Kalayathumkuzhi Mathews Beenamol, popularly known as K M Beenamol, became the second Indian to reach an Olympics semi-final since P.T. Usha. Until she won an electrifying first heat at the Sydney Olympics 2000, Beenamol was largely unknown.
She won the gold medal in women`s 800m at Busan Asian Games (2002). Beenamol also made history with her brother athlete
K. M. Binu, when they became the first Indian siblings to win medals in a major international competition. Binu won a surprise silver medal in men`s 800m race.
She was a 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. In 2004, she was awarded the Padma Shri.
