K. M. Beenamol
Kalayathumkuzhi Mathews Beenamol, popularly known as K M Beenamol (born 15 August 1975, Kombidinjal, a village in Kerala, India) is an international athlete from India. She became the third Indian woman to reach an Olympics semi-final since P. T. Usha (1984 LA Olympics in 400m Hurdles, Shiny Wilson in 800m in 1984 LA Olympics.[1] Until she won the first heat at the Sydney Olympics 2000, Beenamol was largely unknown. She won the gold medal in women's 800m and the 4x400m women's relay in the 2002 Asian Games held at Busan. Beenamol also made history with her brother K. M. Binu, when they became the first Indian siblings to win medals in a major international competition. Binu won a silver medal in men's 800m race. She was a joint winner of India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the year 2002-2003 along with Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat. In 2004, she was awarded the Padma Shri.