Curtis Thompson (javelin thrower)

Curtis Thompson
Thompson in 2024
Personal information
Born (1996-02-08) 8 February 1996
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event
Javelin throw
Achievements and titles
Personal best87.76 m (2025)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2025 TokyoJavelin throw
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place2023 SantiagoJavelin throw
NACAC Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 FreeportJavelin throw
Gold medal – first place2022 FreeportJavelin throw

Curtis Thompson (born 8 February 1996) is an American javelin thrower. He won the bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships, and gold medals at the 2023 Pan American Games and 2022 and 2025 NACAC Championships.[1]

Biography

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, and raised in Florence Township, New Jersey, Thompson is a 2014 graduate of Florence Township Memorial High School.[2] Thompson won the NCAA title for Mississippi State University in 2016, and he also won the 2018 USATF Championship.[3]

At the 2020 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) held in Eugene, Oregon, on June 21, 2021, Thompson captured the javelin title with a top throw of 82.78 meters to beat runner-up Michael Shuey, whose top throw was 79.24. Riley Dolezal finished third with a throw of 77.07. Thompson individually recorded the four best throws of the competition. Representing his country at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Thompson qualified for the final.[4] He won the gold medal at the 2022 NACAC Championships in Freeport, The Bahamas.[5]

He was selected for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023.[6] He won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in November 2023.[7]

In August 2024, Thompson threw a 76.79 at the 2024 Summer Olympics qualifications, placing him at 13th place and failing to qualify for the finals.[8]

He started his 2025 season with a personal best of 87.76m at the Texas Relays.[9] He threw 83.89 metres to win the javelin throw at the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon to retain the American national title.[10] He won the gold medal at the 2025 NACAC Championships, breaking his own championship record set in 2022, with a throw of 87.27 metres.[5]

In September 2025, he threw 86.67 metres to win the bronze medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.[11][12]

On 28 March 2026, he placed second behind Marc Anthony Minichello in the javelin throw at the USATF Winter Long Throws National Championship in Arizona with a throw of 74.78 metres.[13]

His second meet for the 2026 season was the Drake Relays where he threw 84.65m for the win and facility Record. On 4 June, he finished third at the 2026 Golden Gala in Rome, part of the 2026 Diamond League, with a throw of 83.89 metres.[14] On 6 June, he won with a throw of 84.88 metres at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in College Station, Texas.[15] On 19 June, he threw 85.99 metres to place third at the 2026 Doha Diamond League.[16] On 25 July, he won the javelin throw at the 2026 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in New York, throwing 87.59 metres in the last round to beat Jordan Davis and claim his fourth consecutive national title.[17]

Author

Curtis Thompson and his father, Scott Thompson, wrote a book in 2023 about the behind the scenes moments of raising a champion.[18]

Personal life

His parents are Scott and Karen Thompson. He has one brother, Christopher, who was a collegiate basketball player. Thompson's athletic genes carry through the family as he has several aunts, uncles, and cousins who played badminton for the Jamaican national team. He formerly coached for the Spain Park High School team, before later moving to Huntsville.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Curtis THOMPSON | Profile". worldathletics.org.
  2. ↑ Curtis Thompson, United States national track and field team. Accessed November 16, 2021. "Birthplace: Trenton, N.J. Hometown: Florence, N.J. High School: Florence Township Memorial High School (Florence, N.J.) ‘14"
  3. ↑ Lambert, Jim. "Thompson Wins Javelin, Spot On Olympic Team Virtual Lock". NJ MileSplit.
  4. ↑ "The Latest: Thompson earns the javelin title at trials". Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "THOMPSON, MICHALSKI SMASH MEET RECORDS ON FINAL DAY OF NACAC CHAMPIONSHIPS". usatf.org. August 18, 2025. Retrieved 23 Sep 2025.
  6. ↑ Gault, Jonathan (7 August 2023). "USATF Announces 2023 World Championship Roster". letsrun.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "MATTHEW LUDWIG, RACHEL MCCOY AND CURTIS THOMPSON GRAB GOLD, GIVING AMERICANS 25 MEDALS AT PAN AMERICAN GAMES". Runnerspace. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "HIGHLIGHT: Curtis Thompson falls short in javelin qualification".
  9. ↑ Hof-Mahoney, Paul (July 30, 2025). "USATF Outdoor Championships: Event-By-Event Throws & Heptathlon Preview". Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Men's Javelin Throw Results - USATF Outdoor Championships 2025". World Athletics. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 18 Sep 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "USA TRACK & FIELD NAMES TEAM FOR 2025 WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS". Dyestat. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  13. ↑ "SIX CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT FIRST USATF WINTER LONG THROWS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". usatf.org. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Pathirage and Cunningham break meeting records in Rome". World Athletics. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Thomas scorches to 21.70 at Lone Star Grand Prix". World Athletics. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Results - Doha Diamond League 2026". Watch Athletics. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "HILTZ LIFTS CROWD WITH 1500 FOUR-PEAT ON DAY 3 OF TOYOTA USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS". usatf. 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Curtis Thompson talks winning the bronze medal in the javelin at the World Championships, the best steakhouse he's been to and more! Lactic Acid Podcast November 25, 2025
  19. ↑ Curtis Thompson Olympian 2020, 2024 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
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