At Rio 2016, Thangavelu won India’s first Paralympic gold medal since 2004 with victory in the men’s high jump T42. His achievements and life are now being made in to a film titled “Mariyappan” by director Aishwaryaa Dhanush.
He qualified for Rio in March 2016 clearing a height of 1.78m at the Grand Prix in Tunis, Tunisia. He secured Paralympic gold in Rio with a jump of 1.89m, an Asian record.
Encouraged to take up sport by his physical education teacher, Thangavelu got into athletics while he was a student at school in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
He injured his leg at age nine when a bus rolled over it on his way to school, crushing it below the knee. The accident stunted the growth of his leg.
In 2015, Thangavelu completed a bachelor's degree in business administration from AVS College of Arts and Science.
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's High Jump T42 | Final Round | 2016-09-09 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's High Jump T63 | Final 1 | 2019-11-14 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's High Jump T63 | Final | 2021-08-31 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's High Jump T63 | Final | 2024-09-03 | 3 |
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