29 Oct Turquoise Thompson Announced as Adopt an Athlete Grant Recipient
INDIANAPOLIS – The USA Track & Field Foundation announced this week that 400m hurdler Turquoise Thompson is the first recipient of the Foundation’s Adopt an Athlete grant program. The initial grant was made available earlier this year through the generosity of an anonymous donor.
The program is structured to financially support an Olympic hopeful during the four-year training period prior to the Olympic Games. Turquoise will receive $10,000 in funding from the Foundation over the next twelve months and then additional installments in following years based on need and performance.
“Programs like Adopt an Athlete take the pressure off athletes to find financial support,” said USATF Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic. “We are hoping this grant allows Turquoise to focus completely on becoming the world’s top 400m hurdler.”
A recent UCLA graduate, Turquoise set a national record in the 400m hurdles as a youth at the Junior Olympics. As a collegian, she was ranked in the top five in the NCAA nearly all four years of her eligibility.
“I both appreciate and admire the Foundation’s mission and efforts toward supporting and empowering up and coming talent such as myself,” noted Thompson. “This grant will contribute largely to my efforts and ability to compete at the highest level. Thank you for believing in me.”
By adopting an athlete, a donor will share in the Olympic journey by giving an elite athlete the resources necessary to be competitive on the grandest of all competitive stages: the Olympic Games. The Adopt an Athlete program also gives donors the flexibility to select the particular event in which they choose to sponsor an athlete.
The Foundation’s Elite Athlete Grant and Adopt an Athlete programs contribute to the pursuit of world-class performances by American post-collegiate track and field athletes. Athletes must meet minimum performance and financial need standards to be eligible.