We have heard of legends like MS Dhoni and LeBron James defying the odds and pushing their limits to perform at the highest level of their respective sports. True to the kindred spirit, here is another relentless soul—a brave heart refusing to surrender.

That’s the story of Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh, princess of Vijayanagaram (Vizianagaram), Andhra Pradesh. At the age of 72, Vidya Singh is everything we aspire to be—an entrepreneur, athlete, swimmer, cyclist, and mountaineer. She recently scaled Mount. Kilimanjaro and now, she has her eyes set on a few more peaks to conquer in the coming days.

In this unfiltered talk, Vidya Singh took us through her inspiring fitness journey and transported us to the tough terrains of the treks through her words. More than anything, she has left a trail of golden wisdom for Gen Z.

At 72, having come from a royal lineage, you’ve accomplished things many wouldn’t dare to try. What continues to drive you?
The Royal Lineage is by birth, and I am certainly proud to have been born into the Royal Family of Vijayanagaram. My Father, Rajkumar Vishveshwar Gajapathi Raju, was an athlete, and so was my mother, Radha Gajapathi Raju, playing multiple sports. From a very young age, I was brought up to play and train in different sports.

Tennis, swimming, horse riding, and running were very much a part of my daily life. In fact, I cannot remember a time in my life when I have not played a sport. I was proud to have represented Madras University and my college Stella Maris in Tennis for three years between 1970-1973. It was a natural progression to continue to play and train. This passion has continued to this day. I have had different interests over the years. I was a runner and used to run a 10km four times a week. I have completed a couple of half marathons, too! My best timing for a half was 2hrs10min.

I still swim regularly and am proud to say that I have participated in National Masters swimming events for the past 8 years, along with Tamil Nadu State Swim events in Madras and Pan Indian Masters Games, winning several gold and silver medals every year.

In May, I participated in a Pan Indian Masters event in Goa. In July, I will be swimming in my first international event in Singapore. I took up bicycling about 12 years ago, and I love the sport. I cycle 50 to 60 km every Sunday and take part in some cycling events as well. I’m part of a group called The Spokespersons. I train with weights regularly and walk 7 to 10 km a couple of times a week. Trekking was a natural progression.

Sports have played a constant role in your life, from tennis and swimming to mountaineering. What has kept you so connected to physical activity and do you believe it’s essential for everyone?
Physical activity is absolutely essential for everyone. This is a given, and there can be no compromise on this. It is a way to keep yourself strong and healthy all your life. The other factor, which is of utmost importance, is nutrition. Any physical activity creates a feeling of wellness that is so essential for a life of quality. I am addicted to sport and fitness, and it is a constant in my life along with healthy eating.

Climbing mountains is no small feat. After several expeditions, you recently summited Mount Kilimanjaro. What inspired you to take on such a demanding challenge?
I began climbing in 2013, scaling Stok Kangri (the Highest peak in Ladakh), with TM Krishna and Badri Vijayraghavan! It was my first adventure into the mountains, and a life-changing experience! The mountains seep into your soul and keep drawing you back! There is a fundamental question that comes up in everyone’s mind. What is it that draws us to these mountains? Why do we take ourselves out of our comfort zone, go out to these remote and sometimes dangerous areas, and push ourselves beyond our physical limits? The incredible beauty of nature is all around. It silences us. Mountains, rivers, snow, ice, glaciers, beautiful meadows, rain, and sun, we experience all of it.

The mountains are an incredible place to be, we realise how insignificant we are as human beings when we walk in the midst of them. Their supreme magnificence awes us, and we feel the presence of a greater power when we look around. There is always an enormous respect for the hardy people who live there. The challenges that we face every day are so satisfying, as the terrain is rough, the altitudes are high, and the paths are often fraught with danger. There is a feeling of immense satisfaction at the end of every trek as we realise that we have been up against all the way every day. There is also a realisation that we are the fortunate few who can experience and live out our dreams!

Tell us about your next goal—your upcoming trek to Mount Fuji. What excites you most about this adventure?
I have been doing two treks a year for the past several years. And have completed 19 treks so far – Five treks in Nepal and Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Bhutan, South America (Machu Picchu and Patagonia), and Kashmir.

In 2022, we climbed the Yunam Summit at 6110m in Lahaul Spiti, and last year, we climbed Mentok Kangri at 6250m in Eastern Ladakh. Mount Kilimanjaro was on our bucket list, and I was so happy to have been able to summit Uhuru Peak at 5895m. We always climb with the utmost respect for the mountain; it is never ever about conquering the mountain. We pray to the mountain Gods and the universe to allow us to climb in perfect conditions.

Next on my bucket list is Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Fuji in Japan! Elbrus is on the list of the seven summits in seven continents, which all summiters start with Everest and need to complete.

Your life is a powerful example. if you could leave us with just one message, what would it be?
I think the message would be two things: always live life with discipline and integrity. Fitness absolutely has to be an integral part of your life, throughout your life! The quality of your life will show in this at any age. I have never thought of retirement! I’m enjoying everything I am doing now and hope to continue for as long as I can. God willing and health permitting, there are many more mountains to climb. I have to say that almost all my climbs have been curated by “Get Up And Go,” Arjan Kripal Singh’s company, one of the best trekking companies in India.