Anthony "Tony" Sharpe (born 28 June 1961) is a Jamaican-born Canadian former sprinter who won an Olympic bronze medal in the

4 x 100 metres relay 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. In mathematics Four is the smallest c ...

and was a finalist in the 100 metres in

Los Angeles 1984 The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the secon ...

. In 1982, he set a Canadian record in the 200 metres with a time of 20.22 and ran his personal best

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...

time in 10.19 seconds. He also won a silver medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the

1982 Commonwealth Games The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Australia, from 30 September to 9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium (named after Elizabeth II), in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the a ...

. He competed at the first World Championships in

1983 The year 1983 saw both the official beginning of the Internet and the first mobile cellular telephone call. Events January * January 1 – The migration of the ARPANET to Internet protocol suite, TCP/IP is officially completed (this is consid ...

Coaching career

Sharpe was awarded the Gerry Swan Development Coach of the Year Award for 2014 by Athletics Canada. He is the head coach of the Speed Academy Athletics Club based in Pickering, Ontario, which he founded in 2006 after leaving a career in corporate sales. The Speed Academy Athletics Club has produced numerous national team members, with eleven of its athletes representing Canada at international competitions in 2015. Sharpe has also developed more than thirty scholarship athletes, including his own twin daughters. Amongst the athletes Sharpe has coached and mentored is Olympic Gold medalist

Andre De Grasse Andre De Grasse (born November 10, 1994) is a Canadian sprinter. A six-time Olympic medallist, De Grasse is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 m, and also won the silver in the 200 m in 2016. He won a second silver in the 4×100 re ...

. Tony was selected to the Canadian coaching delegation as the sprints and relay coach for the 2013 Canadian National World Youth Championships team, the 2014 Canadian National World Junior Championships team, and the 2015 Canadian National World Youth Championships team.

Personal life

Sharpe is married to former sprinter Colene Taffe, they have three children, Mitchell Sharpe, Taylor Sharpe & Sommer Sharpe.

Additional

Sharpe trained with the Scarborough Optimist Track Club. Club coach Charlie Francis, working with Dr. George Astaphan, supplied performance-enhancing drugs to Ben Johnson, Desai Williams, Tony Sharpe, Angella Taylor-Issajenko, Mark McKoy and others. After Sharpe testified at the 1989 Dubin inquiry, and admitted to steroid use, he was subsequently suspended from eligibility for federal funding. Sharpe was reinstated in 2012, allowed him to coach at the national team and Olympic levels. Upon reinstatement, Mediator Larry Banack wrote this, of Sharpe: "The Applicant demonstrated sincerity, contrition, remorse and a passion for the sport of track and field and the promotion of drug-free sport." "I am satisfied that the intention and spirit of the Recommendations of the Dubin Inquiry that contemplated possible future reinstatement have been satisfied by the Applicant." "I am convinced that the submissions of the Applicant are genuine. It would be inappropriate to prevent such a talented and passionate individual from moving forward to pursue a career which will benefit the sports community as a whole."

References

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* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharpe, Tony 1961 births Living people Canadian male sprinters Sportspeople from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican emigrants to Canada Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 1982 Commonwealth Games Pan American Games track and field athletes for Canada Athletes (track and field) at the 1979 Pan American Games Athletes (track and field) at the 1983 Pan American Games Olympic track and field athletes of Canada Olympic bronze medalists for Canada Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1984 Summer Olympics Sportspeople from Ontario Ben Johnson doping case Canadian sportspeople in doping cases Doping cases in athletics Black Canadian track and field athletes Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics World Athletics Championships athletes for Canada Olympic bronze medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade silver medalists for Canada Medalists at the 1983 Summer Universiade Medallists at the 1982 Commonwealth Games