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MVP Track club coach Paul Francis has explained what has turned Kishane Thompson into a 'special youngster'.
MVP Track Club head coach Paul Francis has lauded sprinter Kishane Thompson as a "special youngster" crediting his determination and hard work for a meteoric rise that saw him narrowly miss Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games.
Thompson's journey from obscurity to elite sprinting is a testament to resilience and talent, as he overcame years of injuries to become one of the fastest men on the planet.
Thompson’s breakout moment came during the Jamaican Olympic Trials, where he stunned the athletics world with a jaw-dropping 9.77 seconds in the 100m—making him an instant contender among sprinting’s elite.
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20:30 - 09.12.2024
'Life has been very humbling' - Kishane Thompson opens up on difficult upbringing that shaped the athlete he now is
Kishane Thompson may be a household name nowadays, but the journey to becoming the athlete he now is was not easy.
At the Paris Olympics, he solidified his place on the global stage, finishing second in a thrilling 100m final against Noah Lyles. Both athletes clocked 9.79 seconds, with the winner determined by mere thousandths of a second.
Thompson’s rise to prominence was anything but straightforward. Persistent injuries plagued his career, keeping him from competing in major global events. After turning professional in 2019, he had to wait five years for his first significant international appearance.
In 2022, injuries derailed his season early, forcing him to miss the World Championships in Eugene. A similar scenario unfolded in 2023 when he withdrew from the Jamaican Trials final despite an impressive showing in the heats.
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19:01 - 09.12.2024
'They are the best'- Justin Gatlin gives Jamaican fans their flowers as he points out Americans' general lack of track & field recognition
Justin Gatlin has explained why he thinks Jamaican fans are the best, even though they made him feel like 'public enemy number one' from 2014 onwards back when he was Usain Bolt's biggest rival.
Nonetheless, Thompson managed appearances in three Diamond League events, achieving respectable finishes in Monaco, Xiamen, and Eugene.
This year marked a turning point. Thompson began with a statement win at the Jamaican Olympic Trials, clocking a world-leading 9.77 seconds, followed by victory at the Gyulai István Memorial in Hungary. However, injuries once again cut his season short, sidelining him after his Olympic silver medal.
Francis, who has overseen Thompson’s development at MVP Track Club since 2020, praised the sprinter’s dedication despite the challenges.
“Kishane has been with us for four years. He has had a plethora of injuries which he needed rehab and strengthening to be able to be competitive,” Francis told Sprint.
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12:00 - 08.12.2024
'You have to be selfish' - Elaine Thompson-Herah reveals extra reason she chose to leave Stephen Francis-led MVP track club
Elaine Thompson-Herah has struggled for form and fitness since quiting Stephen Francis' MVP Track club in 2021, but she has revealed a fresh stance on why she had to leave.
“He has worked fastidiously, and I have watched him evolve into a special youngster. Kishane has confidence that he can take on just about anyone.”
Reflecting on his journey, Thompson spoke about the mental toll of repeated setbacks and his determination to keep pushing forward.
“Honestly, I didn’t think about doing something else,” he told Nationwide90 FM.
“It seemed like I had so much great potential that was so hard to manifest. The more I tried, the more held back I got. It forced me to try even harder. I didn’t give up on myself and did what I had to do, even doing more than I had to do. It kept me grounded. Yes, I felt sad at times, but I had to keep pushing.”
Thompson’s Olympic silver medal signals a promising future, provided he can maintain his fitness. With his confidence and hard work ethic, Thompson is poised to challenge the best sprinters in the world, proving that resilience can overcome even the toughest obstacles.
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