P. T. Usha

Pilavullakandi Thekke Parampil Usha (P.T. Usha) needs no introduction to all Keralites. Because of her speed on the race track, she has several nicknames like "Payyoli Express'", "udanpari" and “Golden Girl”.

P.T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. Her first international performance was at Pakistan Open National Meet in Karachi (1980), she won 4 gold medals for the country. During the Los Angeles Olympics (1984) unluckily she came fourth, at 55.42 seconds, missing India's first track-and-field bronze medal in the 400M hurdles finals by 1/100 sec (despite setting a commonwealth record at the time).

She was awarded the Arjuna Award ( for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games) in 1983 and Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian honours) in 1985.

She was born in Kuttali, Kozhikode, Kerala to E.P.M. Paithal and T.V. Lakshmi. She is married to V. Srinivasan, an inspector with Central Industrial Security Force in 1991. The couple have a son

At the age of 20 P.T. Usha became the first Indian sportswoman to enter the Olympics final.

Her time of 55.42 seconds in 400 m hurdles, which she set during the Los Angeles Olympics (1984) still stands today as Indian National Record.