K. M. Beenamol

K M Beenamol
Born	15 August 1975 Kombidinjal, Kerala, India
Nationality	Indian

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. 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 4 × 400 m 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.^[1][2][3][4]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  India
2000	Asian Championships	Jakarta, Indonesia	1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:31.54
			2nd	400 m	51.41
2002	Asian Games	Busan, South Korea	1st	800 m	2:04.17
			1st	4 × 400 m relay	3:30.84
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	6th	4 × 400 m relay	3:26.89 NR

Personal life

K. M. Beenamol is married to Dr. Vivek George, a Pathologist and has 2 children Ashwin and Haile (named after Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie)

See also

• List of Kerala Olympians

References

1. "Kombodinjal basks in Beenamol, Binu's glory". Rediff. 16 October 2002. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
2. "K. M. Beenamol". www.sports-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
3. SEN GUPTA, ABHIJIT (16 May 2002). "She's been at it". The Hindu. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
4. "`Star of the Year' award for Beenamol". The Hindu. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 2010-01-28.