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Author Topic: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread  (Read 54573 times)

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Offline A.B.

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #210 on: June 27, 2016, 05:05:55 PM »
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Offline Deeks

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Offline Aviator

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #212 on: September 06, 2016, 08:30:49 AM »
Laugh and cry does live in the same house.....

http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,232839.html
Quote
Ato, Torpedo part ways
Tuesday, September 6 2016

THE PARTNERSHIP of multiple Olympic medallists Ato Boldon and Richard “Torpedo” Thompson has ended, with Boldon, in his new role as a coach, focusing instead on the up-and-coming teenaged sensation Khalifa St Fort.

Thompson approached Boldon to be his coach in August 2015 and the pair worked together in the lead-up to last month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

But Thompson had a poor showing at the Games, as he was eliminated in the first round of the men’s 100 metres and was part of the men’s 4x100m relay team who were disqualified in the final.

According to a story on CNC3 News last night, Boldon was quoted as saying, “(Thompson) just feels like he has to move on. I think we were honest about how much attention Khalifa gets in the camp and I think he felt, at some point this year, that my focus is so much on Khalifa that everybody else sorts of takes a back seat.

“Richard will continue to run, for how much longer I don’t know,” continued Boldon.

“That is up to him. Richard will continue to run but he and I will not be working together, even though we remain friends.”
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #213 on: September 06, 2016, 08:38:09 AM »

smh like ah soap opera drama episode

Quote
But Thompson had a poor showing at the Games, as he was eliminated in the first round of the men’s 100 metres and was part of the men’s 4x100m relay team who were disqualified in the final.

According to a story on CNC3 News last night, Boldon was quoted as saying, “(Thompson) just feels like he has to move on. I think we were honest about how much attention Khalifa gets in the camp and I think he felt, at some point this year, that my focus is so much on Khalifa that everybody else sorts of takes a back seat.

Offline Aviator

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #214 on: September 06, 2016, 08:47:33 AM »
That part in bold, is what has me shaking my head. Why invite Richard to the camp, if you know you can't give him the attention he deserves. Worst yet, is that it reads as if he was playing favorites.

#poorconduct
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Offline Controversial

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #215 on: September 07, 2016, 10:58:06 PM »
That part in bold, is what has me shaking my head. Why invite Richard to the camp, if you know you can't give him the attention he deserves. Worst yet, is that it reads as if he was playing favorites.

#poorconduct

After that poor showing I doubt Ato will attract athletes unless st fort win Gold in the future.. Ah love Ato but he failed as a coach with the team.. Our athletes should have at least medaled.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2016, 10:59:43 PM by Controversial »

Offline Aviator

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #216 on: September 08, 2016, 11:33:14 AM »
That part in bold, is what has me shaking my head. Why invite Richard to the camp, if you know you can't give him the attention he deserves. Worst yet, is that it reads as if he was playing favorites.

#poorconduct

After that poor showing I doubt Ato will attract athletes unless st fort win Gold in the future.. Ah love Ato but he failed as a coach with the team.. Our athletes should have at least medaled.

In Ato's defense he was not the national coach and such a title means very little in the T&F world. All a national T&F coach does is pretty much being a manager and making sure that the athletes who don't have their personal coaches with them, have their workouts supervised and the athletes have everything they need. Richard and Khalifa were his only two direct charges. Everyone else had their own coach who was responsible for their prep.
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Offline A.B.

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #217 on: September 12, 2016, 01:52:52 AM »
...failed with the team... ??? and Aviator, no-one was invited. I don't invite anyone.
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Offline Controversial

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #218 on: September 12, 2016, 08:15:10 PM »
That part in bold, is what has me shaking my head. Why invite Richard to the camp, if you know you can't give him the attention he deserves. Worst yet, is that it reads as if he was playing favorites.

#poorconduct

After that poor showing I doubt Ato will attract athletes unless st fort win Gold in the future.. Ah love Ato but he failed as a coach with the team.. Our athletes should have at least medaled.

In Ato's defense he was not the national coach and such a title means very little in the T&F world. All a national T&F coach does is pretty much being a manager and making sure that the athletes who don't have their personal coaches with them, have their workouts supervised and the athletes have everything they need. Richard and Khalifa were his only two direct charges. Everyone else had their own coach who was responsible for their prep.

My apologies when I said team I meant Atos contingent that decided to be coached by him... But I rescind my comments because i thought he had other athletes under him..

My bad Ato... Trinidad journalism needs to be more clear when they are reporting about something...

Offline andre samuel

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #219 on: September 15, 2016, 04:08:17 AM »

Quote

“Richard will continue to run, for how much longer I don’t know,” continued Boldon.

“That is up to him. Richard will continue to run but he and I will not be working together, even though we remain friends.”

I can understand why Ato would gravitate towards Khalifa, in my opinion, that can be considered normal since she is like his little diamond.

But the main thing that i am picking up in this article is that Ato is simply suggesting that Richard is done.  I also think that one more failure at next year's worlds and Richard will have no choice to accept it.

