Hasely Crawford facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Trinidad and Tobago |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Gold | 1976 Montreal | 100m |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Silver | 1975 Mexico City | 100m |
| Commonwealth Games | ||
| Silver | 1978 Edmonton | 4x100m |
| Bronze | 1970 Edinburgh | 100m |
| Bronze | 1978 Edmonton | 100m |
Hasely Joachim Crawford is a famous former track and field athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. He was born on August 16, 1950. In 1976, he made history by becoming the first person from his country to win an Olympic gold medal. The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain was named after him in 2001 to honor his amazing achievements.
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Hasely Crawford's Early Life
Hasely Crawford was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. He was one of eleven children. He started running track and field when he was 17 years old. He quickly became a top sprinter. He won the 100 meters race in Trinidad and Tobago six times. He also won the 200 meters title in 1976.
His first international competition was in 1970. He won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the Commonwealth Games. Just two years later, he surprised everyone by reaching the 100 meters final at the Munich Olympics. However, he had to stop after 20 meters because of a hamstring injury.
Hasely Crawford's Amazing Athletic Career
Hasely Crawford went to Eastern Michigan University. He trained there with coach Bob Parks. In 1975, he finished second in the 100 meters at the 1975 Pan American Games.
Winning Olympic Gold in 1976
His coach had a special plan for him before the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. He let Hasely run in only a few races that season. This plan worked perfectly. In the 100 meters final, Hasely Crawford was in the first lane. He won the race by a tiny bit, finishing in 10.06 seconds. He was just 0.02 seconds ahead of Don Quarrie from Jamaica. This was a huge moment for Trinidad and Tobago. It was their first ever Olympic gold medal! Hasely also made it to the 200 meters final, but he had to stop because he hurt his pelvis.
Life After the Olympics
After his Olympic win, Hasely Crawford continued to succeed. He won the 100 meters at the Central American and Caribbean Championships in 1977. When he returned home, a jet and a stadium were named after him. He even appeared on postage stamps. In 1978, he received Trinidad and Tobago's highest honor, the Trinity Cross. This award is now called the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Hasely Crawford competed in four Olympic Games in total. He also ran for Trinidad and Tobago at the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympics. However, he did not reach another final. His last international medals were in 1978 at the 1978 Commonwealth Games. He won a bronze in the 100 meters and a silver in the 4x100 meters relay.
In 2000, he was named the Trinidad & Tobago Athlete of the Millennium. He is also a member of the Caribbean Hall of Fame. Only three track and field athletes are in this hall of fame: Hasely Crawford, Ato Boldon, and Arthur Wint.
Hasely Crawford's Best Times
- 50 meters: 5.78 seconds (indoors, February 1979, Ottawa)
- 100 meters: 10.06 seconds (July 1976, Montreal)
- 200 meters: 20.93 seconds (June 1977, London)
Hasely Crawford's International Competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing Trinidad and Tobago |
|||||
| 1970 | Commonwealth Games | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | 3rd | 100 m | 10.33 |
| 6th | 4 × 100 m relay | 40.3 | |||
| 1972 | Olympic Games | Munich, West Germany | 5th (sf) | 100 m | 10.361 |
| 1975 | Pan American Games | Mexico City, Mexico | 2nd | 100 m | 10.21 |
| 15th (h) | 200 m | 21.65 | |||
| 5th | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.25 | |||
| 1976 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada | 1st | 100 m | 10.06 |
| 8th | 200 m | 79.60 | |||
| 1977 | Central American and Caribbean Championships | Xalapa, Mexico | 1st | 100 m | 10.38 |
| 2nd | 4 × 100 m relay | 40.16 | |||
| 1978 | Central American and Caribbean Games | Medellín, Colombia | 1st | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.13 |
| Commonwealth Games | Edmonton, Canada | 3rd | 100 m | 10.09 | |
| 2nd | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.29 | |||
| 1979 | Pan American Games | San Juan, Puerto Rico | 7th | 4 × 100 m relay | 40.44 |
| 1980 | Olympic Games | Moscow, Soviet Union | 8th (qf) | 100 m | 10.28 |
| 10th (h) | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.74 | |||
| 1982 | Commonwealth Games | Brisbane, Australia | 11th (sf) | 100 m | 10.40 |
| 1983 | Pan American Games | Caracas, Venezuela | 5th | 4 × 100 m relay | 39.40 |
| 1984 | Olympic Games | Los Angeles, United States | 18th (qf) | 100 m | 10.56 |
1Did not finish in the final
See also
In Spanish: Hasely Crawford para niños
