Mariyappan Thangavelu: Difference between revisions

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| country = {{IND}}
| country = {{IND}}
| sport = Athletics
| sport = Athletics
| event = High Jump - T42 &T63
| event = High Jump: T42 &T63
| paralympics = '''[[2016 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T42) – Gold & '''[[2020 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T63) – Silver
| paralympics = '''[[2016 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T42) – Gold & '''[[2020 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T63) – Silver
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}
{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Paralympic Games]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Paralympic Games]]}}[[File:IPC logo (2019).svg|center|40px]]
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]]|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|High Jump (T42)]]}}  
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]]|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|High Jump T42]]}}  
{{MedalSilver|[[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]]|[[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|High Jump (T63)]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]]|[[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|High Jump T63]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2024 Summer Paralympics|2024 Paris]]|[[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Paralympics|High Jump T63]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Para Athletics Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2024 World Para Athletics Championships|2024 Kobe]]|[[2024 World Para Athletics Championships – Men's high jump|High jump T63]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2019 World Para Athletics Championships|2019 Dubai]]|[[2019 World Para Athletics Championships – Men's high jump|High jump T63]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Para Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2022 Asian Para Games|2022 Hangzhou]]|[[Athletics at the 2022 Asian Para Games|High jump T63]]}}
}}
}}


'''Mariyappan Thangavelu''' (born 28 June 1995)<ref>{{cite news|last1=C.|first1=Aprameya|title=Rio Paralympics: Who is history-maker Mariyappan Thangavelu?|url=http://www.oneindia.com/sports/rio-paralympics-who-is-history-maker-mariyappan-thangavelu-2205708.html|access-date=10 September 2016|work=OneIndia.com|date=10 September 2016}}</ref> is an Indian [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] [[High Jump|high jumper]]. He represented India in the [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Summer Paralympics games]]  held in [[Rio de Janeiro]] in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|men's high jump T-42 category]] and the [[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Summer Paralympic games]] held in [[Tokyo]] in the [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|men's high jump T-63 category]] , winning the gold medal and silver medal respectively in the finals.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-10|title=Paralympics 2016 {{!}} Mariyappan Thangavelu wins India's first gold in Rio|url=https://sportscafe.in/articles/sports/2016/sep/10/paralympics-2016-mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-indias-first-gold-in-rio|url-status=live|access-date=2016-09-14|website=Sportscafe}}</ref><ref name="golden_leap">{{cite news|last1=Stalin|first1=J. Sam Daniel|title=Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu's Golden Leap From Poverty|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|access-date=10 September 2016|work=NDTV Sports|date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910123616/http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|archive-date=10 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/mariyappan-thangavelu-sharad-kumar-tokyo-2020-paralympics-high-jump-result}}</ref> He is India's first Paralympian gold medalist since 2004.
'''Mariyappan Thangavelu''' (born 28 June 1995)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/mariyappan-thangavelu-sharad-kumar-tokyo-2020-paralympics-high-jump-result |website=olympics.com |date=31 Aug 2021 |title=Mariyappan Thangavelu wins high jump silver at Tokyo Paralympics |access-date=4 September 2021 |archive-date=3 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903211400/https://olympics.com/en/news/mariyappan-thangavelu-sharad-kumar-tokyo-2020-paralympics-high-jump-result |url-status=live }}</ref> is an Indian [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] [[High Jump|high jumper]]. He is a triple Paralympics medalist having won the gold medal at [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]], the silver medal at [[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]] and the bronze medal at [[2024 Summer Paralympics|2024 Paris]].<ref name="golden_leap">{{cite news|last1=Stalin|first1=J. Sam Daniel|title=Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu's Golden Leap From Poverty|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|access-date=10 September 2016|work=NDTV Sports|date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910123616/http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|archive-date=10 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has also been a double medalist at the [[World Para Athletics Championships|World Championships]] with one gold and one bronze. Additionally, he is an [[Asian Para Games]] silver medalist.


