Nothing Trivial about Thompson

Richard Thompson returned to serious training at his alma mater Louisiana State University on Monday determined to shake off his status of currently being an answer to a Trivial Pursuit question.

Just like the East German long jumper Klaus Beer, who has spent the rest of his life being known as 'the man who finished second behind Bob Beamon' after the latter's record-shattering feat at the 1968 Olympics, Thompson is well aware he could face a similar fate after being next across the line once Usain Bolt had clocked his astonishing 100m World record of 9.69 in Beijing.

However, the erudite 23-year-old sprinter from Trinidad wouldn't change his position for anything other than a gold medal.

"It was an amazing experience just being in the final, let alone winning the silver medal. It was my first Olympics and so it will always be special to me. However, as soon as I knew I was going to Beijing I took the view that even though it was my first Olympics I wanted to go there and get something done, not just be a participant," reflected Thompson.

It was a job well done indeed as he defied the pundits, who had predicted that either Bolt's compatriot Asafa Powell or one of the United States trio would come home behind the Jamaican phenomenon.

No nerves, no pressure

Others wilted behind Bolt's devastating display but Thompson held his nerve, just as he had done during an undefeated season on the super-competitive American collegiate circuit, to come through in a personal best of 9.89, just shy of Ato Bolden's decade-old national record of 9.86.

Into the bargain, he also led home Trinidad and Tobago for the 4x100m silver medals behind their Caribbean neighbours and rivals Jamaica.

"To go to Beijing and win two silver medals in races when World records were set was, I feel, a great accomplishment for me at this stage of my career. I went to Beijing quite motivated by the fact that nobody was really considering that I had a chance of winning a medal. Final yes, medal no.”

"However, I have to recognise that situation also made it easier for me. The pressure was on the Jamaicans and the Americans and I could focus well on running my own race and not worry about any pressure that was being put on me by my country, or the rest of the world, to win a medal.”

"It was phenomenal the reception I got when I went home to Trinidad (after two further races at the big post-Olympic meetings in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lausanne). It was like I'd even won the gold medal, they were so happy that the Trinidad and Tobago flag was raised and it was such a big thing for them," said Thompson.

Shaver the saviour

Thompson credits LSU head coach and sprints guru Dennis Shaver for bringing about his radical transformation in the last 12 months or so.

He finished the summer of 2007 with 10.09 to his name but some question marks were etched over his temperament in big races after he finished only fifth in the American collegiate championships and his 2007 season ended on a downbeat note when he failed to progress beyond the IAAF World Championships quarter-finals.

"My confidence in myself has grown thanks to Coach Shaver. As well as preparing me physically, he has been extremely helpful in preparing me mentally. He has a knack of always telling me the right thing that helps me believe in myself mentally.

"Every single year we've built on what we've done the previous year," reflected Thompson, with his last comment serving as a warning that his next World Championships appearance should be far, far, more memorable than his last one.

Thompson is following in the footsteps of many top athletes, including hurdler Lolo Jones, and will continue to be guided by Shaver in Baton Rouge despite his days running in an LSU vest having now come to an end.

"I can see myself staying in Louisiana for many more years, in fact until my career as an athlete has finished. One of things that initially attracted me to the place in 2005 was that there were so many great athletes passing through LSU. The University has top class facilities, Dennis Shaver is a great coach, but there is also an atmosphere in Baton Rouge that works well for producing good athletes.

"There are not a lot of distractions, it's a quiet town. Other places have a lot of partying going on but Baton Rouge is a laid back place. You can get a lot of good work done there," he added.

Football's loss, whichever variety, athletics gain

At the moment there is a big debate in the United States - a discussion which even was extended in the New York Times just a few weeks ago - about who is the fastest man ever to play college or professional American Football. The issue has been raised thanks  in part to the exploits of Jeffrey Demps, who ran 10.01 in the summer to equal the World junior 100m record and who has been in stunning form for the University of Florida.

However, it might have been a moot point if the muscular 1.88m-tall speedster had accepted the entreaties from the LSU coaches, a powerhouse in the sport who won last season's US college title.

Certain assumptions were made that if Thompson's Trinidad genes were in order then he would be able to catch a cricket ball competently and he should have safe hands as well as fast feet.

"The question was raised but, obviously, cricket and (American) football are two completely different sports," smiled Thompson.

"One of the local TV channels wanted to know as well but I couldn't see myself playing football because of the physical aspect. I'm interested in it, and if you are professional it pays big money, but I'm not sure I understand it as well as I would have had to.”

"If it had been soccer then that might have been different. Without being too immodest, I was very good at soccer. They used to put me out on the right wing and I used to go past everyone before crossing it. I only really stopped playing soccer regularly when I was around 17 or 18 because my potential at sprinting meant I could get a US college scholarship.”

Thompson's soccer fanaticism doesn't stop at watching games on TV. Later this month, he will make a dash back home to watch the Soca Warriors, Trinidad and Tobago's national team, play Cuba.

With qualification for the next round of the World Cup at stake, and the Soca Warriors currently on a high after surprisingly making the finals in Germany two years ago, the game is a sell out.

However, tickets are little easier to come by when you are an Olympic medallist and national hero in a country of little more than a million people.

Phil Minshull for the IAAF