Spirituality in sports: Sri Chinmoy competes in the 400 meter event at the World Masters Games, Puerto Rico, 1983

Over the next ten years, as resources allowed, the ashram found sports venues and acquired equipment. The program expanded to include all the events of track and field as well as soccer, volleyball, table tennis and swimming; students also learned marching in formation. Girls as well as boys participated.

While deeply immersed in contemplative practices and studies, Chinmoy became an outstanding athlete during his twenty years at the ashram. He excelled in track and field, especially sprinting. He won first prize in the decathlon competition in 1958 and 1959, and the prize for “fastest runner” every year from 1948 to 1960. He retired from competition in 1962 but continued sports for general fitness and inspiration, still enjoying soccer and table tennis and also coaching.

After arriving in the United States in 1964, Chinmoy maintained his regular regimen and took up new sports, notably distance running, tennis, cycling and weightlifting. He met and honored many distinguished athletes, including Muhammad Ali and his childhood hero, Jesse Owens. He formed especially close and lasting friendships with Olympic great Carl Lewis, five-time Mr. Universe Bill Pearl and the “father of long distance running,” Ted Corbitt, a founder of the New York City Marathon. For the rest of his life he remained keenly interested in sports of all kinds, following the Olympics (which he attended in 1976, 1984 and 1988), tennis matches and other events.