Caribbean sprinter has high hopes for the Olympics

by Philip Hackett

Friday, February 6, 2004

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Frustrated by a series of ailments and injuries that have threatened his career, Obadele Thompson, a bronze medallist in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, is now healthy again and looking forward to great things as he gets ready for the 2004 Olympics Games in Athens.

When Thompson won a bronze medal in the 100 metres event he became the first Barbadian to win an Olympic medal while representing his country. He recently completed a training camp in the Cayman Islands under the astute guidance of his coach Dan Pfaff and he is full of optimism that, as long as his health remains, he is capable of producing something special.

"Over the past ten months of my life I have felt a fire in my soul to run that I haven't felt since 1996.

"It's going to be interesting this year. I have been away from the 'goings on' for a while and I think it's about time that I come back, and I plan to, by God's grace, come back in a huge way this year," a confident Thompson, said as he prepared to start the final workout of his training camp.

Most of the work during the almost month-long camp was done in the company of other elite athletes such as world 100 metre record holder Tim Montgomery, Olympic gold medallist Marion Jones and Caymanian sprinter Kareem Street Thompson.

"Things here are going well. It's been a very good time. The weather is very good and the people of course are very hospitable," Thompson said.

Thompson particularly enjoyed the opportunity to train with such a cadre of outstanding athletes especially with the Olympic games not far away.

"I personally don't line up and race very often at practice but just to be in the environment fuels you and sparks your motivation to keep going on and seeing that it is an Olympic year we are all expecting big things."

Thompson admitted that, while his current programme has been fairly intense, it has not been as demanding as what he experienced last year when he was making a return after injury. On that occasion he had much ground to cover in a short space of time.

"Everything this year is geared towards remaining healthy. I have been able to train this time of the year for the first time since about 1999 so I am happy. Even during the Olympic year I did not fully get into training until April, so I am pleased with what I have done so far."

Following the camp Thompson returns to Barbados where he will continue his training under the watchful eye of coach Frank Blackman, before moving on to Europe to compete on the Grand Prix circuit.

"All the time when I come to Barbados to train I train with 'Blackie'. It's like a father and son relationship. It's a formula that works." said Thompson who was introduced to Blackman almost 13 years ago by his secondary school coach at Harrison College, Orlando Greene.

The various setbacks experienced by Thompson over the past few years could easily have adversely affected his confidence but his faith, as well as the support of key people in his life have helped him remain focused.

"The primary motivation has been the fact that I believe that God is with me and I believe that he gave me this particular talent."

According to Thompson, God has also blessed him with the human resources, people who have helped him to evaluate and prioritise effectively.

He regrets not being able to come to grips a lot earlier with some of the injuries that have plagued him but is thankful he is now wise enough to address the problems.

Part of his strategy involves the weight training aspect of his preparation, which represents a change from his earlier philosophy.

"I think a lot of people have noted and recommended or suggested in various forms, both in a positive way and in a not so positive way, that I get involved in the weight programme and I am seeing some of the benefits. 

"I don't think I would ever be as big or as strong as most people, but for me at this stage of my life lifting is just to get some incremental strength and power which I don't think will make me any faster but it hopefully will allow me to be able to train and compete without having as many injuries and thereby in the process of doing that I'll be able to maximize my potential. I don't look at it as bulking up. I just look at it as perhaps a smarter thing to do to stay healthy."

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