Wan’s Wonder Woman: Bhagirathi Bisht’s Remarkable Marathon Journey
Wan’s Wonder Woman: Bhagirathi Bisht’s Remarkable Marathon Journey Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 07:00 IST Bhagirathi Bisht, from Wan in Chamoli, shares her
Wan’s Wonder Woman: Bhagirathi Bisht’s Remarkable Marathon Journey Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 07:00 IST Bhagirathi Bisht, from Wan in Chamoli, shares her rise from remote Himalayan village to marathon champion, her training, struggles and Olympic dreams. Rapid Read Bhagirathi Bisht Wan is a quiet, wind-swept Himalayan village tucked away in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, sitting at an altitude of around 2,400 metres. The last motorable settlement before the high mountains take over, it feels like a threshold between the everyday world and the raw wilderness of the Garhwal Himalayas. But Wan is more than just a gateway to adventure. It’s also the starting point of a brilliant human story. From this remote Himalayan hamlet comes Bhagirathi Bisht, an elite Indian long-distance runner who has risen to become one of the nation’s most promising endurance athletes. Bhagirathi claimed the women’s title at the New Delhi Marathon, a race certified by the Athletics Federation of India. She followed it up with a gold-medal-winning performance in the women’s category at the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon. Bhagirathi speaks to News18 Sports about her journey, upbringing and ambitions for the future. Excerpts What made you choose long-distance running? I come from a small village in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. I am the youngest of six siblings. My father passed away when I was just three years old, and my mother faced immense hardships raising us on her own.
There were very few facilities in our village, but despite all the challenges, she worked hard to give us a better life and move us forward. My journey in athletics began six years ago when I met my coach, Sunil Sharma. It was because of him that I started running. Everything I have achieved today is thanks to his guidance, support and belief in me. He introduced me to this field and helped shape my path. Long-distance running needs a lot of stamina. How do you build it and what is your daily routine? I grew up in a village at an altitude of around 7,000 to 8,000 feet, which naturally helped build my endurance and strength from a young age. Life there was demanding, with many household responsibilities that required hard work and resilience. I have been training for the past six years. The first three years were focused on building a strong base, but that period also came with multiple injuries and struggles. However, those challenges made me stronger both physically and mentally. In the last two years, I trained at one of the highest-altitude locations in Asia, which had a major impact on my performance. Since then, I have delivered some of my best results and I believe I can achieve even more in the future. You have been on the circuit for more than two years now.
The BriefWire