Richard Thompson will have a new coach when he begins preparation for the 2017 season.
Thompson, who made a disappointing exit in the first round of the men’s 100m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and coach for one year, Ato Boldon, parted ways last week.
According to information reaching Trackalerts.com, Thompson, who was second in the men’s 100m behind Jamaica’s Usain Bolt at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, felt teenaged sensation, Khalifa St Fort, was getting all Boldon’s attention.
Boldon told CNC3 News that Thompson “just feels like he has to move on.”
As for the attention he gives to St Fort, the 2016 World Junior 100m bronze medallist, Boldon stated: “I think we were honest about how much attention Khalifa gets in the camp and I think he felt, at some point this year, that my focus is so much on Khalifa that everybody else sorts of takes a back seat.”
Thompson, who helped Trinidad and Tobago to 4x100m silver medals in Beijing and London 2012, approached Boldon to coach him in 2015.
“Richard will continue to run but he and I will not be working together, even though we remain friends,” added Boldon.