Earl Thomson
Encyclopedia
Earl John "Tommy" Thompson (sometimes spelled Thomson) (February 15, 1895 – April 19, 1971) was Canadian
athlete, a specialist in the high hurdles
.
Born in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan
, Thompson moved to southern California
at age 8, because the warm weather would be better for his mother. Thompson attended Long Beach Poly
, where he won the 120 yard hurdles at the first CIF California State Meet
in 1915. He also was second in the High Jump and 4th in the Discus He then went to the University of Southern California
. In 1918, he had already won the AAU
championships in the high hurdles, and in 1920, he set a new world record
in the 110 m hurdles, running 14.4. This record would remain unbeaten until 1931, although it was equaled a number of times. He sought to represent the United States at the 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp, but was ruled ineligible due to his Canadian citizenship. He then joined the Canadian Olympic team.
At the Olympics, Thompson won a clear victory over his American rivals. The following year, he equaled his own world record, and won the AAU, IC4A
and NCAA
championships. He retired after his third AAU title, in 1922.
Later, Thompson became a track and field coach, coaching the team of the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis, Maryland
for 36 years. Thompson was an inaugural inductee to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1955. He died in Annapolis, aged 76.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
athlete, a specialist in the high hurdles
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
.
Born in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan
Birch Hills, Saskatchewan
Birch Hills is a town located in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located southeast of Prince Albert and the reserve of Muskoday First Nation. Directly to the west is the village of St. Louis, and to the east is Kinistino. It is surrounded by, but not part of, Birch Hills Rural Municipality No...
, Thompson moved to southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at age 8, because the warm weather would be better for his mother. Thompson attended Long Beach Poly
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
, where he won the 120 yard hurdles at the first CIF California State Meet
CIF California State Meet
The CIF California State Meet is the annual championship track and field meet for the California Interscholastic Federation. The meet was started in 1915 for boys and 1974 for girls. Every athlete in every high school in California has a direct qualification path that can reach the state meet...
in 1915. He also was second in the High Jump and 4th in the Discus He then went to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. In 1918, he had already won the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championships in the high hurdles, and in 1920, he set a new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the 110 m hurdles, running 14.4. This record would remain unbeaten until 1931, although it was equaled a number of times. He sought to represent the United States at the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp, but was ruled ineligible due to his Canadian citizenship. He then joined the Canadian Olympic team.
At the Olympics, Thompson won a clear victory over his American rivals. The following year, he equaled his own world record, and won the AAU, IC4A
IC4A
IC4A or ICAAAA is an annual men's competition held at different colleges every year....
and NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championships. He retired after his third AAU title, in 1922.
Later, Thompson became a track and field coach, coaching the team of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
for 36 years. Thompson was an inaugural inductee to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 1955. He died in Annapolis, aged 76.