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Mariyappan Thangavelu Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth28 June 1995

Age29 Years

BirthplacePeriavadagampatti village, Salem, Tamil Nadu

ProfessionParalympic high jumper and high jump coach

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyMother - Saroja; Siblings include Sudha, Kumar and Gopi

Mariyappan Thangavelu Biography

Mariyappan Thangavelu is an Indian para-athlete specializing in high jump. Born in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, he rose from a challenging childhood to win,

Early life and background

Mariyappan Thangavelu was born on 28 June 1995 in Periavadagampatti village in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a large family raised by his mother, Saroja, after his father left. Mariyappan is one of six children and has siblings named Sudha, Kumar and Gopi among others. He completed his schooling and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from AVS College of Arts and Science in Ramalingapuram, Tamil Nadu.

When Mariyappan was five years old he suffered a severe leg injury when a vehicle ran over his leg. The injury left his lower leg stunted, yet he continued his education and remained active in sport during his youth. He initially enjoyed volleyball before being encouraged by a school physical education teacher to try high jump.

Career

Mariyappan’s high-jump talent became apparent during national-level meets. In 2013 he was noticed by coach Satyanarayana, who persuaded Mariyappan’s family and arranged for him to train in Bengaluru at SAI facilities. Under Satyanarayana’s guidance, Mariyappan developed into a world-class para high jumper.

His breakthrough came at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he claimed gold in the men’s high jump T42 event by clearing 1.89 m. That victory made him a prominent figure in Indian para-sport and brought widespread recognition. The Government of Tamil Nadu and various organisations rewarded him with prize money following his Rio success; Mariyappan used those funds to improve his family’s living situation, including purchasing land for his mother to cultivate and building a better house for them.

Mariyappan continued to perform at top-level events. He won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in the men’s high jump T63 event. At the Tokyo Paralympics (held in 2021 and referred to as the 2020 Games), he won the silver medal in the men’s high jump T63 category. He later added a bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris in the same event classification.

Beyond medals, Mariyappan served as India’s flag bearer at major multi-sport events. He carried the flag at the 2018 Asian Para Games opening ceremony in Jakarta and was named as a flag bearer for Tokyo 2020, although quarantine measures on arrival meant he could not perform that role in person. In 2018 he was also appointed to a Group A coach post with the Sports Authority of India alongside several Olympians and fellow Paralympians.

Honours

Mariyappan’s sporting achievements have been recognised with several national honours. He received the Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award in 2017, and India’s Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2020.

Public profile

Physically, Mariyappan is listed at approximately 168 cm (1.68 m / 5 ft 6 in) with black hair and black eyes. He follows a non-vegetarian diet and has stated preferences such as chicken soup. He cites the actor Rajinikanth among his favourites and drives a BMW 3 Series GT.

Mariyappan has spoken openly about the financial pressures he and his family faced after his rise to international success. While prize money from his Rio win provided immediate relief and allowed him to make investments for family security, he later described the need for a steady job to support his household.

He also shares a personal motto that has guided him through adversity: “Try and try again, you will succeed in the end.” That resilience has been a hallmark of both his training and competitive career.

Latest updates

As of 2024 Mariyappan is 29 years old and continues to be active in para-athletics, with recent podium finishes at major international events including the 2024 Paralympic Games. He remains unmarried and is known publicly by his hometown of Salem, Tamil Nadu, where his roots and family ties remain central to his story.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Mariyappan Thangavelu, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Men's High Jump T-63 - Bronze

Bronze medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris in the Men's High Jump T-63 event

2024
Men's High Jump T-42 - Silver

Silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo in the Men's High Jump T-63/T-42 category

2021
Men's High Jump T-42 - Gold

Gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the Men's High Jump T-42 event, clearing 1.89 m

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. Gold medal — 2016 Rio Paralympics, Men's High Jump T-42
  2. Silver medal — 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Men's High Jump T-63/T-42
  3. Bronze medal — 2019 World Para Athletics Championship, Men's High Jump T-63
  4. Bronze medal — 2024 Paris Paralympics, Men's High Jump T-63
  5. Padma Shri (2017)
  6. Arjuna Award (2017)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mariyappan Thangavelu born?

Mariyappan Thangavelu was born on 28 June 1995.

What is Mariyappan Thangavelu known for?

Mariyappan Thangavelu is known for paralympic high jumper and high jump coach.

What is Mariyappan Thangavelu’s marital status?

Mariyappan Thangavelu's marital status is listed as Unmarried.