On 25 January 2017, the Government of India conferred him with the [[Padma Shri]] award for his contribution towards sports<ref>{{cite web|url=http://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|title=PadmaAwards-2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129231739/http://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|archive-date=2017-01-29}}</ref> and in the same year, he was also awarded the [[Arjuna Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/sports/national-sports-awards-centre-unveils-list-cricket-sensation-harmanpreet-kaur-to-receive-arjuna-award/819083/|title=National Sports Awards: Centre unveils list, cricket sensation Harmanpreet Kaur to receive Arjuna Award|date=22 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|publisher=Financial Express}}</ref> He was awarded with the [[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] in 2020.
On 25 January 2017, the Government of India conferred him with the [[Padma Shri]] award for his contribution towards sports<ref>{{cite web|url=http://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|title=PadmaAwards-2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129231739/http://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|archive-date=2017-01-29}}</ref> and in the same year, he was also awarded the [[Arjuna Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/sports/national-sports-awards-centre-unveils-list-cricket-sensation-harmanpreet-kaur-to-receive-arjuna-award/819083/|title=National Sports Awards: Centre unveils list, cricket sensation Harmanpreet Kaur to receive Arjuna Award|date=22 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|publisher=Financial Express|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214043349/https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/national-sports-awards-centre-unveils-list-cricket-sensation-harmanpreet-kaur-to-receive-arjuna-award/819083/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was awarded with the [[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] in 2020.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Mariyappan was born in Periavadagampatti village, [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], one of six children (four brothers and a sister). His father reportedly abandoned the family early on and his mother, Saroja, raised her children as a single mother, carrying bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, earning {{INRConvert|100|r}} a day.<ref name="golden_leap"/> At the age of five, Mariyappan suffered permanent disability in his right leg when he was run over by a drunk bus driver while walking to school. The bus crushed his leg below the knee, causing it to become stunted.<ref name="not_beyond">{{cite news|last1=Chidananda|first1=Shreedutta|title=It's not beyond me, even gold is possible: Mariyappan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/its-not-beyond-me-even-gold-is-possible-mariyappan/article8622655.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=20 May 2016}}</ref> Despite this setback, he completed secondary schooling. He says that he didn't see himself as different from able-bodied kids.<ref name="golden_leap"/>
Mariyappan was born in Periavadagampatti village, [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], one of six children (four brothers and a sister). His father reportedly abandoned the family early on and his mother, Saroja, raised her children as a single mother, carrying bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, earning {{INRConvert|100|r}} a day.<ref name="golden_leap"/> At the age of five, Mariyappan suffered permanent disability in his right leg when he was run over by a drunk bus driver while walking to school. The bus crushed his leg below the knee, causing it to become stunted.<ref name="not_beyond">{{cite news|last1=Chidananda|first1=Shreedutta|title=It's not beyond me, even gold is possible: Mariyappan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/its-not-beyond-me-even-gold-is-possible-mariyappan/article8622655.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=20 May 2016|archive-date=20 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520002509/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/its-not-beyond-me-even-gold-is-possible-mariyappan/article8622655.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite this setback, he completed secondary schooling. He says that he didn't see himself as different from able-bodied kids.<ref name="golden_leap"/>


==Athletic career==
==Athletic career==
Mariyappan enjoyed playing volleyball as a student; subsequently, his school physical education instructor encouraged him to try high jumping.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/10-things-need-know-about-indias-mariyappan-thangavelu|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu: 10 things you need to know about India's Paralympic Games gold medalist|date=2016-09-10|access-date=2018-02-16}}</ref> In his first competitive event, aged 14, he placed second among a field of able-bodied competitors, after which he received strong encouragement from his classmates and others in Salem district. In 2013, his current coach Satyanarayana, supported by the Sports Academy of India for the Differently-Abled, first noticed his performance at the Indian national para-athletics championships, and formally took him on as a student in 2015, bringing him to [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] for further coaching.<ref name="not_beyond"/>
Mariyappan enjoyed playing volleyball as a student; subsequently, his school physical education instructor encouraged him to try high jumping.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/10-things-need-know-about-indias-mariyappan-thangavelu|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu: 10 things you need to know about India's Paralympic Games gold medalist|date=2016-09-10|access-date=2018-02-16|archive-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216144129/https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/10-things-need-know-about-indias-mariyappan-thangavelu|url-status=live}}</ref> In his first competitive event, aged 14, he placed second among a field of able-bodied competitors, after which he received strong encouragement from his classmates and others in Salem district. In 2013, his current coach Satyanarayana, supported by the Sports Academy of India for the Differently-Abled, first noticed his performance at the Indian national para-athletics championships, and formally took him on as a student in 2015, bringing him to [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] for further coaching.<ref name="not_beyond"/>


