Giving up is not in my vocabulary

Legacy Philips,barely two years old,carried a chubby doll with a pink satin ribbon tied prettily around its bare scalp. As she tagged her mother into a media briefing ahead of Sundays...

Legacy Philips,barely two years old,carried a chubby doll with a pink satin ribbon tied prettily around its bare scalp. As she tagged her mother into a media briefing ahead of Sundays Mumbai Marathon,Legacy saw nothing amiss in a ribbon around the toys hair-less head.

The toddler had obviously inherited the treasured,indomitable confidence of her mom triple Olympic champion and braveheart sprint-hurdler Gail Devers.

Devers,who fought off a debilitating thyroid disorder before she went to the Olympics she was even told her feet might need amputation at one point brought along some strong doses of motivation when arriving in Mumbai on Thursday.

For Legacy and elder daughter Karsen 3,this trip is about returning to kindergarten and boasting to friends about having seen the Arabian Sea. The 42-year-old Devers,though,has seen the stormier side of life on either side of her consecutive 100m Olympic titles in 1992 and 96 the third gold medal coming with the relay team at Atlanta.

Not long ago,26/11 was forced on Mumbai. Something happened that shouldnt have happened,and in such times you wonder if you can go on. But from my experience I can tell you to never give up. Its not in my vocabulary, she said.

Suffering from Graves Disease in 1990,Devers said that being told of her condition had,in fact,brought her immense relief after many failed attempts at an accurate diagnosis.

That day I knew I wasnt crazy, she half-joked. For it had been frustrating when doctors had insisted there was nothing wrong even as Devers,then 23,noticed how her famously long nails started breaking on their own.

Story continues below this ad

I knew it was possible to imagine how I felt,but I wasnt making up how I looked, she said. Devers had even considered retiring and giving up till the docs finally zeroed in on the cause of the malady.

Competing till as recently as two years ago in 60-metre hurdles,an event in which she set another record in front of her daughter,Devers says now that shell never retire. Id told God then if I can keep my feet Ill run for life. Today,I wake up every day thankful that I have feet to put my shoes on. Not retiring ever, she grins.

Zero tolerance

Today,she travels the world for her foundation,fulfilling her childhood wish of becoming a teacher by addressing people from varied walks of life.

I won the Olympics after people told me I wouldnt be able to walk again, she says,her tale inspiring as it is for she was hardly given a chance initially since she was amongst the shortest 100m hurdlers. Devers is equally firm on the dope-menace,saying she favours a life ban for cheats caught even the first time.

Story continues below this ad

My definition of zero-tolerance is if you do wrong,you are gone.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More