P. T. Usha
Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha ( internationally known as PT Usha; * June 27, 1964 in Payyoli, Kozhikode, Kerala ) is a former Indian athlete who has become four times as champion sprinter Asia. During her days as a sprinter, she was called by her fans Payyoli Express, Udanpari or Golden Girl.
Career
PT Usha began as a young schoolgirl with the Sprint. 1976 was built by the district government of Kerala a sports school in Kannur, which was coached by OM Nambiar. Usha was admitted to the 40köpfige squad. In 1979, she took place at the national school championships. They won their individual races and the attention Nambiars who accompanied them as a coach through their entire career.
The first international appearance was Usha in 1980 at an international sports festival in Karachi, Pakistan, where they celebrated four wins. In the same year she took part in Moscow at the 1980 Summer Olympics. She went to the 100 and 200 m, but different than 6 or 7 of their heats from an early age. In 1982 she won the World Junior Invitation Meeting in Seoul ( the precursor of the IAAF World Junior Championships ), the 200 - meter race and took over 100 m, a bronze medal. At the Asian Games in New Delhi, she won silver medals in the 100 and 200 m.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles to PT Usha showed improved. About 400 meters hurdles she came easily to the final. Here it ranked 4 and missed with 55.42 s only 1 /100 second medal. It would have been the first Indian Olympic medal in athletics. The time also meant a new Asian record that is valid even today. Even with the 400 - meter relay, she reached the Olympic final. The quartet eventually finished 7th.
1985 and 1986 were PT Usha's most successful years. In 1985 she triumphed five times during athletics meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. This is still the highest number of wins of athletes at an international sporting event. At the Asian Games in Seoul a year later she was four gold medals (200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 4 x 400 m) and win a silver medal (100 m). Your World Cup debut Usha at the World Athletics Championships 1987 in Rome. She stepped over 400 meters hurdles at, but different than 6 of their semifinal run out.
At the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul in 1988 Usha was handicapped by a heel injury. Nevertheless, she went to for their country in the 400m hurdles, but with a difference for them indisputable time of 59.55 s already out in the flow. A year later she went to an international meeting in New Delhi back to top form and won four races and was twice runner-up. Usha toyed with thoughts of withdrawal, but was persuaded to participate in the Asian Games 1990 in Beijing, where she won three silver medals.
1991 married the sprinter V. Srinivasan and took some time off. The following year son Ujjwal was born. In 1994 she gave her surprising comeback at the Asian Games and helped the 400 - meter relay team to another silver medal. A final highlight should be in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, but it was not used. In 2000, she retired from competitive sports.
After the career
PT Usha, who has completed an apprenticeship at a railway company as a civil servant, now works as a trainer. She leads in Kerala, a training academy for young athletes.
Awards
- Arjuna Award 1984 ( Indian National Award )
- Padma Shri in 1984 (awarded the Government of India )
- Golden Shoe by Adidas in 1986 for the best athlete of the Asian Games in Seoul
- Kerala Sports Journalists Award 1999