'6-Olympics old' Shiva Keshavan bids goodbye, says- representing India has been a 'celebration'

A day after he quit the sport during the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, luger Shiva Keshavan on Monday said that representing the country for two decades has been “nothing short of a celebration”.

The 36-year-old Keshavan, the poster boy of winter sports in India for the last 20 years, on Sunday brought the curtains down on his international career after taking part in his sixth Winter Olympics. He finished 34th in the men’s luge singles event, his last international competition.

“I started my Olympic journey as a young, 16 y/o. They say time flies when you enjoy what you’re doing. Here I am, 6 Olympics old. What an emotional and exciting ride its been,” Keshavan said in the first of a series of tweets.

“Every minute, every race representing this wonderful country has been nothing short of a celebration. Thank you!,” he said.

I started my Olympic journey as a young, 16 y/o. They say time flies when you enjoy what you're doing. Here I am, 6 Olympics old. What an emotional and exciting ride its been. I'd like to thank my family, friends, @ioaindia, @IndiaSports, @Media_SAI, sponsors and supporters (1/3)

— Shiva Keshavan (@100thofasec) February 12, 2018

(2/3) from India and all over the world for the exceptional support extended in the last couple of days as well as the 20 years of my career. Thank you for keeping me motivated and pushing me to be my best. Every minute, every race representing this wonderful country

— Shiva Keshavan (@100thofasec) February 12, 2018

(3/3) has been nothing short of a celebration. Thank you! #Olympics #PyeongChang2018 #Luge #Ind #Sports #Shiv6 #HeroElectronix #JonathanAndFletcher #LestraOutdoor pic.twitter.com/W14gwtxYwV

— Shiva Keshavan (@100thofasec) February 12, 2018

Son of an Indian father from Kerala and an Italian mother, Keshavan has represented the country in six consecutive Winter Olympics since the 1998 edition in Nagano, Japan.

Keshavan thanked his family, friends, the IOA, the sports ministry, the SAI, his sponsors and supporters from India and abroad “for the exceptional support extended in the last couple of days as well as the 20 years of my career”.

“Thank you for keeping me motivated and pushing me to be my best.”

Meanwhile, the other Indian in the fray, cross country skier Jagdish Singh began his training runs today. He will compete in the 15-km Nordic skiing freestyle event on February 16.

Jagdish arrived here just in time for the opening ceremony on February 9 after his departure from India was delayed due to confusion over who will accompany him as coach.

The man from Vashisht near Manali has been the face of winter sports in the country for more than two decades, and had said just before the Pyeongchang Games that this Winter Olympics will be the last international event of his career.

This was not though his best ever performance in a Winter Olympics. His best was the 25th place finish in the 2006 edition in Turin, Italy.

Son of an Indian father from Kerala and an Italian mother, Keshavan was born and brought up in Manali. He was just 16 years of age when he first took part in the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan in 1998. Since then he has taken part in each of the Winter Olympics.

He is the reigning Asian champion in luge and the speed record holder. He has won Asian Luge Championships in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017.

(With PTI Inputs)