Speed skater Maharshi Udayan Joshi has chosen to study at CQU's Melbourne International Campus while he trains for the 2006 World Skating Championships.

The Masters of Accounting student completed one term in Sydney before transferring to Melbourne in Term 1 2005. He was particularly attracted by the training facilities in the St Kilda and Albert Park areas.

Maharshi started skating when he was eight years old in his home state of Gurjat, India. He was inspired to take up the sport after watching his cousin’s sister skate competitively and describes himself as having been “captivated” by seeing her win gold medals.

Maharshi found he took to skating very quickly and has since had many successes, including touring South America and Europe representing India as their National Champion. Maharshi’s younger brother is now also a professional skater and will attend the World Championships in China later this year.

As a lover of a fast-paced lifestyle, Maharshi says he thrives on the speed of his sport, as well as the team-spirit and feeling of achievement that goes with it. One of his favourite memories is of touring Venezuela, where skating is the national sport. There he says he was mobbed in the streets and asked for so many autographs that he had several personal bodyguards travelling with him at all times.

Maharshi hopes the sport can start to build a bigger profile and become more popular here in Australia. As well as his studies at CQU, he is now focussed on the 2006 World Championships, expected to be held in either Sydney or Melbourne.