MUMBAI (Diya TV) — When Miley Cyrus stepped into the spotlight as Hannah Montana, she embodied a powerful idea: you can be two things at once. That message still resonates today. In track and field, Indian American athlete Krishna Jayasankar is bringing that same duality to life.
Track and field has long struggled to connect with mainstream audiences. Fans tune in during the Olympics. Then interest fades. The sport has elite competitions like the Diamond League and global stars. But it often lacks personality-driven storytelling.
Athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles have started to change that. They bring emotion, style and confidence. They give fans someone to follow beyond the stopwatch. Krishna Jayasankar could be next.
Jayasankar is a discus and shot put athlete, formerly with UNLV, with a growing presence. But she is more than her results. Like Hannah Montana, she balances two identities at once. She is both a focused competitor and an expressive individual.
“I was always drawn to duality,” she said to Across the Line. “Performance and personality.”
That balance makes her relatable. It also makes her stand out in a sport that often rewards conformity.
Jayasankar comes from a family of athletes. Her father, C. Jayasankar Menon, and mother, Prasanna Jayasankar, both played for India’s national basketball teams. Excellence was expected. But so was visibility. Her parents understood something important. Talent alone is not enough, especially for female athletes. Presence matters. Jayasankar embraced that idea early. She developed her voice alongside her skills. Today, she brings both to the field.
Jayasankar trained under Carmelita Jeter, one of the most technically precise sprinters in history. She also draws inspiration from Usain Bolt. Bolt changed the sport. He mixed elite performance with charisma. Fans loved him not just for winning, but for how he won. Jayasankar carries a similar energy. She combines discipline with bold self-expression. That blend gives her credibility and appeal.
Jayasankar faces challenges beyond competition. As a muscular, dark-skinned woman in India, she often clashes with traditional beauty standards. She recalls moments of casual bias. Once, a stranger handed her a skin-bleaching pamphlet on the street. Experiences like that shaped her perspective. She refuses to be reduced to a stereotype. She also resists being labeled only as an “Indian athlete.”
“My vision is bigger,” she said. “I want to expand the box.”
Jayasankar believes track and field needs to evolve. Fans today want more than results. They want stories, personalities and experiences. New formats are already experimenting with this idea. Events like Athlos focus on entertainment as much as competition. They mix sport with music, fashion and culture. This approach reflects a larger shift in sports. The game still matters. But the experience around it matters just as much.
Jayasankar does not define herself only as an athlete. She listens to music from Bad Bunny to Arijit Singh. She enjoys shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and One Piece. She also has a strong interest in fashion and beauty. These passions give her identity depth. They also prepare her for life after sports.
“There will be a day [when] I hang my shoes,” she said. “I am more than an athlete.”
Track and field does not lack talent. Rising stars like Camryn Rogers and Cooper Lutkenhaus prove that. The challenge is visibility. The sport needs athletes who connect with audiences. It needs personalities who can attract new fans.
Jayasankar represents that future. She blends performance with presence. She embraces individuality over perfection. That may be exactly what track and field needs. As the sport looks for its next global star, it may have already found one.
