- Richard Thompson (athlete)
Richard "Torpedo" Thompson (born 7 June 1985) is a sprinter from Cascade,
Trinidad and Tobago who specializes in the100 metres and has been running forLouisiana State University as a member of theLSU Tigers track and field team. [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/6/8003666.shtml Athlete biography: Richard Thompson] , beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 29, 2008]In his first
World Championships inOsaka in 2007, Thompson reached the semi- finals but finished 8th in a time of 10.44 seconds.His personal best time is 9.89 seconds, achieved in August 2008 inBeijing, China , during the Olympic 100m final where he won silver. [ [http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/breaking/19058724.html Thompson wins SEC 100M men's track title] ] Thompson's personal best for200m is 20.18 seconds ran in Fayetteville forLSU . His60m best is 6.51 seconds, achieved in March 2008 in Fayetteville.In the
2008 Summer Olympics he competed at the100 metres sprint and placed first in his heat beforeMartial Mbandjock in a time of 10.24 seconds. He qualified for the second round in which he improved his time to 9.99 seconds, winning his race with opponents asTyson Gay and Mbandjock. In the semi finals he finished second (9.93 seconds) in his heat behindAsafa Powell and qualified for the final. There he finished his race in second place, far behind winnerUsain Bolt (9.69) but with a time of 9.89 seconds he won the silver medal, outsprintingWalter Dix andChurandy Martina . Together withKeston Bledman ,Aaron Armstrong andMarc Burns he also competed at the4x100 metres relay . In their qualification heat they placed first in front of Japan, the Netherlands andBrazil . Their time of 38.26 was the fastest of all sixteen teams participating in the first round and they qualified for the final. Armstrong was replaced byEmmanuel Callender for the final race and they sprinted to a time of 38.06 seconds, the second time after theJamaica n team, winning the silver medal.Honours
References
[http://www.trinibeat.com/news/local-news/66/olympics-thompson-medal-in-the-greatest-race-over-100-metres.html Trinibeat.com story: Richard Thompson medal in the greatest race over 100 metres]
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