British · Notting Hill, London · Born 30 July 1958British decathlete who dominated the event in the 1980s, winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals and setting multiple world records in the decathlon.
Francis Morgan Thompson was born in Notting Hill, London in 1958 and won back-to-back Olympic decathlon gold medals at Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. He also won the World Championship in 1983, two European Championships (1982, 1986) and three Commonwealth Games gold medals (1978, 1982, 1986). He equalled Jürgen Hingsen's world record of 8,797 points at the 1984 Olympics — a score that was later revised to 8,798, awarding him a world record. He was the dominant force in world decathlon for a decade. His combination of speed, strength and competitive mentality — he would often wind up opponents during events — made him a unique figure in British athletics. He was voted the greatest British athlete of the 20th century in a BBC poll. He was awarded an OBE in 1982 and a CBE in 2000. After retirement he worked as a personal trainer and television personality.
Greatest decathlete of all time, unbeaten for 9 years
He is the only decathlete in history to hold the Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European titles simultaneously.
Did You Know?How They Played
Exceptional all-round athlete with particular strength in running events
Lasting Impact
Revolutionized decathlon training and performance standards
Career Honours
- Olympic Gold Decathlon 1980 1984
- World Champion 1983
- World Record Holder 8,798 pts
- Grand Slam of all major titles
British Athletes