Little known K.D Jadhav was the real India's first ever individual Olympic medalist when he won the wrestling Bronze Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games. Unable to procure any grants from the national government, Jadhav's trip to Helsinki was financed by the Principal of Raja Ram College, Mr. Khardekar who mortgaged his house to get the funds needed for the trip.

Khashaba wrestling initiation began at a very tender age when he, accompanied by his father, used to watch wrestling bouts. Like many families in Maharashtra, Jadhav's too was swept into wrestling. His father Dadasaheb taught the game to his five sons, of whom Khashaba was the youngest. His physical fitness was ensured by a four mile brisk walk everyday from his residence to school. Gradually he began emerging as an

Born on June 1, 1975, Karnam Malleswari became the prefect epitome for women across India by being the first Indian woman to win an Olympics Medal. The event that she participated in is seldom seen as a "conventional" woman's sport. Malleswari's triumph was an acknowledgment to Indian women as she became the first woman in Indian history to win an Olympics medal in weightlifting. She won a bronze in the 69kg category, at the Sydney Summer Olympics in 2000, thus revolutionizing how Indian sports personalities with particular regard to women were seen at a global platform. Her achievement commissioned women all across the sub-continent to engage themselves in a rather male dominant sport, thus empowering their position in the male chauvinist society.

The "Iron girl of Andhra Pradesh" began weightlifting at the age of twelve in her village. Her career blossomed fruitfu

Pritchard brought glories to his Land when he represented India for the very first time in the 1900 Olympics. He was also the first Indian and first Asian to win an Olympics Medal. During the second official Summer Olympics in Paris, Pritchard came second in the 200 meters and second in the 200 meters hurdles. (The gold medal was won be Tewksbury of the United Sates and Alvin Kraenzlein of the United States, respectively).

In the 1900 summer games, Pritchard also set a world record in the second heat of the 200 meters hurdles which was bettered by Kraenzlein in the final.

Some other great achievement by this versatile athlete were:- he won the Bengal province 100 yards sprint title for seven consecutive years from 1894 to 1900 and set a meet record in 1898-99. He also won the 440 yards run and the 120 yards hurdles. Norman served as Secretary of the Indian Football Ass

From her early school days, P.T Usha showed sparks of her athletic talent by winning track events. At the age of 12, she represented her district for the Kerala State Government Sports School for Women. Just three years later, she participated in the National School Games and won an individual medal.

She made her international debut at the age of 16 in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, her performance in the 1980 Moscow Olympics was lacklustre. But, she gathered her strength and confidence from that outing to do something that no Indian had ever done - at her next Olympics, she became the first Indian sportswoman to enter the >Olympics final and that too at the prime age of only twenty.