- Hasely Crawford
Hasely Joachim Crawford (born
August 16 ,1950 ) is a former athlete fromTrinidad and Tobago . In 1976, he became the first Olympic champion of his country.Biography
Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago|San Fernando] , Trinidad, is one of eleven children born to Lionel and Phyllis Crawford started with athletics at age 17. He was a 6 time Trinidad and Tobago 100 metre champion, and won the 200 metre title in 1976. He debuted internationally in 1970, winning a bronze medal in the 100 m at the
Commonwealth Games . Only two years later, he surprisingly qualified for the final of the Olympics in Munich, although he did not finish - he injured his hamstring after 20 m.In 1975 he was runner up at the Pan-American games in the 100 metres, after this Crawford was added to the team of American coach
Bob Parks , who prepared Crawford excellently for the 100 m and 200 m events at theMontreal Olympics in 1976, running only a few races during the season. The tactics paid off, as Crawford won the 100 m, narrowly in front ofDon Quarrie ofJamaica , winningTrinidad and Tobago 's first Olympic gold medal. He had also qualified for the 200 m final, but pulled out due after injuring his groin.In 1977 he won the Central American and Caribbean 100 metre championship. Hasely is the only Trinidadian to compete in four Olympic Games as he also represented T&T at both the Moscow and Los Angeles editions in 1980 and 1984. Hasely "Raj Paul" Crawford has a jet and a stadium named after him. During his reign, he also appeared on postage stamps and was bestowed the Trinity Cross in 1978. In the year 2000, he was named the Trinidad & Tobago Athlete of the Millennium.
Hasely Crawford's last success was a bronze medal in the 1978 Commonwealth Games (100 m). He also participated in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, but was unable to qualify for a final.
He now resides with his common law wife, Paula and has two children, Harlan and Halle Crawford. He is currently employed at the NGC (The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago). He currently has two nieces who are currently following in his footsteps and making a name for themselves in the world of athletics.
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