In March 2016, Mariyappan cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.78|m}} in the men's T-42 high jump event at the IPC Grand Prix in [[Tunisia]], qualifying him for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name="not_beyond"/> In Rio, he won the gold medal, again in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T42|T-42 category]], with a jump of {{cvt|1.89|m}}.<ref name="bag">{{cite news|title=Indians bag gold, bronze in men's high jump in Paralympics|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-gold-in-mens-high-jump-at-rio-paralympics/article9093612.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=10 September 2016}}</ref>
In March 2016, Mariyappan cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.78|m}} in the men's T-42 high jump event at the IPC Grand Prix in [[Tunisia]], qualifying him for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name="not_beyond"/> In Rio, he won the gold medal, again in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T42|T-42 category]], with a jump of {{cvt|1.89|m}}.<ref name="bag">{{cite news|title=Indians bag gold, bronze in men's high jump in Paralympics|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-gold-in-mens-high-jump-at-rio-paralympics/article9093612.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=10 September 2016|archive-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913144011/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-gold-in-mens-high-jump-at-rio-paralympics/article9093612.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>


In November 2019, he cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.80|m}} min the Men's T-63 high jump event at the [[2019 World Para Athletics Championships]] in [[Dubai]] to win the bronze medal, behind fellow Indian [[Sharad Kumar (athlete)|Sharad Kumar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai 2019 - Schedule & Results|url=https://www.paralympic.org/dubai-2019/schedule/info-live-results/atdu19/eng/zz/engzz_athletics-event-overview-men-s-high-jump-t63.htm|access-date=2021-08-26|website=International Paralympic Committee|language=en}}</ref>
In November 2019, he cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.80|m}} min the Men's T-63 high jump event at the [[2019 World Para Athletics Championships]] in [[Dubai]] to win the bronze medal, behind fellow Indian [[Sharad Kumar (athlete)|Sharad Kumar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai 2019 - Schedule & Results|url=https://www.paralympic.org/dubai-2019/schedule/info-live-results/atdu19/eng/zz/engzz_athletics-event-overview-men-s-high-jump-t63.htm|access-date=2021-08-26|website=International Paralympic Committee|language=en|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831131334/https://www.paralympic.org/dubai-2019/schedule/info-live-results/atdu19/eng/zz/engzz_athletics-event-overview-men-s-high-jump-t63.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>


