It takes a solid woman to raise a child of character but it takes a superwoman to raise a champion. Surat’s triathlete Pooja Chaurushi, famously known as the Golden Girl, has been mothered and nurtured by a superwoman as well, who believes in her and has been the backbone of the sports star in making. Starting at the mere age of 15, Pooja became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the South Asian Triathlon Championship and garnered more than 186 medals as a triathlete by the time she turned 21. Like every other success story, Pooja too has a lady behind her, who urged her to move on and achieve all the milestones that she did. In a conversation with us, Pooja Chaurushi speaks about the unsung hero who loved and dared all the stumbling blocks that she ever encountered – Leena Chaurushi, her mother. Excerpts:

• What has been your mother’s role in making you what you are today?

Pooja Chaurushi regards her mother as the driving force for her success. Accompanying her daughter in all the competitions, Leena took the role of a nurse, guide and mentor altogether and supported Pooja through it all; she was always there. For her, Pooja’s endeavours in practice and competitions came first, before everything else, even the rest of the family. She dared it all and missed important family functions on the stake of upsetting her in laws, all for Pooja. But nothing deterred her determination and she relentlessly encouraged and backed Pooja in turning her dreams into reality. Being always hopeful, Leena stood by her facing all odds and molded Pooja into the cast of a triathlete champion whom we know, today.

• How has your mother helped you or been your strength in facing life during the time of distress?

Life is a roller-coaster ride for all who dares to play it their way. Pooja too faced her share of ups and downs, but more than ups, it is the despondent times that demands care and encouragement. On times when she had lost all hope, her mother brought a warm light of aspirations in her life. To accomplish this, her mother relied on one of the oldest but the most potent method to uplift the spirits – storytelling. Leena’s impelling stories of mighty warriors who fought the world and basked in the glories of victory, inspires Pooja even today, to fiercely battle the blues and follow her goals.

• What is that one trait of your mother that you admire the most and even aspire to emulate in yourself?

Pooja admires and idolizes her mother in all the ways possible. But the one special trait that she sheerly aspires to have is – patience. Time and again it amazes Pooja, to see her mother so calm and composed even in the most stressful of situations. Her quality of serenely putting out her point out, without being loud or overbearing, is one quality Pooja would really like to mirror.

• Message that you would like to dedicate to your mother:

Pooja says that she wishes to have Leena as her mother in all her lives. She is grateful to have someone who is not only her mother, but also a friend, with whom she can share anything and everything.