Overview
Kalayathumkuzhi Mathews Beenamol, popularly known as K. M. Beenamol (born 15 August 1975), from Kombidinjal, Idukki district , Kerala is an international athlete from India.
Professional athletics career
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.
Olympics
It was during 2000 Summer Olympics, Beenamol was largely unknown, until she became the third Indian woman to reach an Olympic semi-final since P. T. Usha and Shiny Wilson, who achieved almost the same feat in 400m Hurdles in 800m respectively in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Asian games
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.[3][4][5]
Achievements
Gold4 400 m relay3:31.54
Silver400 m51.412002Asian GamesBusan, South Korea Gold800 m2:04.17 Gold4 400 m relay3:30.842004Olympic GamesAthens, Greece6th4 400 m relay3:26.89 NR
Awards
Beenamol was conferred Arjuna Award in 2000 for her exemplary achievement in her athletic career.[6][7] She is also the 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.[8][9] In 2004, she was awarded the Padma Shri.[10]
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)