P T Usha, the famous Indian athlete who made India proud and left a mark of her success worldwide. She ruled the running track for almost two decades and gained respect for herself and even for her country throughout the globe. People praised her.

She inspired many girls, and in reality, she is a living legend. She was so fast that no one could easily compete with her. Even today, if you ask someone to mention a few fastest running athletes, P T Usha will be one of the names on the list.

Athlete P T Usha’s Profile

Full Name - Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha
Date of Birth - 27th June 1964 (Kerala)
Father Name - E. P. M. Paithal
Mother Name - T. V. Lakshmi
Nickname - Payyoli Express and Golden Girl
Profession - Track and Field Athlete
Spouse - V. Srinivasan
Children – Ujjwal

P T Usha Early Life

P T Usha was from Payyoli. In her school days, she suffered from some health issues, which later on were cured. Her family was not that rich. She went to a normal school in Payyoli. Since she was from Payyoli, she was given the nickname ‘The Payyoli Express’. The school teachers discovered her talent at a very early age, and since childhood, she has had a keen interest in sports.

When she was studying in fourth grade, her school organized a sports tournament. This young girl was effortlessly able to beat the champion, who was three years senior to her. She did this wonder at the age of 9. It astonished the teachers, and within a few years, she was selected for one of the sport-oriented schools set up by the Kerala government.

Her hard work even moved the government, and she was paid Rs. 250 as the scholarship amount by Kerala Government. The sports school was in Kannur and not in Payyoli. She used to go there for her education and sports training.

Start of P T Usha’s National Carrer

The turning point of P T Usha’s life was when her coach spotted her in 1976 at National School Games. Coach O. M. Nambiar found the young champ, P T Usha at the annual school tournament. He was there as a guest for prize distribution. Her fast walking style and lean shape impressed the coach, and he saw the future. With her physique, he truly believed that P T Usha could be one of the finest sprinters in the sports world.

Coach O. M. Nambiar says she was not like an ordinary person in sports. She was different and very punctual. Also, they lived in a very close location, as a result of which they had ample time to train together, and even the results were very quick.

By this time, she had developed such skills and abilities that she dominated state and national at 16. She is the youngest Indian athlete (sprinter) in Olympics.

Usha started surprising everyone in 1978 at Quilon Nationals and never looked back again. There she won five medals. When she moved from school to college, she won 14 Gold out of 15 at state-level sports organized by Kerala. Her coach was very confident about her. He even says that she was unbeatable in the 200m race.

How Coach O. M. Nambiar Helped P T Usha

Coach O. M. Nambiar had immense belief in P T Usha. It was his thought that she was the best. He always wanted her to keep climbing the success ladder. They both struggled for almost ten years together. Sometimes they didn't have money, so the coach used his pension to travel, which he got from the Air Force.

The coach always dreamt that they both would be representing their country at the Olympics one day. Therefore from the first day of her training, the techniques were accordingly. When she went out of town for some sports meeting, coach Nambiar used to take care of her virtually like a father. He made sure that she should not lose due to lack of training.

When he stopped training her, she was a star in 100m, 200m, and 400m hurdles. People even spread rumors about him when he left training her. However, he denied this. He even said that it is P T Usha due to which today many people know him, and because of her, he received awards.

P. T. Usha International Carrer

P. T. Usha started her International career as an athlete in 1980. She was a part of the ‘Pakistan Open National Meet’ held in Karachi, which was her international debut. She bagged 4 gold medals. Pakistan and India were rivals, and her win made India proud.

After this, in 1982, she participated in the ‘World Junior Invitation Meet’. In this tournament, she won the gold medal in the 200m race and bronze in the 100m race. A year later, she made a world record at the ‘Asian Track and Field Championship’ organized in Kuwait. It was a 400m race, and she won a gold medal.

By this time, she was rocking, but she did not let her joy become her enemy by developing her ego. She kept practicing and improving her performance. She was preparing for the Olympics in the year 1984.

The 1984 Olympics, held in Los. Angles, she made her way to the semifinals by winning the 400m race. However, she lost in the finals by a small margin of 1/100 and couldn’t achieve the bronze medal. This match was very exciting, which reminds about one of the matches of ‘Milkha Singh’ in 1960. It was an intense match till the last moment.

Though she lost, it was a success for her and her country. It was a historic day in India because this was the first time a female athlete represented India at the Olympics. She was able to complete the race in just 55.42 seconds, which is still a national record.

