P. T. Usha India’s Golden Girl

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Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha

Athletes | Athletics

Full Name: Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha

Born: Payyoli, Kozhikode District, Kerala, India

Date of Birth: 27 May 1964

Age: 61

Nicknames: Payyoli Express, Golden Girl

Sport: Sprinting, Hurdling

Height/Weight: 50 kg / 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)

P. T. Usha, popularly known as the “Payyoli Express” and India’s “Golden Girl,” is a legendary sprinter and hurdler. She represented India in Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games, setting multiple national and Asian records. Renowned for her near-miss at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she continues to inspire generations through her Usha School of Athletics and leadership in Indian sports.

P. T. Usha, famously called the “Payyoli Express” and India’s “Golden Girl,” is one of the country’s greatest track and field athletes. Born on 27 June 1964 in Payyoli, Kerala, she displayed exceptional talent in sprinting and hurdles from a young age. Under the mentorship of coach O. M. Nambiar, Usha quickly rose to national prominence, dominating championships across 100m, 200m, 400m, and 400m hurdles events. Her remarkable performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she narrowly missed a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles by just one-hundredth of a second, remains an unforgettable moment in Indian sports history.