Do you check out the Google Doodle each day? Isn’t it interesting to learn something from it? Google has honoured an important Indian sports person today.

Today is the 80th birth anniversary of Indian Olympic swimmer Arati Saha. She was the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel.

To celebrate her birthday, Google has come out with a doodle which shows her achievement.

The English Channel (or the Channel) is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. It separates southern England from northern France. Arati swam a distance of about 67 km from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England.

Who was Arati Saha?

Arati was born in Kolkata in 1940. She was a good swimmer from a very young age, winning her first gold medal at the age of 5.

Between 1945 and 1951 she won 22 state-level titles in swimming. Arati also represented India in the 1952 Olympic Games but did not win any medals.

She swam across the English Channel on 29 September 1959. Crossing the English Channel is a huge and difficult achievement, similar to climbing Mount Everest.

Yet, Arati said that she was inspired by Mihir Sen, the first Asian man to swim across the English Channel.

She was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1960. She was the first Indian sportswoman to be given this award, the fourth-highest civilian award in India

Arati passed away due to illness in August 1994 (at the age of 53).

Today’s Google doodle is illustrated by Kolkata native and guest artist Lavanya Naidu. Moreover, Lavanya hopes that her drawing helps inspire people to dream big.

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