Rikki Fifton
Encyclopedia
Rikki Fifton is a British sprinter
who mainly specialises in the 200 metres
, but occasionally competes in 100 metres
, 400 metres
, and relay events
.
Before becoming involved in athletics, Fifton was an avid kick boxer. He currently runs for the Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets club and is studying for a PE and Sociology degree at Loughborough University
.
He made his first international junior appearance at the 2003 European Athletics Junior Championships
, finishing fourth in the 200 m final. The following year he attended the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
and again reached the final, this time finishing in sixth place. His most accomplished performance to date on the senior athletics circuit is getting to the semi-finals of the European Championships in Athletics
in 2006 and winning the 200 m at the national indoor championships in 2007. He won the 200 m bronze medal at the 2007 European Athletics U23 Championships
, finishing behind Visa Hongisto
and Vojtech Sulc.
In May 2009, Fifton took part in the 150 meters street race at the Great City Games in Manchester
. He reached the final of the event and finished fourth with a time of 15.13 seconds, behind Ivory Williams
, Marlon Devonish
and Usain Bolt
.
He won the 200 m at the European Athletics permit meet in Geneva
in June with a new personal best of 20.46 seconds. This made him top of the European rankings in the event and improved his chances for a place in the 2009 European Team Championships
. He was selected to run the 4×100 m relay and the 200 m at the competition. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the relay race and Great Britain finished tenth. Teammate Dwain Chambers
won as the stand-in 200 m runner.
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
who mainly specialises in the 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
, but occasionally competes in 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
, 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
, and relay events
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
.
Before becoming involved in athletics, Fifton was an avid kick boxer. He currently runs for the Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets club and is studying for a PE and Sociology degree at Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
.
He made his first international junior appearance at the 2003 European Athletics Junior Championships
2003 European Athletics Junior Championships
The 2003 European Athletics Junior Championships was held in Tampere, Finland from 23–27 July 2003. A total of 44 events were contested; 22 by men and 22 by women. Germany had the biggest medal haul with nine golds and a total of 27, closely followed by Russia . Great Britain was third with 17...
, finishing fourth in the 200 m final. The following year he attended the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics was the 2004 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Grosseto in Italy.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:-References:*. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2010-06-06....
and again reached the final, this time finishing in sixth place. His most accomplished performance to date on the senior athletics circuit is getting to the semi-finals of the European Championships in Athletics
European Championships in Athletics
The European Athletics Championships is an event organized by the European Athletic Association. It is organised every four years, the same year as the Commonwealth Games and between the Summer Olympic Games cycle. After the 2010 Championships in Barcelona, the European Championships will take...
in 2006 and winning the 200 m at the national indoor championships in 2007. He won the 200 m bronze medal at the 2007 European Athletics U23 Championships
2007 European Athletics U23 Championships
The 6th European Athletics U23 Championships was held between 12 and 15 July 2007 in the Gyulai István Athletic Stadium in Debrecen, Hungary.- Men :- Women :-Medal table:-References:General*-External links:**...
, finishing behind Visa Hongisto
Visa Hongisto
Visa Veli Hongisto is a Finnish sprinter. His club team is Valkealan Kajo. He is the son of Eeva Haimi.Hongisto represented Finland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 200 metres and placed fourth in his first round heat in a time of 20.62 seconds...
and Vojtech Sulc.
In May 2009, Fifton took part in the 150 meters street race at the Great City Games in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He reached the final of the event and finished fourth with a time of 15.13 seconds, behind Ivory Williams
Ivory Williams
Ivory Williams is an American sprint athlete who specialises in the 100 meters.Born in Jefferson County, Texas, Williams competed at the 2002 United States Junior Championships, taking bronze in the 200 meters and finishing in fourth place in the 100 m. His first major junior tournament was...
, Marlon Devonish
Marlon Devonish
Marlon Ronald Devonish, MBE is an English sprint athlete.He is a member of the Coventry Godiva Harriers athletics club and is coached by Tony Lester. Early in his career he was successful at both 100 and 200 metre distances, winning English Schools and European Junior titles at both, but in recent...
and Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt
The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, OJ, C.D. , is a Jamaican sprinter and a five-time World and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay...
.
He won the 200 m at the European Athletics permit meet in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in June with a new personal best of 20.46 seconds. This made him top of the European rankings in the event and improved his chances for a place in the 2009 European Team Championships
2009 European Team Championships
The first SPAR European Team Championships took place on 20 and 21 June 2009. The track and field athletics tournament run by European Athletics was the successor of the old European Cup competition which was held annually until 2008...
. He was selected to run the 4×100 m relay and the 200 m at the competition. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the relay race and Great Britain finished tenth. Teammate Dwain Chambers
Dwain Chambers
Dwain Anthony Chambers is an English sprinter of Afro-Caribbean descent. He has won medals on the international stage numerous times and is one of the fastest European sprinters in the history of recorded athletics. His primary event is the 100 metres sprint, in which he has the second...
won as the stand-in 200 m runner.
Personal bests
| Event | Best | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 metres 60 metres 60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes... |
6.61 s | Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a... , England |
16 February 2008 |
| 100 metres 100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896... |
10.16 s | Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010... , Japan |
28 September 2007 |
| 150 metres | 15.13 s | Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , England |
17 May 2009 |
| 200 metres 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first... (outdoor) |
20.46 s | Geneva Geneva Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland... , Switzerland |
6 June 2009 |
| 200 metres 200 metres A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first... (indoor) |
21.06 s | Sheffield Sheffield Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely... , England |
10 February 2007 |
- All information taken from IAAF profile.