Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Richard Thompson says he is ‘eternally grateful’ to compete once more at the Olympic Games, adding that he had to ‘dig deep’ to earn his place in the team.

The 36-year-old, who has endured many challenges in the last five years, says he is enjoying his new role within the team and is excited to “pass the baton” to the young guns.

After Thompson last competed at the Rio Olympics on August 18, 2016, injuries, and surgery threatened to derail his career.

He would race only once in the next 42 months, a 60-meter event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on February 21, 2020.

After that, Thompson’s career was put on another 18-month hiatus before he raced in a 100m event at the Bahamas National Stadium in Nassau on June 25, 2021.

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