For nearly 3 decades, T. C. Yohannan is an Indian former long jumper who holds the national record in long jump. He has represented India in the 1976 Summer Olympics held at the Montreal, Canada. He originally hails from the state of Kerala. Thadathuvila Chandapillai Yohannan gave the new dimension to long jump and that has been shown in the year 1974, when he participated at the Teheran Asian Games. At the Teheran Asian Games, Yohannan cleared a distance of 8.07 metres for a new Asian Games and continental record. 24 years after the record was set, it remained as a mark, which still adorns the record books of India. Yohannan managed to fetch a permanent place into history with this one saltation, not only in the record books but in the chronological record of the Indian athletics. It was considered as a performance, which was rated at par with that of Milkha Singh`s record breaking run in the Rome Olympics.
On 19th May 1947, T. C. Yohannan was born at Kundara village in Quilon district of Kerala. Thadathuvila Yoahnnan started having his early feel of athletics in the Inter-School Meets for Ezhukone Panchayat in the year 1964. After education, he joined the public sector, Bhilai Steel Plant. He represented his Plant in the Steel Plants Sports Meet held in the year 1969 and in the same year, had his first feel of athletics. In the long Jump and in the triple jump, he finished fourth and fifth respectively. In the year 1970, he accomplished the second spot in the long jump event of the Nationals. In the year 1971, T. C. Yohannan set a national mark of 7.60 metres in Patiala. In an international tournament, T. C. Yohannan was selected to represent India in Singapore. In both the long and triple jump, he won the Gold Medals. The national triple jump title in the year 1972, has been added to his bag. In the year 1973, his 7.78 metre jump has created a new national record. In the 1974 Teheran Asian Games, the fabulous effort of 8.07 metres propelled him into Asian and national limelight. In the next year, he was invited to Japan and won gold medals in competitions that took place at Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kobe. His success has been repeated in championships in the Philippines and Sibu City. At the Montreal Olympics held in the year 1976, his last fling took place at the international competition. After that he put back his shoes.
Yohannan presently works as the Assistant Public Relations Officer with the automobile giant TELCO though he is a diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering. In order to give honor to this eminent athlete, Indian Government conferred the national honour in the form of Ariuna Award in the year 1974. Numerous other awards has been received by him, which include a merit award from the Government of Kerala and the TelcoVeer" award by his employers. The Bombay and Chennai Sports Journalists Association, Lions Club, Sportsweek and the Tata Sports Club of Bombay has also honored him by many felicitation. Former Indian cricketer Tinu Yohannan is the proud son of T. C. Yohannan.
