P. T. Usha

From humble beginnings to becoming one of India’s greatest track-and-field athletes, and then a builder of future talent.

Early life & background

  • P.T. Usha’s full name is Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha.

  • She was born on 27 June 1964 in the village of Koothali, near Perambra, in the Kozhikode district of Kerala, India.

  • She grew up in modest circumstances, her family being of limited means. She faced early health and financial challenges.

  • Her sporting talent was spotted early: during her schooling she participated in athletics and showed promise.

  • In 1976, the Kerala government started a sports division for girls in Kannur; Usha joined under coach O.M. Nambiar and began formal training.

Rise in athletics

  • In 1979 she took part in the National School Games and won the individual championship, marking her arrival on the national scene.

  • Her international debut came in around 1980 (the Pakistan Open National Meet in Karachi) where she won four gold medals for India.

  • At the 1980 Moscow Olympics she represented India, though she did not win medals yet.

Peak years and major achievements

  • At the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, she won silver in the 100m and 200m sprints.

  • In 1984, at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic track event (400 m hurdles). She narrowly missed the bronze medal by one-hundredth of a second.

  • Her timing in that 400 m hurdles event was 55.42 seconds, which remains the Indian national record.

  • At the 1985 Asian Track & Field Championships in Jakarta, she won 5 gold medals and 1 bronze.

  • At the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, she won four gold medals and one silver, and set new Asian Games records in all the events in which she competed.

Style, reputation & nicknames

  • She was popularly known as the “Golden Girl” and the “Payyoli Express” (after her birthplace Payyoli) because of her speed and dominance in Indian women’s athletics.

  • Her career became symbolic of resilience, especially for women’s sport in India: coming from a small village, rising to near the very top, breaking barriers.

Later career & transition

  • Although she never won an Olympic medal, her Olympic performance in 1984 is still seen as a watershed in Indian athletics.

  • She continued competing into the late 1980s and 1990s. For example, in 1998 at the Asian Championships in Fukuoka, she won bronze medals in the 200 m and 400 m at age 34, demonstrating longevity.

  • She officially retired from competitive athletics around the year 2000.

Awards, honours & impact

  • She received the Arjuna Award (India’s sports honour) in 1984.

  • She was awarded the Padma Shri (one of India’s highest civilian honours) in 1985.

  • In July 2022, she was nominated as a Member of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of India’s Parliament) on a sports quota nomination.

  • In December 2022, she became the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the first woman to hold that post.

Legacy & contributions beyond competing

  • In 2002, Usha founded the Usha School of Athletics in Kinalur, Kozhikode, Kerala—dedicated to training young athletes, particularly girls, in track & field.

  • Her story inspired generations of Indian athletes, especially women, showing that athletes from rural or small-town backgrounds could reach international levels.

  • Through her academy and her ongoing involvement in sports administration, she continues to influence Indian athletics.

Key records & statistics

  • Personal best in 100 m: 11.39 seconds.

  • Personal best in 400 m hurdles: 55.42 seconds (Indian national record).

  • Her dominance in Asian competition: For example, 13 gold medals between 1983-89 in Asian Track & Field meets.

Challenges & memorable moments

  • The heartbreak of narrowly missing an Olympic medal in 1984 remains a defining moment.

  • Coming from a modest financial background and from a small village, she relied on natural talent and a dedicated coach (O.M. Nambiar) to make it.

  • Longevity: returning after breaks, competing successfully later in career (late-30s), transitioning into mentorship.

Why she matters

  • P.T. Usha is often called the “Queen of Indian track & field” and is widely regarded as one of India’s first true modern sports icons.

  • Her achievements helped elevate the profile of Indian women’s athletics.

  • Her legacy is not only in her medals but also in her role as a mentor and administrator shaping the next generation.