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The star still shines
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Former Olympian Shiny Wilson was the sole representative from South Asia at the UNICEF panel meet held in Los Angeles. Her experiences...
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ALONG WITH P.T. Usha and M. D. Valsamma, Shiny Wilson (nee Abraham) completes the Kerala triumvirate who gave Indian athletics a new direction, a certain vibrancy in the 1980s and thereafter. Shiny was the 400m and 800m expert and won numerous medals in various competitions, including the Asian Games, Asian track and field and various other international meets. Shiny was also the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic semi-final in the track event, doing so in the 800m in the 1984 Los Angeles edition, which was also her first of four Olympic appearances. Becoming an Asian champion in 400m after attaining motherhood was another highlight of her illustrious career, something that attracted the UNICEF to invite her as sole representative from South Asia to a panel discussion on the "Role of sport as a valuable tool in childhood development". Married to ace swimmer Wilson Cherian (Assistant Sports Officer, Southern Railway), the couple have three children. A Deputy Manager (Public Relations) with the Food Corporation of India, Shiny spoke about her latest experience.
"I first came to know about the panel discussion when the UNICEF's representative in Kathmandu called me sometime in September to check if I would be interested in coming over to Los Angeles for this. I was told that it was my emergence as one of Asia's best in the athletics field after childbirth that had been taken notice of by the UNICEF. A formal intimation followed and on October 10 I flew to Los Angeles, my first trip to the U.S. after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, my fourth and last appearance in the Olympics. The Women's World Cup Football was on in Los Angeles at that time and the panel meet was held concurrently. Those who were with me on the dais were Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF, Joseph Blatter, FIFA President, Reiko Niimi, UNICEF, Brazil, Mary Harvey, Director, Development Division, FIFA, Christopher Forex, European Commission on Education and Culture, Brussels, and Doreen Greenberg, Women's Sports Foundation, USA.
"I presented a paper on the life of an athlete in Kerala, my home State, with stress on my career post-childbirth, which was my best phase. My first child was born in October 1990 and within eight months I was back on track and took part in the National championship in Delhi to grab the 400m gold. In the international permit meet soon after, I stood third. The next year in the Asian Track and Field Championship in Kuala Lumpur, I won a silver in the 800m and a gold in the 400m (the only individual gold medal for India in the meet) aside from a gold in the relay. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, I was named captain of the women's contingent and given the honour of being the flag bearer. Besides, in the 800m event, I set a new national record even though I narrowly missed a place in the semi-final. The London International Meet, 1993, and the 1995 SAF Games provided me more moments in the limelight till the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 after which I quit international competitions.
"I did not know my career would generate so much interest. For, in a hall filled with representatives from various football playing nations, at least the Malaysians and the Sri Lankans interacted with me through out. Somehow they carried the impression that Indian women athletes after marriage and childbirth, quietly fade away. My experience disproved their theory. Yes, it needs sacrifice, punishing practice schedules and encouragement to stage a comeback. I was lucky that my husband, himself a noted sportsperson, inspired me to go on and then my employers, the FCI.
"Meeting the others on the dais was an experience in itself. But nothing went beyond general enquiries. Even Mr Blatter did not talk football with me though I must say it was an exhilarating experience to watch the World Cup football semi-final and final. I am not used to watching much of football. In India I have seen I.M. Vijayan play but the crowd support and the high standard at the World Cup came as a revelation.
"This was my first experience attending an international panel meeting and I am happy to have been part of the Los Angeles declaration on the `use of sports as a means to achieve objectives in child and youth development as well as to promote peace'. It feels good to be recognised for my dedication to athletics."
As told to
S. R. SURYANARAYAN
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