In August 2021, he won the silver medal in [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T63|men's T-63 high jump]] event at the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]], which was the second medal in his Paralympic career.
In August 2021, he won the silver medal in [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T63|men's T-63 high jump]] event at the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]], which was the second medal in his Paralympic career.
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==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
*[[Padma Shri]] (2017) - fourth highest Indian national honour<ref name="padma_awards_17">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Home Affairs: Padma Awards 2017|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|website=mha.nic.in|access-date=25 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Padma Shri]] (2017) - fourth highest Indian national honour<ref name="padma_awards_17">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Home Affairs: Padma Awards 2017|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|website=mha.nic.in|access-date=25 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Arjuna Award]] (2017) - second highest Indian sporting honour, including a cash award of {{INRConvert|5|l}}<ref name="desperate">{{cite news|last1=Periwal|first1=Sunaina Rachel|title=Arjuna Award winner and Paralympic gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu desperate for stable job to sustain family|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=Sportskeeda|date=30 August 2017}}</ref>
*[[Arjuna Award]] (2017) - second highest Indian sporting honour, including a cash award of {{INRConvert|5|l}}<ref name="desperate">{{cite news|last1=Periwal|first1=Sunaina Rachel|title=Arjuna Award winner and Paralympic gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu desperate for stable job to sustain family|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=Sportskeeda|date=30 August 2017|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818231508/http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|2|c}} from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]<ref name="crore">{{cite news|title=Rio Paralympics: Jayalalithaa announces Rs 2 crore award for gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/paralympics-gold-medallist-mariyappan-thangavelu-jayalalithaa-cash-award-2-crore-3023852/|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=10 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|2|c}} from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]<ref name="crore">{{cite news|title=Rio Paralympics: Jayalalithaa announces Rs 2 crore award for gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/paralympics-gold-medallist-mariyappan-thangavelu-jayalalithaa-cash-award-2-crore-3023852/|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=10 September 2016|archive-date=12 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912064351/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/paralympics-gold-medallist-mariyappan-thangavelu-jayalalithaa-cash-award-2-crore-3023852/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|75|l}} from the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]<ref name="crore"/>
*{{INRConvert|75|l}} from the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]<ref name="crore"/>
*{{INRConvert|50|l}} from the [[Government of Madhya Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Bhopal: 1,000 athletes to get annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years: Rathore|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=The Free Press Journal|date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|50|l}} from the [[Government of Madhya Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Bhopal: 1,000 athletes to get annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years: Rathore|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=The Free Press Journal|date=6 December 2017|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818231508/http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|30|l}} from the [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt announces Rs 90L cash awards in total for Paralympics medal winners|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/govt-announces-rs-90l-cash-awards-in-total-for-paralympics-medal-winners/story-A4dIaHpm1t1tEZwD7uqjWM.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|30|l}} from the [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt announces Rs 90L cash awards in total for Paralympics medal winners|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/govt-announces-rs-90l-cash-awards-in-total-for-paralympics-medal-winners/story-A4dIaHpm1t1tEZwD7uqjWM.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 September 2016|archive-date=1 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001061609/http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/govt-announces-rs-90l-cash-awards-in-total-for-paralympics-medal-winners/story-A4dIaHpm1t1tEZwD7uqjWM.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|15|l}} from fund established by [[Sachin Tendulkar]], various corporations.<ref>{{cite news|title=India's Rio 2016 Paralympics medal winners felicitated|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/indias-rio-2016-paralympics-medal-winners-felicitated-3063673/|access-date=3 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=3 October 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|15|l}} from fund established by [[Sachin Tendulkar]], various corporations.<ref>{{cite news|title=India's Rio 2016 Paralympics medal winners felicitated|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/indias-rio-2016-paralympics-medal-winners-felicitated-3063673/|access-date=3 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=3 October 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003194650/http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/indias-rio-2016-paralympics-medal-winners-felicitated-3063673/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from [[Yash Raj Films]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Yash Raj Films to honour Indian Paralympic medal winners|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/570337/yash-raj-films-honour-indian.html|access-date=14 September 2016|work=Deccan Herals|date=14 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from [[Yash Raj Films]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Yash Raj Films to honour Indian Paralympic medal winners|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/570337/yash-raj-films-honour-indian.html|access-date=14 September 2016|work=Deccan Herals|date=14 September 2016|archive-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916072657/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/570337/yash-raj-films-honour-indian.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from the Delhi Golf Club<ref>{{cite news|title=Delhi Golf club announces Rs 50 lakh in cash awards for Rio Olympics and Paralympics winners|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/delhi-golf-club-announces-rs-50-lakh-in-cash-awards-for-rio-olympics-and-paralympics-winners-3013334.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Firstpost Sports|date=21 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from the Delhi Golf Club<ref>{{cite news|title=Delhi Golf club announces Rs 50 lakh in cash awards for Rio Olympics and Paralympics winners|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/delhi-golf-club-announces-rs-50-lakh-in-cash-awards-for-rio-olympics-and-paralympics-winners-3013334.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Firstpost Sports|date=21 September 2016|archive-date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510091427/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/delhi-golf-club-announces-rs-50-lakh-in-cash-awards-for-rio-olympics-and-paralympics-winners-3013334.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|5|l}} from NRI businessman Mukkattu Sebastian<ref>{{cite news|title=NRI businessman announces cash prize for 2016 Rio paralympics heroes|url=http://www.newsnation.in/sports-news/other-sports/nri-businessman-announces-cash-prize-for-2016-rio-paralympics-heroes-article-158215.html|access-date=1 February 2017|work=News Nation|date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|5|l}} from NRI businessman Mukkattu Sebastian<ref>{{cite news|title=NRI businessman announces cash prize for 2016 Rio paralympics heroes|url=http://www.newsnation.in/sports-news/other-sports/nri-businessman-announces-cash-prize-for-2016-rio-paralympics-heroes-article-158215.html|access-date=1 February 2017|work=News Nation|date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
*[[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] (2020) - highest sporting honour of India.
*[[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] (2020) - highest sporting honour of India.
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Mariyappan has an elder sister Sudha and two younger brothers Kumar and Gopi.<ref name="bag"/> In 2015, he completed a bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="bag"/>
Mariyappan has an elder sister Sudha and two younger brothers Kumar and Gopi.<ref name="bag"/> In 2015, he completed a bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="bag"/>


