Who is Shiva Keshavan? India’s six-time Winter Olympian now leading SkiMo’s Olympic debut

Shiva Keshavan, India’s only six-time Winter Olympian, has returned to his sporting roots as ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut in Italy, HT reported. The 44-year-old, who grew up in Manali in the Himalayas, now serves as Head of Sports and Events at the International Ski Mountaineering Federation and is overseeing the sport’s introduction at the Winter Olympics 2026. He is the only Indian in the organising cohort.

Raised in Manali, where his father ran an adventure sports company, Keshavan began skiing by walking up mountains in the absence of ski lifts. He later worked as a mountain guide and pursued advanced mountaineering training before finding his calling in luge, representing India at six Winter Olympics.

Ski mountaineering makes Olympic debut

Ski mountaineering, or SkiMo, has been introduced at the Winter Olympics in Bormio in the Lombardy Alps. Athletes sprint uphill on skis fitted with climbing skins, transition by carrying their skis and hiking on foot, and then descend after removing the skins. The individual sprint features a 70-metre ascent over a 610-metre course, with penalties imposed for rule breaches during transitions. A typical race lasts around three minutes.


Keshavan said he began closely following SkiMo once it was confirmed as an Olympic sport and applied through an open recruitment process. His experience in sports development in India and his international profile as a former athlete contributed to his selection. He described the discipline as a demanding blend of speed and endurance, calling its competitors among the fittest athletes he has seen.

Financial struggles and unconventional training

Keshavan’s journey in luge was marked by limited institutional support. With no luge facilities in India and minimal funding, he improvised his training by attaching wheels to the bottom of his sledge and practising on Himalayan roads, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h while overtaking vehicles.

He said there was a phase when he struggled to sustain his career due to financial constraints. He was unable to afford training or competition expenses and sought sponsorship, approaching nearly 100 companies before securing support from one.

Decentralised Games and athlete experience

Reflecting on the current edition of the Games, Keshavan said decentralisation may serve sustainability objectives but diminishes the shared atmosphere traditionally associated with the Olympics. He noted that the Olympic Village has historically offered a unique environment where athletes from different sports and countries live and dine together, which is more difficult to replicate under the present hosting structure.

Potential for growth in India

Ski mountaineering events run from February 19 to 21, concluding the Games. Keshavan believes the sport is well suited to India because it requires minimal infrastructure. He noted that natural mountain slopes can be used without permanent alteration and said the Himalayas provide terrain well suited for the discipline.