Obadele Thompson: Barbadian Olympic Sprinter and 2000 100m Bronze Medalist
Barbadian sprinter Obadele Thompson (born 1976) won Barbados's first Olympic medal with 100m bronze at Sydney 2000. Personal bests: 100m 9.87, 200m 19.97. International competitor and influential national figure.
Obadele Thompson (born March 30, 1976) is a retired sprint athlete from Barbados who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres. He is best known for winning the bronze medal in the 100 m at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a milestone that made him the first Olympic medallist in Barbados history. For a concise overview of his career statistics and international results see his athlete profile and national coverage from Barbados; his Olympic appearance is documented in official Olympic records at the Olympic Games.
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Career and personal bests
Thompson reached his peak form around the year 2000. His fastest legal time in the 100 m is 9.87 seconds, recorded under allowable wind conditions. In the 200 m he posted a personal best of 19.97 seconds in the same year. Those marks placed him among the world’s leading sprinters at the turn of the century and established him as one of the Caribbean’s top short‑distance athletes.
Development and international competition
Raised and initially trained in Barbados, Thompson progressed to international competition as a junior and then as a senior athlete. He competed extensively on the global circuit throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, facing rivals at regional meets and major championships. Like many Caribbean sprinters, he combined local development with periods of training and competition abroad to refine technique, strength and race experience.
Legacy and significance
Thompson’s 2000 Olympic medal had symbolic and practical importance for sport in Barbados: it represented the island’s arrival on the Olympic podium and provided inspiration for younger athletes. Beyond that single achievement, his career demonstrated the competitive potential of sprinters from small nations and helped raise the profile of track and field in his home country.
Key facts
- Full name: Obadele Thompson; born March 30, 1976.
- Specialties: 100 metres and 200 metres sprints.
- Olympic achievement: Bronze medal in the 100 m at Sydney 2000 (Barbados’s first Olympic medal).
- Personal bests: 100 m – 9.87 seconds; 200 m – 19.97 seconds (both achieved in 2000).
Today Thompson is remembered as a trailblazer for Barbadian athletics. His performances during a concentrated peak period around the Sydney Olympics remain notable benchmarks for sprinters from small nations aspiring to international success.
Questions and answers
Q: Who is Obadele Thompson?
A: Obadele Thompson is a sprint athlete from Barbados.
Q: What was the significance of Obadele Thompson's performance in 2000?
A: In 2000, Obadele Thompson became the first Olympic medalist from Barbados.
Q: What medal did Obadele Thompson win in 2000?
A: Obadele Thompson won a bronze medal in the 100m race in 2000.
Q: What is Obadele Thompson's fastest legal time in the 100m race?
A: Obadele Thompson's fastest legal time in the 100m race is 9.87 seconds.
Q: What was Obadele Thompson's personal best in the 200m race?
A: Obadele Thompson's personal best in the 200m race was 19.97 seconds, achieved in 2000.
Q: What year was Obadele Thompson born?
A: Obadele Thompson was born on March 30, 1976.
Q: Which country is Obadele Thompson from?
A: Obadele Thompson is from Barbados.
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Obadele Thompson: Barbadian Olympic Sprinter and 2000 100m Bronze Medalist Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/127810