Following his Paralympic triumph, Mariyappan used some of his prize money to buy his mother a paddy field, so his family could enjoy a more stable source of income, and also used his winnings to build a better house for his family,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/mariyappan-and-bhati-set-their-sights-on-higher-targets/article19582542.ece|title=Mariyappan and Bhati set their sights on higher targets|last=Ganesan|first=Uthra|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> depositing the remaining sums in an account. In August 2017, Mariyappan said that while it was "a good feeling" to be recognised and to have his neighbours treat him with great respect, he felt "a slight sadness" that even his friends now treated him with increased formality, which irritated him. In a separate interview that month, he said that though he remained committed to an athletic career, he had been living off his prize money, and was in desperate need of a steady job to support his family. He said he had requested help from the Tamil Nadu government, but had not received a reply.<ref name="desperate"/>
Following his Paralympic triumph, Mariyappan used some of his prize money to buy his mother a paddy field, so his family could enjoy a more stable source of income, and also used his winnings to build a better house for his family,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/mariyappan-and-bhati-set-their-sights-on-higher-targets/article19582542.ece|title=Mariyappan and Bhati set their sights on higher targets|last=Ganesan|first=Uthra|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829222309/http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/mariyappan-and-bhati-set-their-sights-on-higher-targets/article19582542.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> depositing the remaining sums in an account. In August 2017, Mariyappan said that while it was "a good feeling" to be recognised and to have his neighbours treat him with great respect, he felt "a slight sadness" that even his friends now treated him with increased formality, which irritated him. In a separate interview that month, he said that though he remained committed to an athletic career, he had been living off his prize money, and was in desperate need of a steady job to support his family. He said he had requested help from the Tamil Nadu government, but had not received a reply.<ref name="desperate"/>


In October 2018, he was named as the flag bearer for the [[2018 Asian Para Games]] held in [[Jakarta]] that month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/mariyappan-thangavelu-named-indias-flag-bearer-for-asian-para-games-5383422/|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu named India's flag-bearer for Asian Para Games |newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> On 7 December, he was offered a Group A post as a coach with the [[Sports Authority of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/sai-appoints-11-olympians-and-3-paralympians-as-coaches-and-assistant-coaches/|title=SAI appoints 11 Olympians and 3 Paralympians as coaches and assistant coaches |newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
In October 2018, he was named as the flag bearer for the [[2018 Asian Para Games]] held in [[Jakarta]] that month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/mariyappan-thangavelu-named-indias-flag-bearer-for-asian-para-games-5383422/|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu named India's flag-bearer for Asian Para Games|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026235238/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/mariyappan-thangavelu-named-indias-flag-bearer-for-asian-para-games-5383422/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 December, he was offered a Group A post as a coach with the [[Sports Authority of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/sai-appoints-11-olympians-and-3-paralympians-as-coaches-and-assistant-coaches/|title=SAI appoints 11 Olympians and 3 Paralympians as coaches and assistant coaches|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414012644/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/sai-appoints-11-olympians-and-3-paralympians-as-coaches-and-assistant-coaches/|url-status=live}}</ref>


