Their assignments are certainly different, yet Wildcats Reyare Thomas (’14), Sayon Cooper (’98), Doug Ferguson (’83) and David Ramsey (’81) are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for at least one common purpose: experiencing Olympic history as insiders at one of the world’s greatest sports spectacles.
Thomas is a member of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s track and field team, preparing to participate in a second Olympics for her homeland. A sprinter, she looks to compete in the 200 meters and in the 4×100 relay. Track and field events span Aug. 12-21, with preliminary rounds for the 200 on Aug. 15 and the 4×100 relay on Aug. 18.
She was a member of her nation’s bronze medal-winning 4×100 relay team at the 2015 world outdoor championships in Beijing, China.
Thomas is the sixth current or former ACU track and field star to compete in the Olympics for Trinidad and Tobago. Others were Ian Morris (1988, 1992), Julieon Raeburn (2000), Nic Alexander (2000, 2004), Robert Guy (1996) and Wanda Hutson (2004, 2008).
Cooper, twice an Olympian sprinter for Liberia (1996 and 2000), is the head Olympic track and field coach for his homeland.

Ferguson, longtime golf writer for Associated Press, is covering men’s and women’s golf competition from the Olympic course near Rio. Follow his coverage here.
Ramsey is covering his fifth Olympics as an award-winning sports columnist for The Gazette newspaper in Colorado Springs, Colo., the home of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Olympic Training Center. Follow his coverage here.
Watch this blog the next two weeks for news about Thomas, Cooper, Ferguson and Ramsey, and some history about Abilene Christian University’s remarkable Olympic legacy.