Shared gold, shared struggles: How Tamil Nadu vaulters Reegan and Gowtham rose above barriers
It’s not often that we see a shared gold medal at a sporting event. To pair it with a meet record makes it rarer still.
That was precisely how the 64th National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai opened on Wednesday. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium had looked subdued, with a sparse crowd scattered across the stands, until the men’s pole vault final lit up the evening.
Tamil Nadu vaulters M. Gowtham and Reegan G. went toe-to-toe, clearing 5.20m on their very first attempt and breaking the previous meet record of 5.11m. Both then pushed for higher ground: Gowtham targeted 5.25m, while Reegan aimed for 5.30m. Neither could clear.
With both stranded at the same height, the decision was left to them — fight for the title or share it.
“Can we try once again?” Reegan asked an official, his voice hesitant. The reply came: “You can, but he has to agree. And if either of you fails, you’ll have to settle for silver.” After a pause and a handshake, the duo chose to share the gold.
“It felt as if I didn’t give my best, but I’m happy with how things have turned out,” Reegan said afterwards. “I know I can do better, and that’s what I’m going to do — perform up to my true potential.”
Gowtham explained his own approach: “I just wanted to give my best, and I didn’t think too much about the outcome or the record. But I’ll keep improving in the coming months.”
Humble beginnings
Behind the bright lights of Chennai, both athletes’ stories began in far simpler settings.
Born in Tanjore and Coimbatore respectively, Reegan and Gowtham trained at empty fields, landing on sand pits instead of foam beds. Their poles were bamboo sticks, a stark contrast to the professional-grade equipment that costs upwards of Rs. 1.6 lakh, making pole vault one of the costliest track and field disciplines.
Reegan remembers how it all started. “Back in school, I used to look up to my seniors who took up athletics. I was interested in sports in general, but it was my physical education teacher who pushed me toward pole vault,” he said.
“I started out small with big dreams, and I kept grinding. This gold medal is a stepping stone, a validation of my hard work, and, I believe, a sign of things to come.”
The path has been no easier for Gowtham. Financial hurdles have stalled his progress, his coach R. Manickaraj admitted.
“He came to me four years ago, and I’ve seen a gradual rise since. His willingness to learn is his biggest strength, but in this sport that only takes you so far. Access to proper poles at the right time makes all the difference. A sponsorship would change things for him,” Manickaraj said.
Manickaraj knows the struggle himself. He was a pole vaulter in the late 80s and early 90s before taking up coaching full-time in 2000.
A shared legacy
Gowtham and Reegan are linked not just by medals but also by coaching lineages. Reegan’s coach, Milber Russel, was once a student of Manickaraj. “He is my godfather,” Milber said. Under Manickaraj’s guidance, Milber learnt the craft, alongside athletes like former national record holder V.S. Surekha, the first Indian woman to clear 4.00m.
Eyes on Asia
For Gowtham and Reegan, the shared gold is a milestone, not a destination. With the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, looming on the horizon, both see this triumph as validation of their promise and as fuel to vault even higher.
Published on Aug 21, 2025