Hasely Crawford
Encyclopedia
Hasely Joachim Crawford (born August 16, 1950) is a former athlete from Trinidad and Tobago
. In 1976, he became the first Olympic
champion of his country. A stadium
was renamed in his honour in 2001.
, one of the eleven children of Lionel and Phyllis Crawford, and began pursuing athletics at the age of 17. He is a six-time Trinidad and Tobago 100 metres champion, and won the 200 metre title in 1976. He debuted internationally in 1970, winning a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games
. Only two years later, he surprisingly qualified for the 100 metres final of the Olympics in Munich
, but pulled his hamstring after 20 metres and failed to finish.
After finishing as the runner up at the 1975 Pan American Games
in the 100 metres, Crawford was added to the team of American coach Bob Parks. His new coach prepared him for the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the 1976 Summer Olympics
with a strategy of only allowing him to run in a few races during the season. This tactic paid off, as Crawford, in the outside lane 1, narrowly won the 100 metres final in front of Don Quarrie
of Jamaica
, winning Trinidad and Tobago
's first Olympic gold medal. He had also qualified for the 200 metres final, but was forced to pull out after injuring his groin.
After these Games, Crawford met with further success, winning the 100 metres event at the Central American and Caribbean Championships
in 1977. On returning home, Hasely "Raj Paul" Crawford had both a jet and a stadium named after him. During his reign as the 100 metre Olympic champion, he also appeared on postage stamps and was awarded Trinidad and Tobago's highest honour, Trinity Cross
, in 1978. Crawford went on to compete in a total of four Olympic Games as he also represented T&T at both the Moscow
and Los Angeles
editions in 1980 and 1984, but was unable to qualify for another final. Crawford's last international medals were a bronze and a silver which he won at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
in the 100 metres and the 4x100 metres relay respectively. In 2000, he was named the Trinidad & Tobago Athlete of the Millennium. He is a member of the Caribbean Hall of Fame, along with Ato Boldon
and Arthur Wint
, one of only three track and field athletes to be inducted.
. Two of his nieces are currently following in his footsteps and making a name for themselves in the world of athletics.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. In 1976, he became the first Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion of his country. A stadium
Hasely Crawford Stadium
The Hasely Crawford Stadium, located in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, is named after Hasely Crawford, the first person from Trinidad and Tobago to win an Olympic gold medal. Originally built as the National Stadium in 1980, the stadium was re-named to honour Crawford in 2001. The stadium...
was renamed in his honour in 2001.
Early Years
Crawford was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and TobagoSan Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
, one of the eleven children of Lionel and Phyllis Crawford, and began pursuing athletics at the age of 17. He is a six-time Trinidad and Tobago 100 metres champion, and won the 200 metre title in 1976. He debuted internationally in 1970, winning a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Games
1970 British Commonwealth Games
The 1970 British Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 16 July to 25 July 1970.This was the first time the name British Commonwealth Games was adopted, the first time metric units rather than imperial units were used in events, and also the first time the games were held in...
. Only two years later, he surprisingly qualified for the 100 metres final of the Olympics in Munich
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, but pulled his hamstring after 20 metres and failed to finish.
Athletic Career
Crawford ran for Eastern Michigan University under coach Bob Parks during his college years.After finishing as the runner up at the 1975 Pan American Games
1975 Pan American Games
The 7th Pan American Games were held in Mexico City, Mexico, from October 12 to October 26, 1975, exactly twenty years after the 2nd Pan American Games were held there...
in the 100 metres, Crawford was added to the team of American coach Bob Parks. His new coach prepared him for the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
with a strategy of only allowing him to run in a few races during the season. This tactic paid off, as Crawford, in the outside lane 1, narrowly won the 100 metres final in front of Don Quarrie
Don Quarrie
Donald O'Riley Quarrie C.D is a former Jamaican athlete, one of the world's top sprinters during the 1970s....
of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, winning Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
's first Olympic gold medal. He had also qualified for the 200 metres final, but was forced to pull out after injuring his groin.
After these Games, Crawford met with further success, winning the 100 metres event at the Central American and Caribbean Championships
1977 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics
-Men's events:-Women's events:A = affected by altitude-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics...
in 1977. On returning home, Hasely "Raj Paul" Crawford had both a jet and a stadium named after him. During his reign as the 100 metre Olympic champion, he also appeared on postage stamps and was awarded Trinidad and Tobago's highest honour, Trinity Cross
Trinity Cross
The Trinity Cross was the highest of the National Awards of Trinidad and Tobago, between the years 1969– 2008. It was awarded for: distinguished and outstanding service to Trinidad and Tobago...
, in 1978. Crawford went on to compete in a total of four Olympic Games as he also represented T&T at both the Moscow
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
and Los Angeles
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
editions in 1980 and 1984, but was unable to qualify for another final. Crawford's last international medals were a bronze and a silver which he won at the 1978 Commonwealth Games
1978 Commonwealth Games
The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
in the 100 metres and the 4x100 metres relay respectively. In 2000, he was named the Trinidad & Tobago Athlete of the Millennium. He is a member of the Caribbean Hall of Fame, along with Ato Boldon
Ato Boldon
Ato Jabari Boldon is a former athlete from Trinidad and Tobago and four-time Olympic medal winner. Only 2 other men in history, Frankie Fredericks and Carl Lewis, have won as many Olympic individual event sprint medals. He is the current national record holder in the 50, 60 and 200 metres events...
and Arthur Wint
Arthur Wint
Competitor for JamaicaArthur Stanley Wint was the first Jamaican Olympic gold medalist, winning the 400 m at 1948 Summer Olympics....
, one of only three track and field athletes to be inducted.
Personal Life
He now resides with his common law wife, Paula and has two children, Harlan and Halle Crawford and is employed by the National Gas Company of Trinidad and TobagoNational Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited is a state-owned natural gas company. It was created by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1975. NGC is operating in the field of gas pipelines, industrial sites, gas production, port and marine infrastructure, natural gas liquids and...
. Two of his nieces are currently following in his footsteps and making a name for themselves in the world of athletics.