Thompson to graduate with sociology degree on Friday

TRIPLE OLYMPIC medallist Richard Thompson will graduate on Friday morning with a degree in sociology from Louisiana State University (LSU), according to an article on the university's website.

The 34-year-old Thompson was part of the gold-medal TT men's 4x100-metre relay team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, as well as the silver medallist in the 100m. Four years later, in London, England, Thompson earned silver in the men's 400m relay team.

Thompson, who joined LSU in January 2005, was quoted as saying in the article, "I always thought it was important to come back to school and finish my degree. I was fortunate enough to have a successful professional career that lasted over a decade, you know. I cherished all the experiences I had while I was competing worldwide.

"This year has been circled on my calendar for some time now. I wanted to run in one more Olympics (Tokyo 2020), but I also wanted to have my degree in hand before then. I got in touch with coach (Dennis) Shaver and we made it happen. LSU was so accepting of me when I voiced my interest to come back and complete my degree."

Thompson returned to Baton Rouge in the late 2019 and began on finishing off his degree while simultaneously training for his last run at the Olympics. Class in the morning, practice in the afternoons: it was just like the good ole days when Thompson was first on campus, back in the mid-2000s.

"That's why I love LSU so much," Thompson noted. "Everybody here welcomed me back with open arms and made my transition a smooth one. It was a bit of a blessing for me as well as I had the chance to mentor some of the current student-athletes.

"I was able to give them real-life knowledge that I've learned over the years. I wanted to encourage them to perform well in the classroom and on the track, what kind of work it takes, you know? It doesn't come easy, but if you just stick to the plan, good things will happen."

Thompson, who is also a sports ambassador with Atlantic, mentioned, "I think anybody that has success has a certain responsibility to those who come after them. I've always tried to be present for our youth in Trinidad and Tobago.

"I've always put a priority on mentoring and speaking to them when I have the chance. I've hosted camps on a yearly basis back home since 2009 and I cherish those opportunities. I understand the impact I can have on them and that is a responsibility I take to heart."

Asked if he'll make one more go at a fourth Olympics in 2021, Thompson replied, "That's up in the air. We'll see how these next couple of months go. I'm enjoying time with my wife and kids and that's what I'm focused on right now."