Daley Thompson
Born on 30th of July 1958
(full name and title: Francis Morgan Oyodélé Thompson, CBE)
Born: July 30, 1958
Francis Morgan Oyodélé Thompson is better known as Daley Thompson. He is a former British Decathlon star who some claim is the best ever all round athlete. Daley certainly can claim to be the best ever British decathlete, his 1984 world record stood for eight years. In all Thompson held the World Record on four separate occasions, often vying with his great rival Jürgen Hingsen for top honours. He was also unbeaten for ten years in major championships at one of the most gruelling events in athletics.
Thompson was born in Notting Hill of Scottish and Nigerian parents. He won gold in the Commonwealth Games in 1978 and silver in the European Championships of the same year. He then went on to the Moscow Olympics to claim his first Olympic title in 1980. He captured the European gold in Athens in 1982, followed by gold at the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983. At that point, Thompson became the first athlete, in any event, to hold the Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic titles simultaneously.
As the 1984 Olympics approached, the rivalry with Hingsen intensified. When Thompson heard that Hingsen claimed he was going to leave Los Angeles with gold, Daley grinned and stated "the only way he is going to do that is if he steals mine". After a close struggle and a world record performance, Thompson came out on top with gold.
In 1988 he attempted to retain his title for an unprecedented third time, but could only manage fourth after being hit by injury. Following his retirement Thompson played professional football briefly for Mansfield Town and has been associated with other clubs as a fitness coach. A popular character with a somewhat irreverent attitude, Daley was awarded the CBE in the year 2000.
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