whistle blew, and I launched like a bullet, going full speed ahead. I crossed the finish line far
ahead of everyone else, winning gold in my first race. As I stood up, I waved to my mom, feeling
immense pride and joy. That year, I and one of my female friends were the only ones from our club to
qualify to represent Karnataka—a record for us.

But things didn’t go as planned. My friend placed fourth in all her races, and in my first event, I came
sixth. In the second event, I didn’t even make it to the finals. With just one event left, everyone,
including my coach and supporters, left disappointed. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I told myself,
“There’s still one more chance. Give it everything you’ve got!”

When the whistle blew, I pushed with everything in me. I stayed in third place, keeping pace with the
leaders, while my parents cheered loudly from the sidelines, “Go, Sankeerth, go!” Crossing the finish
line in third place, I clinched the bronze medal.

At first, I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t until my parents ran to hug me—so tightly that I could feel
nothing but their love and pride—that it truly sank in. We called my coach right away, and her joy
over the phone was palpable. That moment was worth every struggle.

Even in later races, no matter how experienced I became, I always felt the same nervousness, the same
butterflies in my stomach. I used to hate the pressure, but I realized that managing it was part of the
journey to greatness.

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It’s okay to feel scared, nervous, or overwhelmed—just do it anyway. That’s what separates those who
dream from those who achieve.

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Party time guys!

Little did I know, this would be the last time I’d ever celebrate with my dad. From then on, every
achievement I earned would only be met with my mom’s clapping hands.

That moment marked the start of a journey filled with failures—failures that became my greatest
teachers. Through them, I also succeeded and fulfilled my dream of becoming the person I always
aspired to be. This was the best part of my life—not just achieving my goals, but never giving up, not
even once.

I could never picture myself in any other profession because I was born to be a speed skater and an
inspiration. Throughout my life, countless people doubted me. They said, “You can’t do it,” or “It’s
too tough.” But those words became my fuel. I converted every negative into positive and proved
them wrong—with a smile. That’s the essence of victory.

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My legacy
After that day, I didn’t win a single medal until 2020. That year, after countless failures, I finally
claimed silver at the ICSE Nationals. I knew then that God was testing me—testing whether Sankeerth
Suresh, the boy who dared to dream the impossible, would ever quit. And I didn’t.

Looking back now, after retiring from the sport, I have no regrets. Every decision I made during my
skating journey shaped who I am today. From winning India’s first gold medal at the World
Championships to becoming the speed skater with the most world titles, breaking sprint records, and
earning over 100 international medals—ladies and gentlemen, I present to you one of the greatest
athletes of all time: Sankeerth Suresh.

Hearing chants of “Sankeerth! Sankeerth! Sankeerth!” echoing through the stadium, I realized I had
achieved everything I dreamed of—all because I never quit. My advice to you is simple: Do not quit.
Keep going, no matter the result. Trust in God, work with your heart and soul, and He will lead you to
the path of success.

4o

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