And to "Contnroversial's" point about medaling...............Ato or not, which athletes you seriously thought would have medaled?  I actually had us down for 2 medals at these games, the 4x400m men and the 4x100m women.  But both weren't able to due to the disqualification and Baptiste not being at her usual exceptionally high standard.
Andre Samuel, who controls all the rights to the phrase "ah love it!!"

Offline Flex

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #220 on: May 18, 2020, 05:38:11 AM »
Thompson: Finish what you start
JELANI BECKLES (NEWSDAY)


SOME would think that a three-time Olympic medallist will have nothing else to prove, but Richard Thompson said completing his university degree was important as he wants to be an example for others to finish what you start.

Thompson, now 34, started his college degree at Louisiana State University (LSU), United States in 2005, but was unable to complete it as his track and field career soared in 2008. What started 15 years ago came to an end on Friday, as Thompson graduated virtually at LSU with a degree in sociology after completing the five classes required to do so.

As the world continues to battle the global covid19 pandemic, Thompson pointed out, “The most important thing, as my parents have said to me, is I have the certificate. I am officially a college graduate now and that is something to be very proud of. Even after all of these years just going back and having the determination and drive to get back into school and complete this chapter of it was something that has always been important for me.”

Thompson, a former student at Queen’s Royal College (QRC), sprinted his way to a silver medal in the men’s 100-metre at the 2008 Beijing Olympics behind Jamaican legend Usain Bolt. Thompson was part of the quartet that initially earned silver in the men’s 4x100m relay, but ten years later the local team was upgraded to gold after Jamaica’s Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance. Marc Burns, Keston Bledman, Emmanuel Callender and Aaron Armstrong (reserve) were also part of the TT team.

Thompson copped his third Olympic medal at the 2012 Games in London when he joined Callender, Burns and Bledman to snatch silver in the 4x100m relay.

Thompson, who was also a top footballer at QRC, said as an athlete most people only see his achievements on the track, but the Olympian is cognisant of how valuable an education is. “This side of me always knew that going back to school was important and finishing what I started because we are also more than athletes as well. People know our physical capabilities, but the education is something that will go even further and a much longer way than anything you could achieve athletically.”

Thompson said he wanted 2020 to be his last year as an athlete signing off with the 2020 Tokyo Games, but he also wanted his degree in hand. The Olympic Games has been postponed to 2021 and Thompson was able to spend enough time on his degree.

Speaking about his experience back on campus, Thompson said he wanted to inspire other athletes. “I contacted coach (Dennis) Shaver. Immediately he was excited about me coming back and the administration at LSU was very excited about me coming back and finishing up and being an example to their student-athletes that are currently there.

"I wanted to be an example for our kids in TT as well to let them know that Richard is a good runner, Richard has achieved a lot at the professional and Olympic level, but he also values the importance of education and hopefully, by me coming back and making this next step, is an example to those who come after me.”

Thompson, asked if students stared at him wondering 'who is this old man', responded, “Well, fortunately, I don’t look like an old man, so I was able to blend in and just fit right in with the others,” he said laughing.

Thompson, who felt at home at LSU, was proud of his attitude saying he was a more disciplined student compared to when he started his degree.

On competing at the 2021 Olympics, Thompson said he would like to participate but is taking it one step at a time.

“Where we are at now as far as preparation for 2021? I am just monitoring everything that is going on to see what will happen for the rest of this season and I know there is that possibility of there not being an Olympics next year with everything that is going on.”



« Last Edit: May 18, 2020, 05:42:53 AM by Flex »
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #221 on: May 18, 2020, 08:49:59 AM »
Congrats, Blue Blood Royalian! Blessings to You and Your Family!!!

Offline Sando prince

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #222 on: May 22, 2020, 05:22:38 PM »

Richard Thompson Graduates From Louisiana State University  :beermug::clap:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/UfULTB84OBU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/UfULTB84OBU</a>

Offline Flex

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #223 on: July 27, 2020, 12:56:00 PM »
'Torpedo' patient despite delay for 2008 gold
JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH (NEWSDAY).


Three-time Olympian Richard "Torpedo" Thompson is remaining patient amid the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) delay in presenting 2008 Beijing Olympics gold to TT's4x100m relay men's team.

Nine years after Thompson and relay teammates Keston Bledman, Marc Burns and Emmanuel Callender finished as runners-up behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter, the winners were stripped of their medals after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IOC decision to strip Carter of gold for a positive doping result.

Carter’s anti-doping violation saw the IOC automatically upgrade TT to gold medal status, Japan to silver and Brazil to bronze.

As per the new IOC medal reallocation policy, the TT relay men were given options on how they wished to receive their new gold medals.

Their options were: to be awarded at a ceremony at the next IAAF World Championship or Continental Championship; a presentation at the next major TT Olympic Committee (TTOC) event – a National Championship, sport awards or gala; a private ceremony in co-ordination with the TTOC or at the next Olympic Games.

