Shirley Thomas (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Shirley Thomas is a retired British sprinter who competed mainly in the 100m and 4x100m relay. Her best result was a silver medal in the very first World Championship sprint relay final, anchoring the team that also included Joan Baptiste
, Kathy Cook
, and Beverley Callender
. The British team held the lead into the last changeover but was overtaken by the East German team, led by the newly crowned 100m World Champion Marlies Göhr
. The British time of 42.71 was just 0.02 ahead of the fast-finishing Jamaican team. Thomas had also helped the British team achieve a silver medal at the European Championships the year before.
At the time, Thomas weighed 48 kg and was 1.6 m tall.
Shirley Thomas' achievements occurred during the so-called Golden Era of British women's sprinting, made all the more remarkable as many of their rivals were on performance-enhancing drug programs.
Championship Results
----
4X100 Relay
Personal Best
----
100m 11.48 -0.20 Helsinki 07/08/1983
Joan Baptiste
Joan Jeanetta Baptiste is a retired British sprinter who competed mainly in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Her best result was a silver medal in the very first World Championship sprint relay final, she ran the first leg on a team that included Kathy Cook, Beverley Callendar and Shirley Thomas...
, Kathy Cook
Kathy Cook
Kathryn Jane Cook is one of the most successful female sprinters in British athletics history....
, and Beverley Callender
Beverley Goddard
Beverley Lanita Callender is a British athlete who competed for Great Britain and Reading Athletic Club mainly in the 100 metres 200 metres and 4x100m Relay....
. The British team held the lead into the last changeover but was overtaken by the East German team, led by the newly crowned 100m World Champion Marlies Göhr
Marlies Göhr
Marlies Göhr is a former East German athlete, the winner of the 100 m at the inaugural World Championships in 1983. She ranked in the top 10 of the 100 m world rankings for twelve straight years, ranking first in six of those years...
. The British time of 42.71 was just 0.02 ahead of the fast-finishing Jamaican team. Thomas had also helped the British team achieve a silver medal at the European Championships the year before.
At the time, Thomas weighed 48 kg and was 1.6 m tall.
Shirley Thomas' achievements occurred during the so-called Golden Era of British women's sprinting, made all the more remarkable as many of their rivals were on performance-enhancing drug programs.
Championship Results
----
4X100 Relay
- 1982 Silver European Championships Athens, Greece
- 1983 Silver World Championships Helsinki, Finland
Personal Best
----
100m 11.48 -0.20 Helsinki 07/08/1983