Swapnil Kusale On Life After Olympic Glory: 'Pressure Motivates Me Because People Believe In Me'

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 11:52 IST

Swapnil Kusale rose from Pune ticket collector to Olympic bronze medallist in 50m Rifle 3 Positions and has now his eyes set on podium finish at Los Angeles 2028.

Swapnil Kusale's life has changed since winning historic Olympic medal. (AFP Photo)

Swapnil Kusale’s journey has been one of quiet persistence and steady rise. He first made his mark at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships, clinching his maiden international medal after finishing just behind compatriot and 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang.

Two years later, Swapnil followed it up with a National Championship gold, setting a new record in the process. At the 2022 Baku World Cup, he added more silverware to his name, winning silver in the individual event, another silver in the team event and gold in the mixed team category.

But the defining moment of that year came when Swapnil, along with Akhil Sheoran and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, won gold at the Asian Games.

The biggest breakthrough, however, arrived at the Paris Olympics, where Swapnil created history by winning bronze, becoming the first Indian shooter to medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. From working as a ticket collector in Pune to standing on the Olympic podium, Swapnil’s story is nothing short of inspiration.

Speaking to News18 Sports on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony organised by the Indian Olympic Association for the Paris medallists, Swapnil reflected on how life has changed since that career-defining moment, the growing accessibility of shooting in India and his roadmap to Los Angeles 2028.

Excerpts

It has been over a year and a half since you won the Olympic medal. How has the past year been for you?

It has been quite different from the years before the Olympics. Life has changed a lot because of that medal, the way I live, the way I enjoy things, everything feels new. I am really cherishing this phase of life. It has been full of experiences, not just in shooting but beyond it as well.

I have learned to enjoy the present and embrace everything that comes with it and that’s been really good for me.

There was a longstanding medal jinx in shooting for India at the Olympics. Before you, Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh had already won their medals in Paris. Did that make the pressure on you any less?

Not really. The pressure is the same for every athlete. Manu and Sarabjot did their job at that time, but I knew it was my responsibility to win a medal for India too. I focused on myself rather than what people were thinking or expecting.

My mindset was simple: stay focused on my performance, do my job and bring a medal home.

Shooting is often seen as an elitist sport. Over the course of your career, have you noticed that perception is changing, or is it still difficult for some sections of society to access the sport?

Things have improved a lot. The government is doing a great job right now. With initiatives like Khelo India for youth and the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) program, athletes are getting much better support.

There has been huge progress in terms of facilities, equipment and infrastructure, even access to advanced foreign equipment for training and recovery. All these efforts are making shooting more accessible and helping athletes across the country, which is great to see.

Once you win an Olympic medal, what does the routine of a shooter look like after that? With such a big achievement behind you, how does your training regimen change?

I don’t think I have reached my best yet; I am still working hard to achieve all my goals. After the Olympics, life changed quite a bit. I did not get much proper time to train because I needed some rest, both physically and mentally, after the pressure of competing at that level.

But now, things are settling down and with the new cycle starting next year, I am focused on coming back stronger and performing well in every competition ahead.

Has the pressure and expectation on you increased over the past year?

Every athlete faces pressure; it is part of the sport. But it depends on how you handle it. You can see it as pressure, or just as people’s thoughts and expectations. For me, I take it positively.

It motivates me because it means people believe in me. That belief pushes me to work harder and win medals for those who support and trust me. So, I see it as a good thing.

Every year, a lot of young Indian shooters emerge. You might face them in national trials without having competed against them before. On a day when you might not be at your best and there’s pressure from these youngsters, how do you keep up with them?

This generation is performing at a very high level, the scores, the fitness, everything. The younger shooters are strong and doing an amazing job, and I am happy to see them making India proud.

For me, it is about balancing that with my own experience. At this stage, fitness and mental strength become even more important to match their energy. Experience and mindset make a big difference in tough moments.

I am still learning every day, focusing on improving my concentration, physical conditioning and staying mentally sharp to perform at my best.

In your event, the 3P, do you think the physical exertion is higher than in other shooting events since you have to keep changing positions?

Maybe yes, no, it is hard to compare because every event has its own challenges and each athlete performs at their own level. But in my event, we compete in open conditions, so the weather plays a big role.

Sometimes it is humid, sometimes hot, cold, or even windy. We have to adjust to all that while wearing the shooting kit, which can get uncomfortable in the heat. So yes, dealing with those constant changes and physical demands makes it quite different from the other events.

Do you have any personal plans for the next few years to help you target the podium at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

Right now, I am focusing on myself and staying in the present moment. Of course, LA 2028 is my main goal, but to reach there, I need to take things step by step. Each upcoming competition is part of that journey; every event helps me prepare better and get closer to that ultimate goal.

So, I am working on improving with every step and hopefully, it all comes together for LA.

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