‘Back to my era’: PT Usha revisits her iconic track days amid viral 80s trend

Four decades after achieving legendary status in Indian athletics, former Olympic star and IOA President PT Usha revisited her iconic track days on social media, sharing nostalgic photographs from the 1980s. In a post that referenced the current resurgence of interest in the decade, Usha captioned the images, "Heard the 80s are trending again, so I thought I’d take you back to my era," accompanied by snapshots showcasing her formative years as one of India’s most celebrated athletes.

Known as the 'Payyoli Express,' Usha made history as the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic athletics final, participating in three Olympic Games: Moscow in 1980, Los Angeles in 1984, and Seoul in 1988. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she narrowly missed a medal in the 400m hurdles, finishing fourth. Beyond the Olympics, Usha claimed India's first athletics medal at the 1982 Asian Games and secured four gold medals at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.

After retiring from competitive athletics, she transitioned into sports administration, dedicating herself to nurturing future Indian athletes and establishing the Usha School of Athletics in Kozhikode, Kerala. Recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2022, Usha was elected as IOA president, becoming the first woman to lead the nation's top Olympic organization.

As IOA gears up for governance changes ahead of upcoming elections, Usha continues her leadership role, managing and representing Indian sports at major international events. The 80s trend on social media, featuring vintage photos, fashion, music, and pop culture icons, has reignited interest in the decade, but for Usha, it resonates as the era when she solidified her legacy as a trailblazer.