Dear Dipa

Hello Ms Karmakar! Congratulations on performing extraordinarily at the Rio Olympics. You've made us so so proud. India as a country is indebted to you forever, for you put us on the map in the gymnastics section. You have been persuasive and very brave in following your dreams. In its pursuit, you have also generously let us tag along and take credit for being your fellow citizens, so thank you.

I learnt from one of your videos that you want people in India to stop looking at gymnastics like its circus. To be very honest with you, my knowledge of gymnastics prior Rio 2016 was very limited too. I had only seen a few gymnastic presentations in school and in some reality TV shows for entertainment. I am sorry I was blind and ignorant for so long. But seeing Simon Biles' mid air layouts (link) and watching you do the 'Produnova' (link) over and over again on YouTube, I have a new found respect for this sport. I have seen this video of yours at least fifty times and every single time when you lift off the vault and somersault in the air, it makes the hair on my skin stand. I don't know a thing about gymnastic routines but I can say yours requires a ton of strength, concentration and lots of (probably years of) dedicated practice. One obviously does not just wake up and Master the vault of death.

You are very popular now in India, your 'golden girl' posts are spamming everyone's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram homepages. People are applauding your Herculean efforts in reaching the Olympics being on par with the world's greatest talents and for your outstanding performance in the Finals. You are literally the hero this country was looking for in Rio. Cold shivers run down my spine thinking about the amount of pressure you must have felt when you performed. I used to think gymnasts were only very flexible and fast. Now I also know they are strong. Physically, to carry out these strenuous routines flipping yourself in air and landing like a boss on your feet like it was no big deal and pretending as though you weren't Superman there for a minute. Mentally, to be able to withstand all the duress and to push your body further and further each day. To add to it, I heard how the Sports Ministry did pretty much nothing for you (athletes), let alone try and make things easier. You went there with all these burdens weighing you down and still nailed the Produnova. I'm sorry I keep talking about it, I cannot seem to get over the fact that the fifth woman in the world to land the vault of death was an Indian. I am so thrilled for you.

It was very disheartening to know that you had to perform this very risky and life endangering vault to make sure you secured a high score. The facilities and infrastructure you had when you trained did not allow you to train to your full capacity thus taking away your chances at doing something stunning like what the other girls did with ease. It is a shame you had to resort to performing the most dangerous vault in the gymnast's book in order to be able to win a medal. I am truly sorry for that. If I were loaded with money I'd give you and all the deserving sportsmen and women of our country, all the support and sponsorship you deserve. If with only commitment and determination you could jump across, no strike that, vault and flip graciously across all the hurdles that world-class-sports seem to throw at you I can only imagine what mountains you will move with the right assistance and support, you are a true warrior.

I had a lengthy list of fictional superheroes that I am absolutely crazy about, now I also have a list of real life ones with your name on it. Year after year great people like you are dragging this country forward despite every challenge lined up in your way. You are our torch bearers, thanks for never giving up.

Love and respect,
Gaythri Madhavann.