Fun Fact: On August 16, 1950, Hasely Crawford was born. He is a Trinidadian Olympic athlete who would go on to win the gold medal in the 100-meter dash in the 1976 Olympics. Notably, he is recognized as his country’s first Olympic champion. He trained in the U.S. at Eastern Michigan University under coach Bob Parks, who carefully managed his races leading up to the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the Montreal Olympics, Crawford won the 100 meters final in a time of 10.06 seconds, narrowly beating Don Quarrie of Jamaica by 0.02 seconds. This victory earned Trinidad and Tobago its first-ever Olympic gold medal. He qualified for the 200 meters final in the same Olympics but had to pull out due to a pelvic injury. He is a national hero, with both a stadium and a jet named in his honor back home. He also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest honor, the Trinity Cross, in 1978 (later renamed the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago). Crawford competed in four Olympic Games in total (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984) but did not reach another Olympic final after 1976.by johnataylor on TwosFun Fact: On August 16, 1950, Hasely Crawford was born. He is a Trinidadian Olympic athlete who would go on to win the gold medal in the 100-meter dash in the 1976 Olympics. Notably, he is recognized as his country’s first Olympic champion. He trained in the U.S. at Eastern Michigan University under coach Bob Parks, who carefully managed his races leading up to the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the Montreal Olympics, Crawford won the 100 meters final in a time of 10.06 seconds, narrowly beating Don Quarrie of Jamaica by 0.02 seconds. This victory earned Trinidad and Tobago its first-ever Olympic gold medal. He qualified for the 200 meters final in the same Olympics but had to pull out due to a pelvic injury. He is a national hero, with both a stadium and a jet named in his honor back home. He also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest honor, the Trinity Cross, in 1978 (later renamed the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago). Crawford competed in four Olympic Games in total (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984) but did not reach another Olympic final after 1976.