Michael Thompson '17 Recruiting Profile

    Competing has been a part of my life since I was born, whether it was racing my little brother to school, or playing soccer with my friends I've always wanted to win. I found a love for football and basketball, however, once I reached the high school level I realized that those weren't the sports for me. I could do my best and work my hardest, but at the end of the day many said that wasn't good enough. This discouraged me, and I didn't play or compete in sports for an entire year. What I did do was show up after that year to my friends track meet and one of the coaches asked me to jump over the high jump bar. I did so and I hit the bar right off, but rather then yell or get mad, the coach helped me and gave me some advise, some of which was to join track the next year. I did so and found that I love track because I will always compete against perhaps my most difficult opponent and most harsh critic which is myself. 

    At one point in time I believed winning was everything, but that changed when I saw Nikki Hablin stop and help up Abbey D'Agostino in the Olympics. I found out they were given the Pierre de Coubertin medal, a medal for showing the true spirit of sportsmanship. This has inspired me and changed my view of athletics and of people. I believe that medal, to be more important then any gold medal. Because a gold only shows ones ability to win. While the de Coubertin shows ones ability to be a good person. I ask myself which the world needs, and well ill feel selfish for saying gold. With that being said, I still love to win, and I believe winning will come in time as long as I put in the work to improve myself in every way. Whether its on the track, in school, or in my own home. There is always room for improvement.

    I now aspire to be an Olympian, this is a long term goal set for the 2024 Olympic games. However, in the short term I wish to jump at least 24 feet so that I can break the 5a State record in Utah for long jump. I am shooting for sprinting my 100m in less than 10.9 sec and to run my 200 in less then 21 sec. While in college, I wish to be invited to the Olympic qualifiers and or be on the level to compete and win in the diamond league. My college goals academically are to pursue, exercise science and one day become a P.E. teacher/Coach.