Some stories are more than just sports. They are about a refusal to accept the word "never."

Murali Sreeshankar's story is one of perseverance. In April 2024, he was told his long jump career was over when his patellar tendon, the crucial muscle for all long jumpers, ruptured. The problem was whether he would even be able to walk properly.

Over 650 days later, he stood on the podium at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a silver medal around his neck. He became the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals .

But the medals are only the end result. The story lies in everything else that happened.

Chapter 1: Born to Run — How Sreeshankar Found His Passion for Athletics

Sreeshankar was born in 1999 in Palakkad, Kerala, into a family where athletics ran in his genes. His father, S. Murali, was a former South Asian Games triple jump silver medallist. His mother, K.S. Bijimol, was a middle-distance runner.

As a young child, Sreeshankar was a sprinter. He won gold medals at district and state level meets in the 50m and 100m events.

But his father saw potential in his sprinting.

"I would go to the nearby grounds along with my father and would run and play all the time," Sreeshankar once said. "I had success as a sprinter too. I didn't train seriously during that time though. It was more like having fun for me."

His father's advice led to a change. At the age of 13, Sreeshankar switched from sprints to long jump. His father trained him, year by year. He made sure Sreeshankar's basics were right before moving on to his next level. He grew by around 20-25 centimetres every year. His progress was nothing short of spectacular.

In 2018, he leapt 8.20m in the National Open Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar — breaking the national record and qualifying for the World Athletics Championships. The 19-year-old from Palakkad was the future of Indian long jumping.

Chapter 2: The Making of a Champion — Before the Career Ending Injury

In 2021, Sreeshankar improved his national record to 8.26m and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. He didn't make it to the final, but it was an important experience.

In 2022 and 2023, he was one of the best long jumpers in Asia.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he won silver. At the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok, he once again won silver. At the Hangzhou Asian Games, he got another silver.

In 2023, he jumped 8.41m — a personal best.

All of his preparation was for one event — the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

He had qualified. He was in the best form of his life. The Olympics were months away.

The Olympics were waiting for him.

Life, however, had other plans.

Chapter 3: The Injury That Changed Everything

It was during a routine session in April 2024, in Palakkad, when Sreeshankar's left patellar tendon, the crucial muscle needed by every jumper, ruptured. A piece of bone also chipped off.

For a jumper, the patellar tendon is his bread and butter. Every jumper has inflammation in the patellar tendon. But a complete rupture of the tendon is the worst scenario for a jumper.

Sreeshankar described the injury as follows: "Patella tendon is the bread and butter for every jumper. Mine was torn off."

The injury ended his Olympic dreams. He had qualified. He was in the best form of his life. And in a matter of months, it was all over. Doctors told him his career was over. His father, who had coached him since he was a child, was worried.

"I just wanted him to get off the crutches and walk like a normal person," said his father, S. Murali.

Forget medals. Forget Olympic dreams. The family just wanted Sreeshankar to be able to walk again.

Chapter 4: The Long Road Back — Metal, Sweat, and Doubt

Sreeshankar had surgery in Qatar. The doctors there were more optimistic about his rehabilitation than the doctors in his home country. They thought he could stitch him up and get him back to jumping in six months. But they were also honest: everything would depend on how his body heals.

The surgery was successful. The rehabilitation process was brutal.

For over 650 days, Sreeshankar had watched others compete. He was out of competition for almost two years. For almost two years, he had to watch others compete.

The changes in his body were permanent. Three anchor screws kept his tendon in place. A wire wraps around his kneecap to keep everything together.

"To jump with a surgically repaired tendon, it's not that easy," said Sreeshankar. "I have to respect that and I have to train according to that."

His father described the early jumps as something that could potentially break anyone: "He started jumping little by little. He jumped three metres after one year, in April 2025. I couldn't watch him. I was so scared."

Every landing was a reminder of what he had been through. Every session was a test.

There were many nights when Sreeshankar had doubted himself. There were nights when he had thought the doctors were right.

But he pushed on.

