Karnam Malleswari Born: 1 Jun 1975 Height: 158 cm/ 5' 2" Weight: 63 kgs / 139 lbs

Karnam Malleswari

So says Karnam Malleswari's biodata on the official Sydney Olympics website. Malleswari, born in Srikakulamn, Andhra Pradesh, was the first Indian woman to ever win an Olympic medal. She won the bronze in the women's 69 kg weightlifting at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. In 1995, Malleswari won the world weightlifting title in her class (54 kg) with a new record, by lifting 113.0 kg in the clean and jerk. Malleswari, who went on to win the contest's gold medal, beat the previous record of 112.5 kg set by China's Long Yuling in December 1993. She also won the 1995 Asian championship. She broke her own records in the Senior National Weightlifting Championship in 1997, and India's first medal, a weightlifting silver, in the 1998 Asian Games. Malleswari was married in 1997 and took a break from competitive weightlifting, to return in 1998 for the Bangkok Asian Games. However, she struggled with her weight thereafter, and was unable to win a medal at the 1999 Athens World Weightlifting championships. There was contention over the choice of weightlifters for India's Olympic team. With three contestants and two spots, there was criticism when Kunjarani Devi was left out. However, Malleswari's bronze validates her selection. About Malleswari Malleswari is awarded the Arjuna Award, India's highest award for sports stars. Mini-bio at AndhraToday.com IWF World Ranking List, 63 kg women. Karnam Malleswari's younger sister, Krishna, is following in her footsteps.