Hi, I’m Shruti Kotwal, India’s fastest woman on ice and the country’s first and only professional female speed skater. I hold national records in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m, and I compete internationally while training at the Utah Olympic Oval.

I started on roller skates in Pune, India, because there wasn’t an ice rink for someone like me to dream in. Since then, I’ve built this career as a self-funded athlete, moving thousands of miles from home and investing everything I have into representing India on the world stage.

I’m skating for every young athlete who has the talent but not the infrastructure, to show that where you’re born does not define how far you can go.

Right now, I’m facing a challenge that grit alone can’t solve.

My O-1 professional athlete visa expires in June. To remain legally in the U.S. and continue training and competing, I must cover immediate immigration filing and legal costs.

With the support of professional skier Caroline Gleich, we are raising funds to cover the legal infrastructure of my career, including the required attorney and filing fees that allow me to stay here and keep racing.

I’ve done the work to compete at this level. This ensures a visa deadline isn’t what stops me.

Thank you for being part of the team that keeps me on the ice.

— Shruti