Here is the list of Indian athletes who have won a medal in Olympics.
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Athletics was introduced to India during the British Raj in India. Despite being under the control of the British, India took part in the Olympics as a separate team from the British Olympic squad until 1947. India sent the first athlete to the Olympics in the 1900 Games in the form of Norman Pritchard who was an Anglo-Indian. Norman also became the first athlete to win a medal for India at the Olympics. India has won three medals in Athletics in the Summer Olympic Games. The country has been unlucky missing out on a podium finish on numerous occasions. A few of the instances include Milkha Singh who finished fourth in the 400m at the 1960 Olympics and PT Usha missing out on bronze in the 1984 Olympics in 400m hurdles. Long jumper Anju Bobby George too came very close but secured the fifth position in Athens Olympics 2004.
We will now look at the athletes who won medals for India in Athletics at the Olympics.
Norman Gilbert Pritchard, also known as Norman Trevor, won the first medal for India in the Olympics in the men’s 200m. At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, he took home two silver medals after finishing second to American Walter Tewksbury in the 200m and American legend Alvin Kraenzlein in the 200-meter hurdles. He competed in the 110-meter hurdle final but didn’t finish the race. He also ran the 60- and 100-meter sprints but was unable to reach the finals. His participation in the Olympics made him the first Asian-born athlete to win an Olympic medal. Norman was also India’s first athlete to participate in the Games and represent an Asian nation.
Neeraj Chopra is the reigning Olympic champion and silver medal winner in the World Championships in Javelin Throw. He is the only Indian to win a gold medal at the Olympics in the track and field events for India. On August 7, 2021, Neeraj scripted history for India by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in Athletics and the first post-Independence medalist in Athletics. With a throw of 87.58m, Neeraj etched his name in the history books and brought laurels to the entire nation. Neeraj’s gold medal triumph helped India to secure the 48th position in the medal standings, which is also their best-ever finish in four decades. After Tokyo, Neeraj clinched a silver medal in the World Athletics championships 2022, making him the second Indian to win a medal after Anju Bobby George‘s bronze medal win in the Women’s Long Jump in 2003.
