PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month will mean more to Trinidadian sprinter Richard Thompson than clocking fast times.
The 29-year-old posted a world-leading 9.82 seconds in the National Championships here last week, to become the fastest man in the world this year.
However, Thompson said while running fast times was important, his focus was on winning the big prize in the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games.
“As an athlete, the goal is to be the best in the world. Obviously, being at the top of the (world) rankings holds high significance to me, however, I think more than a world ranking or more than a time, it means something more in terms of actually lining up against significant competition at the Commonwealth Games and beating the field there,” Thompson told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.
“The fact that I am able to run that fast and the fact that I’m at the top of the list obviously means it puts me in good stead to be able to achieve that goal that I have of being a Commonwealth gold me
dallist.”
Thompson has not won a major Olympic individual medal since copping silver behind champion Usain Bolt at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. However, he has displayed superb form this season, raising hopes of a medal at the July 23 to August 3 Games.
Earlier this month, he clocked 9.95 seconds at the IAAF World Challenge Meeting in Hengelo and then followed up with victory in the Diamond League, speeding to 10.02 seconds at the Bislett Games in Norway.
