ago.17.2008

Source: www.newsday.co.tt -Walter Alibey.
Richard Thompson's silver medal feat at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is due to the support of his parents and family circle.Thirteen family members traveled to China such is the confidence of the thompson clan.

Family members at Thompson’s Fitt Street, Woodbrook home were lost for words as they tried to express their joy. His elder sister Michelle described him as a humble soul who was totally focussed on the event.

“Richard went into the Olympics a very simple man. There was hardly anything known about him and Trinidad and Tobago. But now they know about Trinidad and Tobago,” Michelle said with visible joy yesterday.

Natalie, another sister said, “When I spoke to Richard on Monday he said if he got into the final yesterday, he would have brought home a medal. Yesterday I was a bit nervous because I know Bolt and Powell were doing quite well but I was always very confident that he would have returned home with a medal.”

His father Ruthven Thompson, who made the trip with his mother Judith and 11 other relatives to Beijing for the race described his son’s performance as majestic. “He surprised everyone with a performance that is as good as any in the world,” Ruthven said from a Beijing hotel.

Richard who went to school at Queen’s Royal College (QRC) is the youngest in a family of four with the others being a bigger brother Ruthven Junior, Michelle and Natalie.

According to Natalie, “He played football and ran at school until he was forced to make a decision in 2003.”

This decision led him to the Louisiana State University (LSU) where he produced three consecutive sub-ten performances during the National Collegiate Amateur Athletics Association (NCAAA), with his best being a 9.93 clocking which also earned him the victory.

His success was accredited to the support he received from his family and the values that Ruthven and Judith worked so hard to instill. This achievement also followed that of fellow countrymen Ato Boldon silver also in the 100 metres) and Hasely Crawford, still the only Trinidadian to collect a gold medal at the Olympics.

His father had been loyal to QRC and their foundation and he took the entire family to every event that Richard or any other member would take part in. It was in this circle of love that Richard developed a never-say-die attitude to win, in spite of the challenges that he may be up against.

According to his aunt Jessica and sisters, “We were only praying for Richard to get a good start in the race.” And in the dash he got just that, as he snatched the lead after the first 40 metres but could not prevent the bolting Usain from taking the front position. Still Thompson stayed on his heels and avoided challenges from Frater on his left and Dix on his right side. His uncle Ronnie said the Caribbean unity blossomed at the end of the race as there were hugging and picture-taking among the two islands.