Richard Thompson - August 2010

Richard Thompson - August 2010

RICHARD THOMPSON OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, has quietly achieved a lot in the sprinting World.
   The 'Big' names in the 100 over the last couple of years have been Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell but Thompson has achieved quite a lot too! The First 3 in the Olympic Final in Beijing in 2008 were 1 Usain Bolt (Jamaica) in 9.69, 2 Richard Thompson 9.89, and 3 Walter Dix (USA) 9.91.When Richard Thompson came to London for the Diamond League on the 13th of August, he did a modest 10.05, finishing 3rd in the Final behind the ' Man in Form' Tyson Gay 9.78 (A Crystal Palace Track Record) and Yohan Blake (Jamaica) 9.89.
Last year Thompson ran 9.93 in the World Championships and, although he was out of the frame, it was A very good time. One should also consider that on the last day of the year in 2008 he was involved in a car crash that gave him nasty bruising and a whiplash, which ruined his Winter training to a great degree. Back in 2008 when he was in such good form, gaining his Olympic silver medal he managed a 20.18 for the 200m which was his personal best for the distance and that year he was 60m indoors and 100m outdoors NCAA Champion.
   He was born on the 7th of June 1985 at Cascade, Memphis and attended Louisiana State University.
   He told me in London about how it all began for him in the World of Athletics  
          " It was actually in Primary school I ran amongst my friends and we would go in to the courtyard of our school and do that. It was then that I started racing against my class mates. At the time I realised I was just a bit faster than the average person because I would run with guys in higher standards and I was able to beat them then, I realised I had quite a bit of speed.'
   ' It was not till I was 17 or 18 years old I started taking it seriously as I was very good at football as well and played for the school. It was about 17/18 I got a coach and started to focus on track & Field seriously'
   Of the people that inspired him then two names from his own country ring out..
                                             "Hasely Crawford and Ato Boldon"