Richard Thompson

Richard "Torpedo" Thompson (born 7 June 1985) is a Trinidadian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Quotes Nothing’s official as yet, they haven’t even said the event yet. So it’s all speculation at the moment. The athlete’s name is just rumoured and, even if it is him, they still have to test the ‘B’. I think it would be a bad look if it wasn’t who everyone said and I made any bold statements on it. I wouldn’t want to tarnish someone’s image on speculation. I’m very focused on Rio at the moment,So I’m trying to channel my energy towards that… But I will be following to see how (the Beijing speculation) turns out. It’s something that obviously affects the sport, as well as the image of the Caribbean athletes. T&T sprinters keep cool as drug rumours raise prospect of Beijing 4×100 gold, June 03 2016 The people I’m closest to on the athletics circuit are Jaysuma Ndure (2012 European 100m bronze medallist) of Norway and Gabriel Mvumvure (9.98 100m sprinter) of Zimbabwe. Gabriel and I both went to LSU (Louisiana State University) and we still train together. Jays was my training partner for a year while I was in California and comes to Baton Rouge during the early part of the outdoor season to train as well. The three of us have great respect for each other and help one another in every way we can to be the best we can be. My greatest achievement would be my Beijing Olympic 100m silver medal in 2008. The Olympics are obviously the most highly esteemed event in athletics and to win an individual medal behind the greatest sprinter in the history of athletics (Usain Bolt) is something that's very dear to me. Who knows, had Bolt not decided to take up running the 100m that year, I may be an Olympic champion today. My greatest disappointment has to be the 2014 Commonwealth Games. I came in with the fastest time and was favourite to win the 100m. It was my chance to be a champion and I really had a horrible showing (failing to make it beyond the semi-finals). I've had a few disappointments throughout my career but such is the nature of sport we must use these failures as a lesson and draw something positive from each one in order to be better than before. Coming from Trinidad and Tobago, I love soca music and carnival. The sad part for me is that carnival is usually in February, which is not too long before my track season starts, so I’m usually in serious training around that time and unable to go back home for the fetes and street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It’s the hardest thing for me to miss that every year but for some foolish reason I seem to like punishing myself by going on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to look at pics and videos to keep up with what’s going on. I stream our local radio stations and only listen to soca music around that time too. It's like torturing me but I love the culture so much that I just can't stay away from it. Personal bests – Richard Thompson, December 14 2015 External Links Category:Track and field athletes Category:1985 births Category:1980s