Iwan Thomas believes British athletes can win seven medals when the track and field programme begins at the Paris Olympics a week today, but he wants those new champions to show their personality to help elevate his beloved sport.
Documentaries about Daley Thompson last week and Linford Christie this week have served as a reminder of just how big those two figures loomed over British sport in the 1980s and 90s.
They were dominant on the track and huge personalities off it in a golden era for British athletics.
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Thomas came along towards the end of that period, winning a silver medal with the 4x400m relay team at the Atlanta Olympics of 1996.
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On course: Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain celebrates winning the women’s 800m final during the London Diamond League meet last week. Can she now go to Paris and win Olympic gold?
On course: Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain celebrates winning the women’s 800m final during the London Diamond League meet last week. Can she now go to Paris and win Olympic gold?
And while he is confident the likes of Keely Hodgkinson, Matt Hudson-Smith and Josh Kerr can win gold medals in Paris over the next fortnight, he wants them to use that platform to get people talking about athletics again.
“The names are there, the Matt’s, the Keely’s, the Josh Kerr’s, we’ve got the athletes who have got the ability to become Olympic champions. What I would say to them is don’t be afraid to show a bit of that personality,” said Thomas, will be working with Eurosport and discovery+ for their Olympic athletics coverage.
“That’s what people love. We grew up on people like Daley Thompson, who were a little bit rock and roll, a little bit edgy.
