Iwan Thomas

Iwan is one of the finest 400m runners that Britain has seen. A former European Champion, Commonwelath Champion, World Cup winner and current British Record Holder.

Iwan is one of the finest 400m runners that Britain has seen. A former European Champion, Commonwelath Champion, World Cup winner and current British Record Holder.

SPORT BIO

A late starter to the world of Athletics, preferring to concentrate on BMX bike riding (ranked fourth in Europe) than to run one lap of the track. However he did start his athletics career in 1992 when he represented the British 4x400m relay team at the World Junior Championships, helping them to 5th place.

In 1993 Iwan attended a 3 year course at West London University studying for a Sports Management degree, where he juggled his studies and training, making excellent progress every year setting 9 Welsh 400m records in the process. In 1994 Iwan went to the Commonwealth Games in Canada where he set another PB and Welsh Record in 45.98 and reached the semi final stage. Iwan was rewarded for his superb form and was picked to represent the British 4x400m relay team in 1995 at the European Cup which they won.

His confidence grew from strength to strength and he was awarded an individual position in the Olympic team for Atlanta. At the age of 22 Iwan had a fantastic games, he came 5th in the final of the 400m and won a silver medal in the 4x400m along side good friend and team mate Jamie Baulch.

In 1997 Iwan, keen to capitalise on his achievements of the previous year, claimed his first UK Championship title in Birmingham beating Olympic silver medallist Roger Black. He then went on to win the European Cup 4x400m relay; he came sixth in the World Championships in Seville and won silver in the 4x400m relay.

1998 was a year to remember for Iwan. He launched himself into the season with a number of Grand Prix victories; this was followed by victories in the European Cup and in the 4x400m relay. Iwan then went on to the European Championships in Budapest winning Gold in the 400m and in the 4x400m. Success at the World Cup in South Africa later in the year was particularly satisfying representing Europe against the other continents of the World. In what must have seemed an endless year, Iwan flew straight to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur where he became champion of the Commonwealth and bought a bronze medal home for Wales in the 4x400m.