3 Indian Olympians who made history by winning multiple medals
With the Paris Olympics just around the corner, the excitement is building as athletes prepare rigorously. With Indian sports experiencing a significant upswing, expectations are high for continued success in the upcoming Games.
As we look forward to the event, let's take a moment to reflect on the past and celebrate the Indian athletes who have won multiple medals at the Olympic Games.
#1 Sushil Kumar - Bronze in 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver in 2012 London Olympics
Sushil Kumar's journey to Olympic glory began in 2008 when he earned India's second-ever wrestling medal. Competing in the 66kg freestyle wrestling event in Beijing, he faced a setback in the first round, losing to Andriy Stadnik. Undeterred, he fought through the repechage rounds, defeating Doug Schwab and Albert Batyrov to reach the bronze medal match. The grappler triumphed over Leonid Spiridonov 3-1 to secure the bronze.
At the 2012 London Olympics, he had the honor of carrying the Indian flag during the opening ceremony. He surpassed his previous performance by winning a silver medal, after a victorious semifinal match against Akzhurek Tanatarov, though he was bested by Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu in the final.
This achievement made him the first Indian to win two individual Olympic medals since independence, cementing his place in India's sporting history.
#2 PV Sindhu - Bronze in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver in 2016 Rio Olympics
PV Sindhu is a trailblazing Indian shuttler who has made history with her Olympic achievements. She is the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals, securing a silver in Rio 2016 and a bronze in Tokyo 2020.
At the Rio Olympics, PV Sindhu defeated Laura Sárosi and Michelle Li in the group stage, ousted Tai Tzu Ying in the Round of 16, and Wang Yihan in the quarterfinals. She triumphed over Nozomi Okuhara in the semifinals, securing a silver medal after a tough final against Carolina Marín. The Hyderabadi thus became India's youngest individual Olympic medalist and the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver in badminton.
At the Tokyo Olympics, PV Sindhu won her group matches, defeated Mia Blichfeldt and Akane Yamaguchi, and clinched the bronze by beating He Bingjiao, becoming the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals in badminton.
#3 Norman Pritchard
Norman Gilbert Pritchard was a British-Indian athlete who made history as the first Asian-born athlete to win an Olympic medal. Representing India at the 1900 Paris Olympics, he secured two silver medals in athletics, specifically in the 200 metres sprint and the 200 metres hurdles categories.
Despite not being Indian by blood, Pritchard's achievements marked India's first Olympic medals, a significant milestone achieved long before the country's independence.