Iwan Thomas facts for kids
Thomas being interviewed in London in 2011
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| Born | 5 January 1974 Farnborough, London, England |
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| Residence | Southampton, Hampshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country |  Great Britain Wales |
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| Sport | Men's athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Iwan Gwyn Thomas (born 5 January 1974) is a Welsh sprinter. He ran for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Olympic Games. He also represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games. Iwan is famous for being a European, Commonwealth, and World champion in the 4 × 400 metres relay race.
Iwan Thomas used to hold the UK record for the 400-meter race. He set a time of 44.36 seconds in 1997. This record stood until May 2022. He was also part of the team that held the European record for the 4 × 400-meter relay. They set this record in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics. This record was broken at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
His coach for most of his running career was Mike Smith. Mike also coached other famous British 400-meter runners. In 1998, Iwan Thomas was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This is a special award given to people for their achievements.
Contents
Athletics Career Highlights
Iwan's athletics journey began at the World Junior Championships in 1992. He was part of the British 4 × 400-meter relay team that finished fifth. He studied Sports Science and Geography at university. While still a student, he competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games for Wales. He reached the semi-finals in the 400-meter race. In 1995, he won his first championship gold medal at the European Cup.
Olympic Games Performances
At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Iwan Thomas finished fifth in the 400-meter final. He then won a silver medal in the 4 × 400-meter relay event. His team broke the European record in this race. He also competed for Britain in the 2000 Summer Olympics. He ran the fastest part of the 4 × 400-meter relay for the British team. However, the team finished fifth and did not win a medal.
World Championship Success
Iwan was part of the Great Britain 4 × 400-meter team at the 1997 World Championships in Athens. The team included Iwan Thomas, Roger Black, Jamie Baulch, and Mark Richardson. They finished second, very close behind the United States team.
Later, in 2008, it was revealed that a US team member had used banned substances. Because of this, in 2010, Great Britain's 1997 relay team was officially awarded the gold medal. Iwan Thomas received his gold medal in May 2010.
Challenges and Injuries
Iwan's career faced many challenges due to injuries. In 1999, he had a stress fracture in his ankle. He also had an Achilles injury in 2003. More injuries in 2004 stopped him from competing in the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2006, he was chosen for the Welsh team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. But he could not compete because of another injury.
Iwan never officially announced his retirement from athletics. He decided to retire during a radio show in 2012. He remained the UK record-holder in the 4 × 400-meter relay until 2024.
Personal Life and Interests
Iwan Thomas was born in Farnborough. His father's parents were from Wales. His mother's family, who spoke Welsh, lived in Llandderfel, Gwynedd. Iwan now lives in Southampton.
He enjoys motorcycles and bought a Ducati 1098 after winning a TV show. Even though he supports Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, he became an ambassador for The Saints Foundation. This is the charity of Southampton F.C..
Television Appearances
Iwan Thomas has appeared on many TV shows. In 2008, he was a guest presenter on two episodes of Best of Friends. He also took part in the celebrity version of Million Pound Drop Live in 2012.
He is a co-presenter for MotoGP Tonight on BT Sport. He also presents the Chequered Flag show after MotoGP races. In 2015, Iwan was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. He was paired with dancer Ola Jordan but was the first contestant to leave the show.
In September 2016, Iwan presented the athletics coverage for Channel 4 at the Paralympics Games in Rio. In 2017, he was a guest in "dictionary corner" on the game show Countdown. In 2022, he participated in Celebrity Hunted for Stand Up To Cancer. He was the only celebrity to win that series.
Other Activities
Iwan Thomas has tried other sports too. He made a guest appearance as a cyclist in 2009. He competed in a 200-meter time trial at the Manchester Velodrome. He also took part in the London Marathon in 2015.
In 2009, he joined the Ecover Sailing Team for an Extreme 40 event. He was part of their boat crew for a practice day of the iShares cup. Iwan is a big fan of motorcycles. In April 2024, he started co-hosting a new motorbike podcast called "Full Chat." He discusses motorcycles with former footballer David Prutton and welcomes celebrity guests.
See also
In Spanish: Iwan Thomas para niños
