final at the Sydney Olympics at the weekend not knowing that a runner with strong Bermuda connections was giving him a run for his money.

Research yesterday by the Royal Gazette unveiled some interesting facts about Barbados' bronze medalist Obadele Thompson...his mother is the former Hilda Caisey of Bailey's Bay.

At about the age of three Thompson spent a year here with his family in 1979 when his mother, a nurse, worked at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and his Guyana-born father, Alvin, taught at the Robert Crawford school in Prospect.

Thompson has two older sisters, Abiola and Aiyetoro who were promising runners in school in Barbados. There is also an older brother, Sean Caisey, who lives in Bermuda.

So does that connection mean that Bermuda has won another medal at the Olympics after a 24-year wait? "His mother's Bermudian so part of that medal belongs to us, that's the way we look at it,'' joked proud aunt Ernestine DeGraff.

She is an older sister of Hilda and one of four daughters of the late Ernest and Cecily Caisey who lived across the street from Dub City in Bailey's Bay where her mother ran a nursery.

"He did spend a summer here with us and was always very energetic and eager to learn,'' recalls his aunt.

"My son is a year older than him and I suppose they did run up and down but we didn't say `wow, let's look out for him in the next few years'. He really came into his own as he got older.'' Technically, Thompson can be considered the third-fastest man in the world behind American Maurice Greene who won the final in a blistering time of 9.87, with Trinidad's Ato Boldon second and Thompson third in 10.04 seconds.

Thompson has become an instant hero in Barbados as a result, with his success as Barbados' first Olympic individual medal earning him more than just accolades and sparking neckwear.

According to a story in the Daily Nation in Barbados yesterday, Thompson has received a prime lot of elevated land in Millennium Heights in the parish of St. Thomas from C.O. Williams Construction, a company headed by the country's newest knight, Sir Charles Williams.

The track star also received 5,000 shares of Williams' Industries, one of Barbados' most successful companies which is also owned by the Williams family. His feat has been likened to that of another Barbados great, cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, the day he set the world batting record.

"Everything that has been achieved in sport, except Sir Garfield Sobers' 365 not out, pales in comparison to what Oba did,'' said Noel Lynch, manager of the Barbados athletics contingent and Minister of Tourism.

Olympic sprinter has links with Bermuda Even so, Thompson, whom his aunt describes as a `fine Christian young man', has kept himself grounded.

"Typical of most teenagers they go through their challenges in life but he has really settled down and done very, very well,'' she says.

"We're very proud of him and pleased about his accomplishments and we wish him continued success. More importantly is his attitude and manner about the whole thing, his humility and his desire to do his best whether he comes first or last.

"As far as we're concerned he's made a name for himself, his family and his community.'' Thompson's parents met in England when both were in school and after living in Guyana they moved to Barbados where she now works with the terminally ill and he is a lecturer at the University of West Indies.

"His father was a very outstanding athlete, he did a lot of track in Guyana,'' Aunt Ernestine recalled.

Accolades for Thompson poured in yesterday from every sector of the Barbados community, from the Government, trade unions, the church and private sector.

In almost every restaurant, on every street, in shops, bars, cricket fields and living rooms, Thompson talk was prevalent.

The sprinter improved on his fourth place finish at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and now he will be going for a second medal in the 200 metres this week.

Sean is very proud of his younger brother.

"It's great, just seeing the improvement from the '96 Olympics to now,'' said Caisey.

"For him it's a great achievement. We're not always in contact because he's always moving, but we do get in contact now and then.

"Everybody in the family is excited about it. In Barbados that's something big for them.'' Thompson recently graduated with honours from the University of Texas, El Paso where he was on a full scholarship, and is now based in Austin, Texas where he trains.

The top sprinter is a four-time national university champion and holds the world indoor record in the 55-metres with a time of 5.99 seconds. He gives all his glory to Christ.

"Some of the greatest challenges have been and continue to be the battles that occur off the track, the daily struggles of being in the faith,'' he said in a recent article.

"Romans 8:37 calls all true believers `more than conquerers' through Christ.

I know I have the strength through Him to be all He calls me to be.'' Says his aunt: "He's very mature and humble and very much into his religion.

The Lord really guides his life.''