Bhubaneswar: Hailing from the coastal spiritual hub of Puri, Tapeswarnath Das, a vaulting bronze-medalist at the recently concluded senior Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Nationals Championships, has evolved into one of the most compelling figures in Indian gymnastics, a journey defined by world-class mentorship and a resilient comeback spirit.
His story began in 2006 when he was only seven, an age when dreaming could be one’s very own hobby. His PET from his school, also a gymnastics club coach, glanced upon tiny Tapeswarnath and introduced the sport to him.
After starting his coaching there, he had to move into the state hostel to save time, where he met his longest mentor, Ashok Kumar Mishra, now the chief coach at Odisha AM/NS India Gymnastics High Performance Centre (HPC).
Tapeswarnath’s foundational years were shaped under the watchful eye of Ashok, who meticulously laid the groundwork for his elite aspirations.
Representing the state in the 2009 school nationals in the Sub-Junior category marked a changing moment in his childhood.
Two years fast-forward in 2011, he won his first medal in Sub-Junior Nationals Under-12, bronze in Vault and silver in Parallel Bars.
This brought the dawn upon his journey.
With a childhood marked by sheer courage while climbing the ladder, Tapeswarnath made his entry into the Indian Air Force based on his sub-junior records at the tender age of 16.
With this, he already skipped junior categories and placed himself among senior gymnasts.
However, it was the arrival of French gymnastics head coach Thierry Aymes that served as a philosophical turning point, fundamentally altering Tapeswarnath’s mindset along with every other gymnast and expanding their vision of what could be achieved on the international stage.
“The first one to arrive was Thierry, sir. His impact still fuels our engine.
Creating a mindset beyond performing for participation to dreaming of podiums was his vision. His views changed how everyone sees this sport.
Thanks to his training, we began to dream and better and stronger,” he said.
Today, that evolution continues at the HPC, where Tapeswarnath refines his craft under the expert tutelage of Simon Moore and Shinoj Muliyali, while benefiting from the guidance of Rakesh Kumar Patra during his stints at the national camp.
Speaking about his experience at the HPC and the roadmap it has created for him, Tapeswarnath said, “We have the best facilities around us, from rehab and recovery to international standard training apparatus.
The ABTP centre here has made injury comebacks an easier journey.”
Highlighting his opinion on podium glories internationally for India, Tapeswarnath added, “In my opinion, involvement of more foreign coaches will provide us the edge when we compete globally.
Their immense experience and attention to detail help us in our artistic forms.”
In 2021, the Puri boy made his way into his first national camp. His ascent through the ranks reached a global milestone in 2022 when he made his international debut at the World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan.
At his first global challenge, he managed to touch his best ranking – 19th in Vaulting Table. By 2025, his domestic dominance was cemented at the National Games in Uttarakhand, where he vaulted his way to a prestigious silver medal for Odisha.
While the year brought strong progress, with appearances at World Challenge Cups in Paris and Szombathely, it also tested his resilience.
After suffering a serious neck injury during his second trip to Baku, he fought back to return to the world stage at the 52nd World Championships in Jakarta.
With his sights set on the Asian Championships in China, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and the Asian Games in Japan, the gymnast from Puri is no longer just a rising talent— he is a seasoned contender ready to leave an indelible mark on the world arena.
