'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha or PT Usha as she is popularly called was born on June 27, 1964 to EPM Paithal and TVS Laxmi at the village of Payyoli in Kozhikode district of Kerala. PT Usha has been considered as one of the greatest athletes India has ever seen. The “sprint queen” has been associated with the Indian Olympics since 1979.
Since childhood she has inclination towards sports and athletics and at the age of 12 she represented her district for the Kerala State Government Sports School for Women in the year 1976. This queen of Indian track and field was noticed by OM Nambiar when she took part and won the individual championship in the National School Games in the year 1979 who coached her for the most part of the career.
The Payyoli Express made her debut in the 1980 Moscow Olympics at the age of sixteen. Her performance in the Olympics was however dull. Her spirits were not dampened by the failure at the Olympics and she went on to win medals in other championships. She however became the first Indian Sports Woman to enter an Olympic final.
Usha won two silver medals in 100m and 200m track event in the 1982 New Delhi Asiad. The golden girl set up an Asian record by winning gold at the Asian Track and Field Championship in the 400m at Kuwait in the year 1983. Usha who has won 101 International medals so far astonished the world with her feat in Asian Track and Field event held at Jakarta in the year 1985. She won 5 gold medals in 100 m,200m, 400m,400m hurdles, 4x400m relay and 1bronze medal in a4x100m. in a relay race. This feat has not been surpassed by anybody. In the 10th Asian Games held in the year 1986 at Seoul, P. T. Usha secured 4 gold and 1 silver medal in the track and field events.
PT Usha still rues the fact that she was not able to win the Olympic Bronze medal by a narrow margin. At he age of 34 stunned the country by winning bronze medals in the 200 m and 400 m at the Asian Track Federation meet at Fukkowakka in Japan. PT Usha retired in the year 2000 as she was not able to find a proper coach and was not able to sustain injuries. Now, through her” Usha School of Athletics”, she is grooming young talents.
She was awarded the Padam Shree and Arjuna Award in the year 1985.
