There are victories that are measured in metres. Then there are victories that are measured in everything an athlete has to survive before reaching the field.For Haryana’s Seema Kaliramna, the bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games was not just the result of a 58.65-metre discus throw. It was the culmination of years spent balancing motherhood, recovering from pregnancy, battling arthritis, pursuing a PhD, living with financial uncertainty and wondering if her sporting dream had quietly slipped away.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:22
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When the discus finally landed and the scoreboard confirmed India’s bronze medal, it marked far more than another podium finish. It was the reward for a journey that very nearly never reached Glasgow.
From a promising athlete to starting over
Photo courtesy: Instagram/@dr.seema.kaliramna
Seema had already established herself as one of India’s leading discus throwers before life demanded a different role. Marriage, motherhood and a long break from competition interrupted the rhythm every elite athlete depends upon. Returning to professional sport after childbirth is never easy, particularly in athletics, where explosive strength, speed and technical precision determine every throw.Her comeback became even harder when arthritis began affecting her body. Speaking about the difficult phase, Seema told The Telegraph, “I had arthritis after pregnancy. There were days when I couldn’t even train properly.” Instead of giving up, she slowly rebuilt herself- one training session at a time.
A mother chasing two dreams
Today, Seema wears many hats. She is an international athlete, a mother to a four-year-old son and a PhD scholar in physical education in Bhiwani. Her daily routine has often involved switching between research work, childcare and gruelling training sessions.Yet success has come at an emotional cost. Perhaps the most heartbreaking admission she made after winning the medal had nothing to do with sport. “I miss my son,” she told The Telegraph after the medal ceremony. For an athlete competing thousands of kilometres away from home, the podium was accompanied by the ache of being separated from her child.That emotional conflict is one many elite sportswomen quietly carry- celebrated for their medals while missing birthdays, bedtime stories and ordinary moments of motherhood.
‘I wish I had a job’
Despite standing on an international podium, Seema says financial security remains uncertain. Her honesty has resonated with many athletes who continue to struggle despite bringing medals home. “I wish I had a job,” she said candidly. Unlike athletes in commercially lucrative sports, many track-and-field competitors continue to depend on government jobs or institutional support to sustain their careers.Even after international success, employment remains an aspiration rather than a guarantee for many Indian athletes.
Four fouls, one medal
The Commonwealth Games final itself was hardly straightforward. Seema committed four fouls during the competition- enough to shake even the most experienced throwers.But instead of allowing the mistakes to define her day, she stayed composed and produced her best legal throw of 58.65 metres, enough to secure the bronze medal for India. It was a performance built as much on mental resilience as physical ability.
A medal dedicated to the man who stood beside her
Photo courtesy: Instagram/@dr.seema.kaliramna
After winning bronze, Seema dedicated the achievement to her husband, acknowledging the support she received while navigating sport, academics and family life.Her story is a reminder that elite athletes rarely succeed alone. Behind many medals lies an invisible support system that helps athletes continue when quitting seems easier.
More than just another medal
Stories of sporting success often focus on records, distances and medals. Seema’s journey offers something richer. It is about returning after pregnancy when many assume an athlete’s best years are over. It is about continuing despite arthritis making every training session more painful.It is about missing one’s child while representing the country. It is about competing without the financial certainty many athletes deserve. And it is about standing on an international podium after years of quietly rebuilding a career that could easily have ended.Her bronze medal is not merely India’s latest addition to the Commonwealth Games tally. It is proof that resilience often looks ordinary before it becomes extraordinary. As Seema herself summed up through her deeply personal words- “I miss my son.” “I wish I had a job.”- the woman behind the medal remains refreshingly honest about the sacrifices that success demanded.That honesty, perhaps even more than the bronze medal itself, is what makes Seema Kaliramna’s story unforgettable.
