PT Usha

Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha (born 27 June 1964), commonly known as PT Usha, is a former Indian track and field athlete and one of the greatest sprinters India has ever produced. Known as the "Queen of Indian Athletics," she dominated Indian athletics from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, winning 101 international medals including 45 gold medals. Born in Payyoli, Kerala, Usha was discovered by her sports teacher O.M. Nambiar at a school sports meet. She was just 16 years old when she competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, becoming one of the youngest Indian Olympians. She went on to win multiple gold medals at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, where she won four gold medals and one bronze in a stunning display. Her most agonizing near-miss came at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in the 400 meters hurdles final, where she finished fourth by just 1/100th of a second — the narrowest margin possible. This heartbreaking loss, which would have been India's first Olympic track and field medal, remains one of Indian sport's most emotional moments. After retirement, Usha founded the Usha School of Athletics in Kerala, which has trained many of India's top female athletes. In 2022, she was elected president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), becoming the first woman to hold this position. Her contributions to Indian athletics have been immense, inspiring generations of Indian runners.