Karnam Malleswari is the first Indian weightlifter, male or female, to win an Olympic medal.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Malleswari lifted 110 kg in the "snatch" and 130 kg in the "clean and jerk" categories for a total of 240 kg. She won the bronze medal and became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
Malleshwari started her career when she was 12 & won the Olympic medal when she was 25.
Malleswari was awarded with Arjuna Award in 1994, India's highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 1999, and Padma Shri in 1999.
She inspired a generation of athletes, women in particular like the Phogat sisters, that followed her. Manipuri youngster, Mirabai Chanu won silver in weightlifting in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics becoming the second Indian weightlifter to win an Olympic medal.
Karnam Malleswari is the first Vice-Chancellor of Delhi Sports University.