From Being a Waiter to an Olympian: Manish Rawat’s Moving Story

In Rio, he beat four former world champions, three Asian champions, two European champions & two Olympic medallists.

India’s Manish Singh Rawat finished 13th in the Rio finals of the men’s 20km walk event with a timing of 1:21:21. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manish Singh Rawat)

India’s Manish Singh Rawat finished 13th in the finals of the men’s 20km walk event with a timing of 1:21:21 at the Rio Olympics.

When Rawat crossed the finish line, most of the Indian sports fans would have said ‘Oh man! not again, another medal lost’.

However, Rawat bagging the 13th spot in the finals is a very inspiring story in itself.

Manish works as a part-time waiter in a hotel in Uttarakhand. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manish Singh Rawat)

From Waiter to Walker
Manish, who works as a part-time waiter in a hotel in Uttarakhand, wakes up at 4 am every morning, two hours ahead of his colleagues, and starts training.

Well, if one is training at 4 am, he or she will expect nothing but appreciation. However, in the case of Manish, people laugh and take videos of his walking, when he trains in his village, since racewalking has a funny posture.

I won’t mind admitting this, but racewalking has a rather funny posture. So people do end up laughing. But the funny posture exists for a reason because the feet have to be planted on the ground. So when I used to run in my village people used to laugh at me.

Manish Singh Rawat told <a href="http://www.sportskeeda.com/general-sports/beyond-medal-race-inspiring-manish-singh-rawat-story-almost-missed"><i>Sportskeeda</i></a>

Manish had several part-time jobs to make ends meet for his family and train for his event. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manish Singh Rawat)

Unfortunately , for the racewalker, due to the financial situation of his family, Manish had several part-time jobs to make ends meet for his family and train for his event.

And since, Manish didn’t have the luxury of world class equipment for training like his competitors, the Uttarakhand lad had to train on hilly terrains with torn shoes.

A Job in the Police Force

In 2010, Manish tried to get a job in the Police through sports quota to improve the financial situation of his family. This employment would have given the racewalker a salary of Rs 10,000 and all his events would have been sponsored.

However, unfortunately, he was rejected.

I told my coach that I’m quitting; I couldn’t channel all my resources towards just walking anymore, and I had a family to sustain. Four brothers in Rs 1,500, not possible to run the family, and I needed the job at any cost. I was working as a housemaid as well that year to sustain my walking. I used to also act as a guide for tourists over there, so I used that money as well. But my coach convinced me that I had a future in this sport. I was running only 1:35 then, 15 minutes off what I’m running now. So I’m indebted to him for keeping me on.

Manish Singh Rawat told <a href="http://www.sportskeeda.com/general-sports/beyond-medal-race-inspiring-manish-singh-rawat-story-almost-missed"><i>Sportskeeda</i></a>

Manish managed to qualify for the Rio Olympics at the at the IAAF walking challenge in April 2016. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manish Singh Rawat)

Road to Rio

After going through a series of struggles, Manish managed to qualify for the Rio Olympics at the at the IAAF walking challenge in April, earlier this year. Rawat booked his spot at the Rio Olympics ahead of 300 competitors.

And in the finals of his event, Manish beat four former world champions, three Asian champions, two European champions and even two Olympic medallists.