BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Obadele Thompson (born 30 March 1976) is a sprint athlete from Barbados. In 2000, he became the first individual Olympic medalist from Barbados with a bronze medal in the 100m race.
Biography
Born in Saint Michael, Thompson attended Harrison College before earning a scholarship, and graduated with honours with a degree in marketing and economics from the University of Texas at El Paso, United States.
On 21 February 2007 Thompson announced his engagement to Marion Jones.The marriage took place in a private ceremony on 24 February 2007 in North Carolina with close friends and family in attendance.[1] Their first child together, son Ahmir, was born in July 2007. A daughter, Eva-Marie, was born in June 2009.[2][3]
Career
Starting his career, he competed very successfully at the CARIFTA Games and the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships. In 1994, he was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding athlete of the 1994 CARIFTA Games.[4][5]
A junior season's best performance holder in 1994, he came close to winning an Olympic medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, when he finished 4th in the 200 m final, which was won by Michael Johnson in a new World Record time.
Competing with the top sprinters in the late 1990s, Thompson came close to major wins at the1999 World Championships. He finished fourth in both the 100 m and 200 m.
He won a medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing third behindMaurice Greene and Trinidad and Tobago's Ato Boldon. Thompson came in fourth place in the 200 m race.
In April 1996 in El Paso, Texas, Thompson ran the then-fastest 100 m race ever. He was clocked at the time of 9.69 s.[6] However, it was achieved with a 5.0 m/s tail wind, well over the IAAF legal limit of 2.0 m/s, and the mark was not officially recognized. His time was bettered by Tyson Gay 12 years later who ran a 9.68s 100m aided by a 4.1 m/s tail wind at the 2008 US trials. Thompson's 9.69 time was later matched legally by Usain Bolt at the 2008 Olympic Games, who recorded the same time but with a 0.0 m/s tail wind. In 2009 World Championships in Athletics Bolt bettered his world record to 9.58s, with a tailwind of +0.9 m/s.
His fastest legal time in the 100 m is 9.87, and he ran his personal best in the 200 m at 19.97 in 2000.
After the 2000 Olympics, Thompson was made "Ambassador and Special Envoy to the Youth" by former Barbados Prime MinisterOwen Arthur.
Personal life
On 24 February 2007, Obadele Thomspon married Marion Jones, former world champion track and field athlete, and former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA.[1] Their first child together was born in July 2007.[7] Their second child, Eva-Marie, was born on 28 June 2009.[3]
Personal bests[edit]
| Event | Venue | Time | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 m | U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs | 5.99 | 22 February 1997 |
| 60m | Fairfax, Virginia | 6.56 | 19 February 1999 |
| 100 m | Johannesburg, South Africa | 9.87 | 11 September 1998 |
| 200 m | Yokohama, Japan | 19.97 | 9 September 2000 |
| 400 m | El Paso, Texas | 45.38 | 30 March 1996 |
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