Click to play videoPratapura (Gujarat): Karsanbhai Patel has been training children of his village to swim in a local lake. He saw an opportunity where others saw only a dirty lake. For 28 years, there have been no professional facilities, yet the children he trained have gone on to become national champions.
Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps will probably never know about his popularity thousands of miles away in a tiny village of Pratapura, some 150 kms from Ahmedabad.
But perhaps one day India's Michael Phelps will come from this hamlet and that is the day village headmaster and swimming coach Karsanbhai Patel will rest easy.
"Everyone is focused on cricket, but because of the lake we are teaching them swimming. It will keep our children healthy and sports can ensure a good future for the children. I am also fond of swimming," says Patel.
Twice a day this sleepy village sees 20 children head for the Chandrasar lake, their swimming pool. It's also the only source of water that the village drinks, here is where they wash clothes and here is where the village children transform into champions, perfecting their strokes amongst turtles and snakes.
There are no fancy changing rooms for these children. In winters the chilling waters don't deter these young swimmers. Money is tight and whatever donations Karsanbhai gets, he tries to buy swimming equipment for the children.
"The kids are from poor families. If we get good swimming equipment our kids will perform even better," he says.
Despite the hardships, over 200 children from the village have participated at the state level and 45 have made it to the nationals.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.