In 1985 P. T. Usha participated in the ‘Asian Track and Field Championship’, organized in Jakarta, Indonesia where she bagged 5 gold and one bronze.

The 10th ‘Asian Games’ was held in Seoul in 1986. She was a part of it and dominated there. P. T. Usha took part in the 200m race, 400m race, 400m hurdle, and 4*400m relay race, and the world saw her dominance. She won all four and was able to win four gold medals. Her win made the country proud, and India was in the limelight. She won several medals in the event and was a record set by a single athlete to win so many medals in a single event. P. T. Usha set this record.

She didn’t pause in her training and kept training herself to increase efficiency in her performance and techniques. In 1989, she was a part of the ‘Asian Track Federation Meet’, which was organized in Delhi where she won 4 gold and two silver medals.

After this, she thought of ceasing her sports career. She was thinking of retirement. However, the mass requested her to participate in an event for the last time. Though she was not fully prepared for the event yet participated in the ‘Beijing Asian Games, for Indians. This was held in 1990 where she bagged 3 silver medals. She then announced her retirement.

P. T. Usha Comeback

In 1991 she was married to Srinivas. The couple then had a kid. In 1998 P. T. Usha shocked everyone by announcing her comeback to the athletics world at 34. She took part in the ‘Asian Track Federation Meet’ in Japan. She won the bronze medal in 200m and 400m races.

At 34, P. T. Usha worked on herself, improved her timing for the 200m race, and made a national record. It clearly states that talent doesn’t have any fixed age and even proves that every drop of her blood contains athlete talent.

Finally, in 1998 P. T. Usha took retirement from athletics because of her knee pain.

Famous Awards Won by P. T. Usha

i.) P. T. Usha was awarded the ‘Arjun Award in 1984 for raising her nation's name and athletics contribution.

ii.) She was given the ‘Padma Shri’ in 1985, India's 4th highest civilian award.

iii.) Indian Olympic Association gave P. T. Usha the title of ‘Sports Person of the Century’ and ‘Sports Women of the Millennium’.

iv.) She was awarded ‘Greatest Women Athelete’ in 1985 for her extraordinary performance at the ‘Asian Athlete Meet’ held in Jakarta.

v.) She was given the ‘World Trophy’ in 1985 and 1986 for the best athlete.

vi.) After the 1986 Asian Games, P. T. Usha was awarded the ‘Adidas Golden Shoe Award For The Best Athlete’.

P. T. Usha Achievements

i.) In 1977, P T Usha set a national record at a state-level tournament in Kottayam.

ii.) She took part in Moscow Olympics in 1980.

iii.) PT Usha is the lady who first represented India at the Olympic finals.

iv.) She is the Youngest Indian athlete to take part in a global competition. She became a part of the Moscow Olympics just at the age of 16.

iv.) P T Usha set up a national record in the 400m hurdle race at Los Angeles Olympics by completing the race in 55.42 seconds.

v.) She has been a part of 3 Olympics.

P T Usha at Current Time

P T Usha runs an athletic school started in 2002 in Koyilandi to train girls from all parts of the country. She started this school with a dream, i.e., to win a medal at Olympics for her country.

The school admits students between the ages group of 10 and 12. She strongly believes that India is lacking behind because of facilities and not because of talents. The school even provides athletes free training, food, and shelter.

P T Usha has also joined the Swachh Bharat Abhyaan. This mission was initiated by PM Modi to make India clean and green. She also supports the victim affected by Kerala's floods or other natural calamities. P T Usha is currently also a member of the advisory board of IIMUN, i.e., India’s International Movement United Nations.

Life Lessons From P T Usha's Biography

P T Usha belonged to a low-income family, but you can see now how much fame she got. You cannot blame your fortune for your birth in a low-income family. However, if you die poor, then you choose it. Without blaming your fortune, strive hard for your goals.

P T Usha never compared herself to other athletes. She always used to compete with herself to make herself better and better. Hard work is the key to success.

Realizing your passion and following it at an early can earn you a big name. Her passion was discovered at the age of 9, and she was the youngest Indian to be part of the Olympics.

A passionate mentor is what you need the most in your life. Coach Nambiar showed interest in P T Usha. Her spirit and personality impressed so much that the coach was fond of training her.

This lady proved that age is just a number and success is still achievable even if you are too old. She took retirement, returned, and made records at age 34.

Apart from so much name and fame, she is a very humble human being. Today she runs a training school that provides free training, shelter, and food.

Biography

P. T. Usha - Biography