Tommy Thomson was born near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan but his family relocated to California when he was eight years old. Six year later he jumped off a buggy in which he was riding and discharged a loaded shotgun into his chest. Operated on that evening, the doctors thought the wound was fatal, but Thomson survived. He recovered well enough to captain the track team at Dartmouth. Thomson’s father remained a Canadian citizen, which meant that Tommy did as well. In 1916 he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving during World War I. In 1920 he won the Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal and when he won the gold medal in the 110 hurdles, he became the first gold medalist in that event who was not representing the United States. Thomson later became a well-known coach in the US. He started at his alma mater, then moved to West Virginia, and then spent 37 years as the head track coach at the US Naval Academy.
Personal Best: 110H – unknown.
Canada