Rohit Benedicton Becomes First Indian to Go Sub-24s in the 50m Butterfly

Rohit Benedicton
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Indian swimming witnessed a defining moment yesterday when 21-year-old Rohit Benedicton shattered national records not once, but twice on the same day at the World University Games.

Competing in the highly competitive men’s 50m butterfly, Rohit first erased a seven-year-old national record in the morning heats, clocking 24.00 seconds, and then surpassed his own mark in the evening semifinals with an electrifying 23.96 seconds.

With this, Rohit became the first Indian male swimmer ever to break the 24-second barrier in this sprint event a milestone that carries both symbolic and sporting significance for Indian aquatics. Though he ultimately finished 13th overall and missed qualification for the final by a narrow margin, his semifinal swim rewrote the expectations of what Indian swimmers can achieve in international pools.

It is not just the timing itself but the manner of Rohit’s performance that turned heads: calm under pressure, technically efficient off the blocks, and powerful through the underwater phase a masterclass in sprint butterfly swimming from an athlete who just three years ago was battling inconsistency and self-doubt.

A record built on months of momentum

Rohit’s feat in Berlin wasn’t a surprise for those who have followed his career closely. Just last month, at the Senior National Aquatic Championships 2025 held at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, he stunned Indian swimming circles by breaking a 16-year-old national record in the men’s 100m butterfly.

Rohit Benedicton
Credit Rohit IG

In that final, Rohit touched the wall at 52.57 seconds, toppling Virdhawal Khade’s ‘Best Indian Time’ of 52.77 seconds from 2009 and surpassing the national record of 53.24 seconds held by two-time Olympian Sajan Prakash. That swim not only secured him the gold medal but also ensured the ‘B’ qualification standard for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore.

For an event where India had struggled to breach the 53-second mark for over a decade, Rohit’s performance signalled that Indian swimmers could finally compete closer to Asian and world standards. His record in the 100m butterfly was the first major national milestone of 2025; yesterday’s sub-24 in the 50m butterfly confirmed that it wasn’t a one-off.

A swimmer forged by resilience

Rohit’s success story gains even more weight when set against the challenges he overcame. Born with a broken right thigh, he was introduced to swimming not as a competitive sport, but as therapy to strengthen his leg.

In 2019, after finishing eighth in the 100m butterfly final at the junior nationals, Rohit nearly quit the sport, feeling he lacked the talent to compete. It was his mother’s encouragement urging him to give himself “one more chance” that kept him in the pool.

Months later, he won gold at the National School Games, laying the emotional foundation for a career built as much on resilience as on technique.

Guided by coaching excellence

A turning point in Rohit’s career came when he began training under Dronacharya awardee coach Nihar Ameen at the Dolphins Academy in Bengaluru. Known for nurturing some of India’s top swimmers, Ameen helped refine Rohit’s technique, especially his starts and underwater phase — crucial components in sprint butterfly events.

Under Ameen’s guidance, Rohit adopted a longer-term view, focusing on gradual improvements rather than instant success. Ameen challenged him to swim below 53 seconds in the 100m butterfly a goal Rohit once thought impossible. Achieving 52.57 seconds last month showed not only technical growth but also a mental shift towards trusting the process.

Part of a bigger shift in Indian swimming

Rohit’s rise coincides with broader reforms in Indian swimming. In 2024, Chris Martin was appointed as national program director, bringing in a fresh, data-driven approach and encouraging young swimmers to target international standards.

The impact of this new system is visible: alongside Rohit’s records, 17-year-old Rishabh Das broke the national record in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:00.65 earlier this year, crediting Martin’s support for his progress.

While Indian swimming remains behind the world’s best, these performances show the effect of structured training, sports science, and long-term athlete development.

Beyond numbers: a mental transformation

Rohit’s ability to deliver on big days reflects not just improved training, but also mental evolution. At the 2023 National Games, despite being physically ready, he admitted to “almost losing all my races because of overthinking and pressure.”

That candid realisation led him to a simpler mindset: “Since then, I have learnt to calm myself and focus on what I can control.” This mental resilience has turned into a defining feature of his racing: calm starts, smooth underwater transitions, and the capacity to close races strongly even under pressure.

The road to Berlin: steady steps

In 2024, Rohit won gold in the 50m butterfly (24.22s) and silver in the 100m butterfly (54.43s) at the Senior Nationals. He also secured his first 100m butterfly gold at the National Games in Uttarakhand. These performances showed consistency and growing maturity.

He also played a key role in Tamil Nadu’s relay teams, helping set meet records in the mixed and men’s medley relays. Such consistent relay contributions highlight not just individual excellence but team spirit vital in building a broader swimming culture.

Now qualified for the World Championships in Singapore, Rohit will compete in both butterfly sprints against some of the world’s fastest. The experience will be invaluable as he sharpens his craft and measures himself against Olympic-level competition.

Rohit’s ultimate target remains clear: representing India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Yesterday’s sub-24-second barrier and last month’s historic 52.57s in the 100m butterfly make that goal feel closer than ever.

Conclusion: redefining the ceiling

In just one month, Rohit Benedicton has changed Indian swimming’s narrative: from national finals to international relevance, from chasing records to breaking them. His journey from overcoming early doubt to becoming the first Indian man to swim the 50m butterfly in under 24 seconds is a testament to persistence, quality coaching, and a new system focused on athlete growth.

For now, Rohit stands as the fastest Indian butterfly swimmer in history and as proof that in sport, barriers are built only to be broken.

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