Daley Thompson Net Worth

What is Daley Thompson's Net Worth?

Daley Thompson is an English former decathlete who has a net worth of $4 million. Daley Thompson won gold in the decathlon at the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics. Unbeaten in competition for nine years between 1978 and 1987, he also set four world records and won three Commonwealth titles, two European Championships titles, and one World Championships title. After his retirement in 1992, Thompson worked as a football fitness coach, trainer, and motivational speaker, and briefly participated in motorsports.

Early Life

Daley Thompson was born as Francis Thompson on July 30, 1958 in London, England as the second son of Scottish mother Lydia and British-Nigerian father Frank. When Thompson was six years old, his father left the family. At seven, he was sent to a boarding school in Bolney, West Sussex, which he later called "a place for troubled children." When Thompson was still young, his father was fatally shot in south London.

Career Beginnings in the 1970s

Originally, Thompson wanted to become a professional footballer, but he ended up favoring a career in athletics. After being involved with the Haywards Heath Harriers, he joined the Newham and Essex Beagles Athletic Club in 1975. Thompson trained as a sprinter under coach Bob Mortimer, who suggested he become a decathlete. Heeding his advice, he competed in his first decathlon later in the year, in Cwmbran, Wales. Thompson ended up winning the competition. He went on to win the AAA title in 1976.

Unbeaten Streak, 1978-1987

In 1978, Thompson began his record winning streak with a silver medal at the European Athletics Championships in Prague and gold at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. He went on to establish himself as one of the greatest decathletes in history in 1980. After setting a new world decathlon record of 8,648 points in May, Thompson won the Olympic gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Two years later, he set another new world decathlon record, with 8,730 points. Just months after that, he won the decathlon at the 1982 European Championships in Athens with a new world record of 8,774 points. Thompson subsequently won the 1982 Commonwealth Games decathlon in Brisbane. In 1983, he won the decathlon at the inaugural World Athletics Championships in Helsinki.

At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Thompson defended his decathlon title by winning his second consecutive Olympic gold. In the process, he set yet another world decathlon record, with 8,847 points, surpassing his rival Jürgen Hingsen. Thompson became just the second person ever to win two Olympic decathlons, after Bob Mathias. He had his last winning year in 1986, when he claimed his third Commonwealth title and second European Championships title. Additionally, he won silver in the men's 4 x 100 meters relay at the Commonwealth Games and bronze in the same event at the European Championships. Thompson's unbeaten streak came to an end in 1987 when he suffered his first decathlon defeat in nine years, at the World Championships. At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, he finished in fourth place.

Steve Powell/Allsport

Post-retirement

After being forced to retire from athletics in 1992 due to persistent hamstring issues, Thompson briefly played reserve team football for the association football club Mansfield Town. He also had a short stint with the club Ilkeston, and served as a fitness coach for Wimbledon FC and Luton Town. In 1994, Thompson trained with Reading FC and participated in motorsports at the Ford Credit Fiesta Challenge Championship. Elsewhere, he worked as a fitness trainer and a motivational speaker.

In 2015, Thompson opened his own gym, Daley Fitness, in London. He also co-hosted the mid-morning show with Colin Murray on the radio station Talksport. In 2018, Thompson co-founded the sports nutrition company DT10 Sports with master chef Gary Barnshaw.

Personal Life

Thompson has five children in total: two with his girlfriend Lisa and three with his ex-wife Tish. His kids include Elliot and Alex, the former a national decathlon champion and the latter a rugby player.

Read more: Daley Thompson Net Worth