Shikha Tandon (born 20 January 1985) is an Indian former swimmer from
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
, India.
Tandon has won 146 national medals, and 36 medals in international competitions, including five gold medals.
[ Currently, she is a member of ]USADA
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA, ) is a non-profit, non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization and the national anti- doping organization (NADO) for the United States. To protect clean competition and the integrity of sport and prevent d ...
’s science team, assisting in the daily operation, development, and maintenance of the resources, reporting, and projects critical to USADA’s scientific initiatives.
Career
When she was 12 years old, Tandon was spotted at a state meeting, and was selected to compete in two national events, and won a bronze medal. Tandon went on to compete in the Asian Games
The Asian Games, also known as Asiad, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation (AGF) from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until t ...
at the age of 13, and her first World Championship at 16.[
At the 2001 28th junior National aquatic championship, Tandon won the 200 m individual medley, setting a new record.][
In 2002, Tandon finished 8th in the 100 m freestyle event at the 100m freestyle at the Asian Games in Busan.][
At the 57th Senior National Aquatic Championship in 2003, Tandon broke the Indian women's 50 freestyle record, with a time of 26.61 s. She won five individual gold medals in the competition, and was declared best swimmer for the third consecutive year.]
At the 2004 Athens Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
, Tandon competed in both the 50 m and the 100 m freestyle
Freestyle may refer to:
Brands
* Reebok Freestyle, a women's athletic shoe
* Ford Freestyle, an SUV automobile
* Coca-Cola Freestyle, a vending machine
* ICD Freestyle, a paintball marker
* Abbott FreeStyle, a blood glucose monitor by Abbott La ...
, the first Indian swimmer to qualify for two separate events in an Olympic competition.[
In 2005, Shikha held seven national records, and was the first Indian woman to hold so many simultaneously.][ In 2005, she was honoured with an ]Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
. At the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006 (Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm 2006'' or ''Naarm 2006''), was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth held i ...
, Tandon reached the semi-finals of both 50 m backstroke and 50 m freestyle. In the same year, she became the first female Indian to win an international medal for a short-course event, taking bronze at the indoor Asian age-group swimming Championships in Bangkok. In 2007 Tandon had surgery on her shoulder, and missed many of the season's events.
In 2009, after completing her dual master's degree in Biology and Biotechnology from Case Western Reserve University, she applied at the USADA, and became the first Indian to be employed at the USADA.
Personal life
Tandon has a younger brother called Shobhit, who suffered from asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
. Under advice from doctors, their mother took him swimming to improve his lung capacity, and Tandon joined them.[
Her role models include ]Jenny Thompson
Jennifer Beth Thompson (born February 26, 1973) is an American former competition swimmer and anesthesiologist.
She is one of the most decorated Olympians in history: twelve medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 200 ...
and Inge de Bruijn
Inge de Bruijn (; born 24 August 1973) is a Dutch former competitive swimmer. She is a four-time Olympic champion and a former world record-holder.
Personal
De Bruijn was born in Barendrecht, Netherlands. Inge is the sister of Olympic water ...
.
Tandon attended Sophia High School, Bangalore and Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College
Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College (SBMJC) was established in the year 1990. Founded by Group of members of Jain Society, in VV Puram and now known as a part of Jain University which has established many colleges. However, SBMJC remains a promi ...
which comes under the umbrella of Jain University
Jain University, officially JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), is a private deemed-to-be-university in Bangalore, India. Originating from Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College, it was conferred the deemed-to-be-university status in 2009. In August ...
, and then studied biotechnology at Bangalore University
Bangalore University (BU) is a public state university located in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The university is a part of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and affiliated by Univers ...
.[
She completed her dual master's degree in Biology and Biotechnology from ]Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) is a private research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Case Western Reserve was established in 1967, when Western Reserve University, founded in 1826 and named for its location in the Connecticut Western Reser ...
, Ohio and is currently working as Science Program Lead at US Antidoping Agency, Colorado Springs, USA.[ ]
References
External links
*
Sports reference website
Facebook Fan Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tandon, Shikha
Living people
1985 births
Indian female swimmers
Indian female freestyle swimmers
Indian female breaststroke swimmers
Sportswomen from Karnataka
Swimmers from Bangalore
Olympic swimmers of India
Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Swimmers at the 2002 Asian Games
Swimmers at the 2006 Asian Games
Asian Games competitors for India
Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games competitors for India
South Asian Games medalists in swimming
South Asian Games silver medalists for India
Recipients of the Arjuna Award
Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2008
Bangalore University alumni
Case Western Reserve University alumni
Indian expatriates in the United States
21st-century Indian women
21st-century Indian people