A petition to implead T Mariappan, recipient of gold medal in Para-Olympics competitions held recently, in a youth’s death case, has been filed in the Madras High Court. According to the petitioner, her son Sathish Kumar (19) faced the wrath of Mariappan for dashing his two-wheeler against the latter’s new Mahindra car on 3 June last. He was beaten up by Mariappan and his friends Sabari and Yuvaraj. When they snatched his mobile phone, Sathish Kumar ran behind them to get it back. Since then he was missing. However, he was found dead near the railway track the next day. She lodged a complaint with local police on the death of her son and also sought protection. As there was no effective action, she filed the present.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/oct/12/paralympic-hero-mariappan-accused-of-murdering-youth-who-collided-with-his-car-1671715.html | title=Paralympic hero Mariappan accused of murdering youth who collided with his car | date=12 October 2017| newspaper=The New Indian Express | access-date=2 July 2020 }}</ref>
A petition to implead T Mariappan, recipient of gold medal in Para-Olympics competitions held recently, in a youth’s death case, has been filed in the Madras High Court. According to the petitioner, her son Sathish Kumar (19) faced the wrath of Mariappan for dashing his two-wheeler against the latter’s new Mahindra car on 3 June last. He was beaten up by Mariappan and his friends Sabari and Yuvaraj. When they snatched his mobile phone, Sathish Kumar ran behind them to get it back. Since then he was missing. However, he was found dead near the railway track the next day. She lodged a complaint with local police on the death of her son and also sought protection. As there was no effective action, she filed the present.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/oct/12/paralympic-hero-mariappan-accused-of-murdering-youth-who-collided-with-his-car-1671715.html | title=Paralympic hero Mariappan accused of murdering youth who collided with his car | date=12 October 2017 | newspaper=The New Indian Express | access-date=2 July 2020 | archive-date=29 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829121137/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/oct/12/paralympic-hero-mariappan-accused-of-murdering-youth-who-collided-with-his-car-1671715.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
Police has investigated the issue and dismissed the involvement of Mariyappan from this case.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IPC|mariyappan-thangavelu}}


{{Paralympic medalists for India}}
{{Paralympic medalists for India}}
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[[Category:Athletes from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Athletes from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Salem district]]
[[Category:People from Salem district]]
[[Category:Indian male high jumpers]]
[[Category:Indian men high jumpers]]
[[Category:Paralympic athletes for India]]
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[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
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[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the World Para Athletics Championships]]
[[Category:World Para Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Para Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2022 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Asian Para Games]]

Latest revision as of 04:00, 21 February 2026


Mariyappan Thangavelu
Mariyappan at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
Full nameMariyappan Thangavelu
Born (1995-06-28) 28 June 1995 (age 31)
Periavadagampatti, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India
Sport
Country India
SportAthletics
Event(s)High Jump: T42 &T63
Achievements and titles
Paralympic finals2016 Summer Paralympics: High Jump (T42) – Gold & 2020 Summer Paralympics: High Jump (T63) – Silver
Medal record
Representing  India
Men's athletics
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio High Jump T42
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo High Jump T63
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris High Jump T63
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Kobe High jump T63
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Dubai High jump T63
Asian Para Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Hangzhou High jump T63

Mariyappan Thangavelu (born 28 June 1995)[1] is an Indian Paralympic high jumper. He is a triple Paralympics medalist having won the gold medal at 2016 Rio, the silver medal at 2020 Tokyo and the bronze medal at 2024 Paris.[2] He has also been a double medalist at the World Championships with one gold and one bronze. Additionally, he is an Asian Para Games silver medalist.

On 25 January 2017, the Government of India conferred him with the Padma Shri award for his contribution towards sports[3] and in the same year, he was also awarded the Arjuna Award.[4] He was awarded with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Mariyappan was born in Periavadagampatti village, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, one of six children (four brothers and a sister). His father reportedly abandoned the family early on and his mother, Saroja, raised her children as a single mother, carrying bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, earning ₹100 (US$1.40) a day.[2] At the age of five, Mariyappan suffered permanent disability in his right leg when he was run over by a drunk bus driver while walking to school. The bus crushed his leg below the knee, causing it to become stunted.[5] Despite this setback, he completed secondary schooling. He says that he didn't see himself as different from able-bodied kids.[2]

Athletic career[edit | edit source]

Mariyappan enjoyed playing volleyball as a student; subsequently, his school physical education instructor encouraged him to try high jumping.[6] In his first competitive event, aged 14, he placed second among a field of able-bodied competitors, after which he received strong encouragement from his classmates and others in Salem district. In 2013, his current coach Satyanarayana, supported by the Sports Academy of India for the Differently-Abled, first noticed his performance at the Indian national para-athletics championships, and formally took him on as a student in 2015, bringing him to Bengaluru for further coaching.[5]

In March 2016, Mariyappan cleared a distance of 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) in the men's T-42 high jump event at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia, qualifying him for the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[5] In Rio, he won the gold medal, again in the T-42 category, with a jump of 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in).[7]

In November 2019, he cleared a distance of 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) min the Men's T-63 high jump event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai to win the bronze medal, behind fellow Indian Sharad Kumar.[8]

In August 2021, he won the silver medal in men's T-63 high jump event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, which was the second medal in his Paralympic career.

