Krishna Jayasankar Menon’s fourth throw at India’s 29th National Senior Athletics Federation Competition in May landed at 17.35 meters, the farthest she had ever thrown outdoors. It won the her the national title for women’s shot put.

Two years earlier, that milestone was hard for the student-athlete to imagine as a fractured hand derailed her Olympic bid. Menon, then an undergraduate business major who recently transferred to UNLV, had a difficult stretch as she navigated coaching changes and sought stability in her training.

“It was one of the most difficult periods of my career,” said Menon. “Physically and mentally. It forced me to slow down and reflect.”

The setback affected more than her ability to throw. She experienced frustration and anxiety during that period and the work it took to rebuild, with support from coaches, strength staff and sports psychologists.

By the 2025 Mountain West Indoor Championships, she was back to throwing at record-setting distances. Her 16.03-meter throw made her the first Indian woman to surpass 16 meters in indoor shot put.

During the 2026 season, she repeatedly improved the Indian indoor record, eventually reaching 17.09 meters at the Mountain West Championships. She went on to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships, where she earned Second Team All-American honors.

Her outdoor breakthrough followed in Ranchi, where the 17.35-meter personal best earned her the national title.

“It was not just about winning a title,” Menon said. “It was about overcoming obstacles and proving to myself that I belonged at the highest level.”

Finding Her Way to UNLV

Menon grew up in Chennai, India, in a family of elite athletes. Her father, C. Jayasankar Menon, played for India’s men’s national basketball team from 1987 to 1997. Her mother, Prasanna Jayasankar, played for the women’s national team from 1984 to 1994. But basketball would not become Krishna’s sport.

A physical education teacher noticed her strength during a school lunch break and introduced her to shot put. Training soon meant 5:30 a.m. practices before school, followed by another session later in the day.

At 18, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Menon moved to Jamaica, believing that competing there could help put her in front of American college coaches and open a path to NCAA athletics.

It eventually did.

Menon became the first female thrower from India to receive an NCAA Division I scholarship. After beginning her U.S. collegiate career at UTEP, she came to UNLV.

Her 55.61-meter discus throw at the 2025 NCAA West Regionals set a UNLV program record and sent her to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, making her the first Indian thrower to qualify for the meet.

But as Menon rebuilt her athletic career, she was also beginning to think more seriously about the years beyond competition.

How Coursework Built Her Confidence

One of the challenges Menon faced while earning her Bachelor of Science-Business Administration in human resource management at UNLV had little to do with academics and more to do with finding confidence in how she communicated.

Although she learned to read and write in English at a young age in India, Menon remembers being especially nervous before a presentation in a business communication course. Over time, class discussions and guest speakers helped her become more comfortable expressing herself — and more confident in the opportunities she could create for herself and others.

That confidence will be instrumental as Menon works toward her goal of building a student-athlete agency that brings together sports, academics, and leadership, with a particular interest in helping international athletes and their families navigate opportunities in the United States.

“I need to be able to communicate effectively, build trust, and confidently advocate for the opportunities I want to create for student-athletes and their families,” she said.

She also hopes to give families abroad greater confidence in sending their children to the United States to pursue both higher education and athletics.

The Work Behind the Throw

Shot put can look deceptively simple from the outside: strength, speed, and one explosive movement. Menon knows how much of the work happens long before the shot leaves her hand.

“Strength sports require intelligence, technical skill, discipline, and dedication, not just physical power,” she said.

Years of training have also taught her to measure progress differently.

“Success in shot put comes from doing small things consistently over a long period of time,” Menon said. “Goal setting, resilience, time management, and handling pressure are also highly transferable.”

She sees leadership in similar terms, less as a title or personality trait than as something demonstrated over time.

“Leadership is not always about being the loudest person in the room,” she said. “Often, it is about consistency, resilience, and setting an example through your actions.”

That visibility matters to Menon as a woman competing in a sport still closely associated with physical size and power. She hopes younger athletes see strength as something they do not need to apologize for.

“Women in power sports challenge traditional stereotypes, but we should not have to justify our place in sport,” she said. “I hope more young girls see strength as something to embrace and celebrate.”

What Comes Next

Menon’s plans beyond competition have started to take shape while her athletic career is still underway.

After earning her bachelor's degree in 2025, she returned to UNLV for a master's in higher education, with an expected graduation date of May 2027. She was also named the 2025-26 Mehdi Bouras Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Through Rebels EmpowHER, a career development program for women student-athletes and allies, Menon meets monthly with Diana Bennett, the program’s founder and co-founder and chair of Paragon Gaming.

Their conversations have focused on leadership and entrepreneurship.

“Her guidance, wisdom, and the experiences she has shared have profoundly influenced me, both personally and professionally,” Menon said. “As an aspiring entrepreneur and athlete, I am incredibly grateful to be mentored by someone who is such a fearless trailblazer and accomplished leader.”

For now, another major competition is directly in front of her. Menon has been named to India’s athletics contingent for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where she will compete in women’s shot put.

Further down the road is another chance at the goal that was interrupted two years ago: the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Paris will not be the end of her Olympic story.