The team chose the latter with the IOC bearing the cost of the athletes and two guests being flown to the Games.

Due to the rescheduling of the Tokyo Games to 2021 due to the global covid19 pandemic, Thompson and his compatriots must now wait a bit longer to receive athletics’ most esteemed prize.

“We expected to have the medals by now but given the circumstances, we understand. The pandemic has forced the world to adjust, so this is just another instance of doing what is necessary to protect our health and the well-being of others as well,” Thompson said in a telephone interview on Saturday.

The four sprinters will go down in TT history books as the nation’s third recipients of Olympic gold. Hasely Crawford won men's 100m gold in 1976 in Montreal and Keshorn Walcott captured javelin gold in London in 2012.

Thompson remains optimistic that once “things return back to normal,” the IOC, TT Olympic Committee and athletes would meet and confirm an official date for the medal presentation.

The former Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter remains hopeful the relay squad will get a chance to sing the national anthem atop the podium in Tokyo.

“This is a special moment for us as a team, and for us as a country. We look forward to hearing the anthem and seeing our flag raised as those gold medals hang around our necks,” he added.

TTOC president Brian Lewis lamented the postponement of the medal presentation but said the decision was ideal given the worldwide health crisis.

“Due to covid19, the IOC had to put off the event. The athletes are fully aware of the situation and we await a final decision on when they will be crowned men’s 4x100m relay Olympic champions,” he said.

Carter’s anti-doping violation saw sprint legend Bolt lose one of his nine Olympic gold medals. Bolt had claimed Olympic triple gold (100m, 200m, 4x100m) in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Deeks

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #224 on: December 19, 2020, 04:57:09 PM »
Mulugata happy with Thompson initiative
By Sean Nero (T&T Guardian)
Published: Monday, September 14, 2015


Carifta bronze medallist Xavier Mulugata, 18, left greets Marc Mouttet, director, Vemco Limited while Olympic medallist Richard Thompson looks on. Occasion was Saturday’s inaugural Gatorade Richard Thompson Sprinting Camp held at the outfield at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain. PHOTO: KRISTIAN DE SILVA

Carifta bronze medallist Xavier Mulugata, 18, is applauding the vision of three-time Olympic medallist Richard Thompson to bolster the ability of emerging athletes through his inaugural sprinting camp.

The Gatorade Richard Thompson Sprinting Camp was the athlete development initiative undertaken by the Olympic sprinter on Saturday and held at the outfield at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain, with the aim of nurturing future champions in sport.

In a T&T Guardian interview, Mulugata, a 100m and 200m specialist, lauded the opportunity to be part of the weekend exercise which he firmly believed would strengthen his ability to medal going forward.

“Being the young athlete that I am, I came out here to learn more knowledge of the sport; to better the sport for my personal gain. It's good to meet with one of our local stars to get more knowledge. That's my main purpose,” he said.

Relating some major hurdles he had to overcome over the years, Mulugata said: “It was a hard road, because for the previous season, I've been in an out of injury. It was a hard road for me fighting with injury, trying to get to that competitive stage. So it wasn't an easy road at all. It was a lot of hard work and dedication and not giving up at all.”

Ahead of the practical sessions at the weekend, Thompson and his team engaged athletes in discussion on the importance of nutrition, before they went on to understand some aspect of the body's mechanics and how this area of knowledge could help an athlete run efficiently.

Gregory Seale and his team from Movement Mechanics and Shane Cooper of Atlis Performance Evolution were the coaching experts on hand to ensure the estimated 100 athletes in development achieved the right form in the execution of the routines.

Mulugata said: “The drills that were demonstrated here are very important drills, showing you how to work the smaller muscles, because a lot of people tend to forget about the smaller muscles. It's really about learning new stuff and incorporating it in your training sessions. Good drills were learnt. It’s really necessary for improvement and to carry about in your daily routine. I think it would enhance my performance in term of competitiveness.”

I was told by my cousin,Xavier's stepfather, that he  graduated from LSU with a degree in Sport Administration just recently. Good luck to the yute and hopefully see him on the TTO team in Tokyo next year, God Willing.

Offline A.B.

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #225 on: December 22, 2020, 05:19:02 PM »
This is what I posted in October.

"We now have ZERO 100/200m pro prospects on the horizon - and the men's and women's relay teams, as teams do, have aged out of being competitive at Worlds or Olympics."

Here is a stark example.

It's great that the young man got his degree, but he has regressed at LSU, maybe more than anyone else who ever went there.

His times would not be competitive at Carifta 2021.


Let's move on.
« Last Edit: December 22, 2020, 05:22:02 PM by A.B. »
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Offline Deeks

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Re: The Official Richard "Torpedo" Thompson Thread
« Reply #226 on: December 22, 2020, 07:46:32 PM »
Hello Ato. I am not sure, but I think he also had injury issues. How are You doing Breds? Stay safe.

 

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