Shirley Thomas (born 15 June 1963) 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
Famous quotes containing the words shirley and/or thomas:
“The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.”
—James Shirley (1596–1666)
“Thy sharp repulse, that pricketh ay so sore,
Hath taught me to set in trifles no store,
and scape forth, since liberty is lever.”
—Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503?–1542)