Today, Usha is a symbol of success, perseverance and confidence. In her long athletic career, she has been greeted with bouquet and brickbats, admiration and abuses, encouragement and humiliation. She has never been emotionally susceptible to provocative remarks from fellow athletes and coaches. But Usha was distraught when locals hurled stones at her house, called her anti-national and pasted posters all over Payyoli soon after her disastrous performance in the 1988 Olympics. Her exploits at the track have brought her moments of glory and depression.
Great athletes can never retire.
So these days, she just takes off with her husband V Sreenivasan to the beach nearby to run for a mile or two, reliving the past and relishing the spirit of athletic life. Southern Railways, where she works, had asked her to be ready to leave for Sydney to watch the Olympics extravaganza. In a country that is increasingly getting deprived of sporting talent thanks to lack of modern facilities, Usha has a vision. She will soon start the Usha School of Athletics to teach and train young Indian talents to make a mark in the international sporting arena.