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Mariyappan has an elder sister Sudha and two younger brothers Kumar and Gopi.[7] In 2015, he completed a bachelor's degree in business administration.[7]

Following his Paralympic triumph, Mariyappan used some of his prize money to buy his mother a paddy field, so his family could enjoy a more stable source of income, and also used his winnings to build a better house for his family,[18] depositing the remaining sums in an account. In August 2017, Mariyappan said that while it was "a good feeling" to be recognised and to have his neighbours treat him with great respect, he felt "a slight sadness" that even his friends now treated him with increased formality, which irritated him. In a separate interview that month, he said that though he remained committed to an athletic career, he had been living off his prize money, and was in desperate need of a steady job to support his family. He said he had requested help from the Tamil Nadu government, but had not received a reply.[10]

In October 2018, he was named as the flag bearer for the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta that month.[19] On 7 December, he was offered a Group A post as a coach with the Sports Authority of India.[20]

A petition to implead T Mariappan, recipient of gold medal in Para-Olympics competitions held recently, in a youth’s death case, has been filed in the Madras High Court. According to the petitioner, her son Sathish Kumar (19) faced the wrath of Mariappan for dashing his two-wheeler against the latter’s new Mahindra car on 3 June last. He was beaten up by Mariappan and his friends Sabari and Yuvaraj. When they snatched his mobile phone, Sathish Kumar ran behind them to get it back. Since then he was missing. However, he was found dead near the railway track the next day. She lodged a complaint with local police on the death of her son and also sought protection. As there was no effective action, she filed the present.[21] Police has investigated the issue and dismissed the involvement of Mariyappan from this case.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Mariyappan Thangavelu wins high jump silver at Tokyo Paralympics". olympics.com. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Stalin, J. Sam Daniel (10 September 2016). "Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu's Golden Leap From Poverty". NDTV Sports. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "PadmaAwards-2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "National Sports Awards: Centre unveils list, cricket sensation Harmanpreet Kaur to receive Arjuna Award". Financial Express. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chidananda, Shreedutta (20 May 2016). "It's not beyond me, even gold is possible: Mariyappan". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Mariyappan Thangavelu: 10 things you need to know about India's Paralympic Games gold medalist". 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Indians bag gold, bronze in men's high jump in Paralympics". The Hindu. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Dubai 2019 - Schedule & Results". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "Ministry of Home Affairs: Padma Awards 2017" (PDF). mha.nic.in. Retrieved 25 January 2017.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Periwal, Sunaina Rachel (30 August 2017). "Arjuna Award winner and Paralympic gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu desperate for stable job to sustain family". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Rio Paralympics: Jayalalithaa announces Rs 2 crore award for gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu". The Indian Express. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Bhopal: 1,000 athletes to get annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years: Rathore". The Free Press Journal. 6 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "Govt announces Rs 90L cash awards in total for Paralympics medal winners". Hindustan Times. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "India's Rio 2016 Paralympics medal winners felicitated". The Indian Express. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Yash Raj Films to honour Indian Paralympic medal winners". Deccan Herals. 14 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Delhi Golf club announces Rs 50 lakh in cash awards for Rio Olympics and Paralympics winners". Firstpost Sports. 21 September 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "NRI businessman announces cash prize for 2016 Rio paralympics heroes". News Nation. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Ganesan, Uthra. "Mariyappan and Bhati set their sights on higher targets". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Mariyappan Thangavelu named India's flag-bearer for Asian Para Games". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "SAI appoints 11 Olympians and 3 Paralympians as coaches and assistant coaches". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Paralympic hero Mariappan accused of murdering youth who collided with his car". The New Indian Express. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2020.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Paralympic medalists for India

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