Brahmapur: Despite being differently-abled, Gadadhar never gave up. His strong willpower overcame his physical limitations. Initially, he gained attention in the field of bodybuilding and later brought glory to the country, the state, and his locality by winning one medal after another in weightlifting competitions. His dedication and unwavering determination have made him a role model for many. For his success, he is now hailed as the “Golden Boy of Ganjam.”
Gadadhar Sahu hails from Narendra Pur village under Sheragada Block in Ganjam district. In 2008, while studying in 7th grade, he lost both his legs in a train accident. That incident marked the beginning of his struggle. Despite this setback, he completed higher education from Hinjilicut College.
One day, Gadadhar came across the story of India’s first wheelchair bodybuilder Anand Arnold on his mobile phone. Anand’s journey—how he didn’t let the loss of his legs stop him from becoming a successful athlete—deeply inspired Gadadhar. Taking Anand as his role model, Gadadhar began his own journey.
Since bodybuilding is an expensive sport, Gadadhar faced many financial difficulties. During this time, he came in contact with Balal Khan, a senior bodybuilder from Odisha. Within a few days of training under Balal, Gadadhar’s exceptional talent became evident. He began winning medals at district and sub-division levels, bringing pride to his region.
Several individuals stepped forward to support and promote Gadadhar’s talent to the world stage. These included former Hinjilicut police officer Prashant Kumar Sahu, former Ganjam Collector Vijay Amrit Kulange, then Sheragada BDO Subhasis Baral, and Odia film superstar Anubhav Mohanty. Anubhav encouraged him both financially and mentally.
Gadadhar has already won more than 20 medals. In 2021, he shifted his focus from bodybuilding to weightlifting. In 2023, he represented Odisha at the 20th National Senior Para Powerlifting Championship in New Delhi, winning a bronze medal in the 65 kg category and bringing glory to the state. For this achievement, he was felicitated by then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He was also appointed as a non-teaching staff member at Shashi Bhushan Rath Women’s College in Brahmapur by the state government.
Gadadhar has set his sights on winning a medal for India in the Asian Games. He spends around 2 to 2.5 lakhs annually on his diet alone. His daily regimen includes 500 grams of chicken, 15 eggs, juices, salads, dry fruits, vitamins, and protein supplements. He also works out for 2 to 3 hours in the gym every day.
He never imagined achieving so much success. Gadadhar emotionally shares that it’s his dedication, hard work, and strong willpower that brought him this far. He believes there are still many more milestones to achieve on his journey ahead.
