National aquatics championships | I did freestyle because I wanted a change without much focus: Srihari Nataraj

After setting the ‘India best’ time in 200m freestyle earlier this month, two-time Olympian swimmer Srihari Nataraj is considering pursuing the style along with his favourite backstroke in 2026.

Srihari, who competed in 100m backstroke in the Paris Olympics, hopes to make a decision early next year, in time for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

“I’ve not made plans for the future. Still, 50m backstroke is my main event and it depends on how I feel. I have two chances, at the World University Games (WUG) in Germany (next month) and at the Asian championships in Ahmedabad (in October), to check myself in the 200m freestyle. I will decide in January or February whether I am going to stick to backstroke or do both,” Srihari told The Hindu during the National aquatics championships at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday.

On his freestyle mark in the Singapore National swimming championships, where he clocked 1:48.66 to break Sajan Prakash’s four-year-old record of 1:49.73, Srihari said: “Singapore was a good outing for me. I took it as a preparatory event, not where I tried to peak. I did freestyle because I wanted a change without much focus. Freestyle is always a second event for me, and I love competing in Singapore.”

Srihari is preparing well for the WUG. “My performances are getting analysed, I’m working on my strength and fine-tuning my game.”

Having spent two decades in the pool, 24-year-old Srihari feels he is in better shape.

“It has been very long – it’s my 10th year in the Indian team. I’ve grown as a swimmer in the last two years to know myself and my sport better. Now my mind and body are in sync. I’ve developed as an athlete, and my knowledge is better,” said Srihari.