Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee PT Usha (President Indian Olympic Committee)
P.T. Usha's time as a student at the Kannur Sports Division school was a transformative period defined by rigorous training, personal sacrifice, and the beginning of her legendary athletic career under the guidance of her dedicated coach, O.M. Nambiar.
Joining the Sports Division: Usha joined the Kerala State Government's Sports Division for women in Kannur in 1976, at the age of 12. She was selected after an advertisement in the newspaper and topped the selection trials.
Strict and Dedicated Training: Usha was known for her sincerity and dedication, always following her coach's instructions and never taking training easy. Coach O.M. Nambiar, who spotted her talent, played a pivotal, almost paternal, role in her development, often buying her oranges with his own money as treats for training well. The training regime was arduous, involving practice for hours each day
Early Success: Her time at the school quickly yielded results. She won six medals (four gold, one silver, one bronze) at the inter-state junior meet in Kollam in 1978 and went on to win numerous medals at the National School Games and National Games in the following years, setting many records.
Path to International Stage: Her success at the national level, including defeating the national champion at the Ajmer Nationals, led to her selection for the Indian team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, her first international event, while still a teenager.
Her time at Our school laid the foundation for Usha to become one of India's greatest athletes, earning nicknames like "Payyoli Express" and "Golden Girl".
Usha, born in Payyoli, Kozhikode district of Kerala, remained the ‘Queen of track and field’ for almost two decades. She is Fondly called the ‘Payyoli Express’ for her awesome speed he Her international debut in the 1980 Moscow Olympics proved lacklustre. In the 1982 New Delhi Asiad, Usha bagged a silver medal in the 100m and the 200m, but at the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuwait a year later, Usha bagged the gold in the 400m with a new Asian record. From 1983-89, Usha notched up 13 gold medals at ATF Meets
PT Usha is India’s first sports icon, who was an inspiration to people across the nook and corner of India, cutting across gender, generation and professional boundaries. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Usha finished first in the semi-finals of the 400m hurdles, but narrowly missed a medal in the finals. Usha lost the bronze by 1/100th of a second. She became the first Indian woman (and the fifth Indian) to reach the final of an Olympic event by winning her 400m hurdles semi-final.