P. T.

USHA
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, popularly known as P. T. Usha is an Indian athlete from the state of Kerala. She was born in the village of Payyoli, Kozhikode District, Kerala in 1964. She is the first Indian woman (and the fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olympic event. She is nicknamed Payyoli Express.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

First Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic event. Youngest Indian sprinter to compete in the quadrennial sporting extravaganza in Moscow Olympics. She was past 16 then.

Participated in 1982 Delhi Asiad and won the first medal of the games. She won two gold medals in the event

Usha gathered 5 gold medals and one bronze in 1985, at the Jakarta Asian Athletic meet. She also earned a bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay. This is the current record for most gold medals earned by a female in a single track meet.

Won four golds in 1986, Seoul Asian games, and began to be known as Asia's sprint queen

Participated in Olympic games from 1980, except on 1992, Barcelona Olympics.

She won 17 medals -13 gold , 3 silver and a bronze in four Asian Track and Field Championship during the period from 1983-89.

She last participated in Atlanta Olympics , 1996.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Recipient of Arjuna Award ,1984. Greatest women athlete, in 1985 Jakarta Asian Athletic Meet. Padma Sree in 1984. Best Athlete in Asia Award in 1984,1985,1986,1987,and 1989. 1986 Seoul Asian Games, won the Adidas Golden Shoe Award for the best athlete

Thirty International Awards, for her excellence in Athletics. Kerala Sports Journalists Award for the year 1999. World Trophy for best Athlete 1985, 1986

Usha has won 101 international medals so far. At present she is employed as an officer in the Southern Railway and also runs the Usha School of Athletics at Koyilandy in Kerala.