T C Yohannan

T.C. Yohannan is a former Indian Athlete who held a national record in long jump for almost three decades. In the year 1976 during the Summer Olympics in Quebec, Canada he represented India. His full name is Thadathuvila Chandapillai Yohannan.

He hails from South India; he took birth in Kollam, Kerala on 19th May 1947. During the Tehran Asian Games in 1974, he set up a new Asian record for long jump. He jumped a distance of 8.07 meters and made history. For this feat, he got honored with an Arjuna Award in 1974 as well as many other Awards from Kerala State government as well. He hails from South India; he took birth in a small village in Kollam, Kerala on 19th May 1947.

From an early age Sports interested Yohannan, he regularly took part in Inter-School Sports meets. In 1964 he represented the village Ezhukone in a sports meet. A few years later he shook hands with public sector Bhilai Steel Plant. He took part in Stell Plants sports meet and represented Bhilai Steel Plant. In 1969, he competed at National Level sports event for the first time.

He got fifth place in triple jump and secured fourth place in long jump. A year later in the Nationals, he raised the bar and finished second in the long jump event. In 1971 during the Nationals in Patiala, Punjab he set a record of 7.6 meters in the long jump. Yohannan became the new champion from Kerala in athletics.

Afterward, he went to Singapore to represent India internationally and got Gold in the long jump and triple jump. In 1973, he created a new national record with his 7.78 meters jump. During the Tehran Asian Games in 1974, he set up a new Asian record for long jump. He jumped a distance of 8.07 meters and made history.

For this feat, he got honored with an Arjuna Award in 1974 as well as many other Awards from Kerala State government as well. Later on, Yohannan participated in Sports events in Japan, Philippines, Canada, etc. He did not disappoint and won many medals for the nation.

Yohannan took his last jump in the Summer Olympics in Quebec, Canada in the year 1976. After that, he took retired. Currently, he works as an Assistant Public Relations Officer at TELCO. He is the father of two sons, his younger son Tinu is a cricketer.