His father described his son's mental state during these difficult times: "He is mentally very strong. Like Shiva, he focused only on his comeback."

Chapter 5: The Return — From Crutches to Commonwealth Silver

In July 2025, over a year later, Sreeshankar was back in competition at the Indian Open athletics meet. His first jump was over 8 metres.

The relief was palpable for the family and friends. But this was just a small victory. More was to come.

By early 2026, Sreeshankar had found his rhythm again. In April, he won the long jump at the Indian Athletics Series in Bengaluru with 8.15m. He also beat an Olympic medallist in South Africa to win the Simbine Classic.

Then it happened. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Conditions were not ideal. The rain, wind, and cold — all of which are not conducive to jumping. Sreeshankar usually struggles with the cold.

But on this day, it didn't matter.

His jumps were 8.03m, 8.09m, two fouls, 7.94m, and 7.97m. He led the competition at the halfway stage. In the end, it was Jamaica's Tajaj Gayle, a former world champion, who won gold with 8.15m.

Sreeshankar's final jump missed out on gold by six centimetres, but it meant something more than just being on the podium. It meant that he had become the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals .

After the competition, Sreeshankar dedicated the medal to everyone who doubted him: "This medal is for everyone who said I would never jump again in my career. It was a combined effort from a lot of people to make the impossible, possible."

His father called it a miracle. But Sreeshankar called it something else: "I won't say it was a miracle. But yes, I am grateful to be back representing my country."

The difference between an athelete and a great athelete is of mindset. Check out our article on how athelets gain the Psychology of Winning.

Chapter 6: The New Normal — Jumping with Metal, Living with Purpose

Sreeshankar's life is different from what it was before the injury. Every day, he wakes up and gets ready to compete. He can't train the same way as before. He can't push himself. He knows his body and has taken that into consideration.

"I started understanding my body a lot more compared to before," he said. "Even now, I can't train full-fledged every single time. I have to carefully put the training volume up and manage the intensities accordingly."

His coach is renowned strength and conditioning coach Wayne Lombard, who has worked with Indian hockey players in the past. They focus on quality, not quantity, and making sure Sreeshankar has a long career.

After Glasgow, Sreeshankar's feelings of happiness were mixed. "I wanted to have a big jump and win the gold medal for my country, redeem the silver medal from Birmingham," he said. "But I'm happy, I'm being grateful, just being here representing my country at the Commonwealth Games, because I know what I've been through in the last two years."

The gratitude stems from the 650 days of pain and doubt. It stems from a wire holding his kneecap together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What injury did Murali Sreeshankar suffer?

Sreeshankar suffered a complete rupture of his left patellar tendon during a routine training session in Palakkad in April 2024. A piece of bone also chipped off in the process. This injury forced him to miss the Paris 2024 Olympics despite having already qualified .

How long was Sreeshankar out of competition?

Sreeshankar was out of competitive action for over 650 days — nearly two years. He returned to competition in July 2025 at the Indian Open athletics meet .

What is Sreeshankar's personal best in long jump?

Sreeshankar's personal best is 8.41m, achieved at the Indian Championships in 2023 .

Did Sreeshankar win a medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026?

Yes. Sreeshankar won the silver medal in the men's long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a best jump of 8.09m. He finished behind Jamaica's Tajay Gayle (8.15m). This was his second consecutive Commonwealth Games silver .

What makes Sreeshankar's comeback so remarkable?

Doctors initially told Sreeshankar his career was over. His father only hoped he would walk normally again. Instead, Sreeshankar returned to elite competition with three anchor screws and a wire holding his kneecap together — and won a Commonwealth Games silver medal. He became the first Indian long jumper to win two Commonwealth Games medals.

Who is Sreeshankar's coach?

Sreeshankar is coached by his father, S. Murali, a former South Asian Games triple jump silver medallist. His mother, K.S. Bijimol, was also a middle-distance runner.

What is next for Sreeshankar?

Sreeshankar has set his sights on the Asian Games, where he hopes to win gold. He has won silver at the Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championships before, and the gold is the missing piece in his collection.

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