View source for Rikki Fifton

{{short description|British sprinter|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Rikki Fifton
| image = Manchester City Games 2009 - Men's final 2 (crop2).jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| caption = Fifton (front) in the starting blocks for the 150 meters street race. [[Usain Bolt]] (in yellow) set a world best of 14.35&nbsp;seconds.<ref>{{YouTube|h0d69bXakUo|Video of the race}}</ref>
| nationality = [[Great Britain|British]]
| sport = [[Running]]
| event  =
| club = [[Newham and Essex Beagles]]<br>[[VPHTH AC]]
| collegeteam = [[Loughborough University]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|06|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]], London
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| pb = 
'''100m''': 10.16<br />
'''200m''': 20.46 	
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{GBR2}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[European Athletics U23 Championships|European U23 Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2007 European Athletics U23 Championships|2007 Debrecen]]|200 m}}
}}
'''Rikki Fifton''' (born 17 June 1985 in [[London]]) is a British [[Sprint (running)|sprinter]] who mainly specialises in the [[200 metres]], but occasionally competes in [[100 metres]], [[400 metres]], and [[relay race|relay events]].

Before becoming involved in athletics, Fifton was an avid [[kick boxing|kick boxer]]. He currently runs for the [[Newham and Essex Beagles]] and is studying for a PE and Sociology degree at [[Loughborough University]].<ref>[http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/current-athlete-biographies/?entryid1=41150&char=F Rikki Fifton biography]. [[UK Athletics]]. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.</ref>

He made his first international junior appearance at the [[2003 European Athletics Junior Championships]], finishing fourth in the 200&nbsp;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&nbsp;m at the national indoor championships in 2007.<ref name=IAAF>[http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biographies/country=0/athcode=184255/index.html Fifton Rikki biography]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.</ref> He won the 200&nbsp;m bronze medal at the [[2007 European Athletics U23 Championships]], finishing behind [[Visa Hongisto]] and [[Vojtech Sulc]].<ref>[http://www.european-athletics.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5421&Itemid=78 14 finals decided on thrilling afternoon of athletics on Day Three in Debrecen]. [[European Athletics]] (2007-07-14). Retrieved on 2009-05-12.</ref>

In May 2009, Fifton took part in the [[150 meters]] street race at the [[Great Manchester Run#2009 and Great City Games|Great City Games]] in [[Manchester]]. He reached the final of the event and finished fourth with a time of 15.13&nbsp;seconds, behind [[Ivory Williams]], [[Marlon Devonish]] and [[Usain Bolt]].<ref>Carl Markham and Mark Butler (2009-05-17). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR09/news/newsid=50606.html Bolt runs 14.35 sec for 150m; covers 50m-150m in 8.70 sec!]. [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2009-06-02.</ref>

He won the 200&nbsp;m at the [[European Athletics]] permit meet in [[Geneva]] in June with a new personal best of 20.46&nbsp;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]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hddutl1Guev08AAfqMfzDEeAtZVw Dasaolu impresses in Geneva]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. [[Press Association]] (2009-06-07). Retrieved on 2009-06-09.</ref> He was selected to run the 4×100&nbsp;m relay and the 200&nbsp;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&nbsp;m runner.<ref>[http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22062009/58/chambers-stars-britain-finish-third.html Chambers stars as Britain finish third] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625153021/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/22062009/58/chambers-stars-britain-finish-third.html |date=2009-06-25 }}. [[Eurosport]] (2009-06-22). Retrieved on 2009-06-24.</ref>

==Personal bests==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! Best
! Location 
! Date
|-
| [[60 metres]]
| 6.61 s
| [[Birmingham]], England
| 16 February 2008
|-
| [[100 metres]]
| 10.16 s
| [[Shanghai]], China
| 28 September 2007
|-
| [[150 metres]]
| 15.13 s
| [[Manchester]], England
| 17 May 2009
|-
| [[200 metres]] (outdoor)
| 20.46 s
| [[Geneva]], Switzerland
| 6 June 2009
|-
| [[200 metres]] (indoor)
| 21.06 s
| [[Sheffield]], England
| 10 February 2007
|}
*<small>All information taken from IAAF profile.</small><ref name=IAAF/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}
* {{European Athletics|14189230}}
* {{Diamond League}}
* {{Team GB|rikki-fifton|archive=20200718014422}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20100226044548/http://www.olympics.org.uk/beijing2008/AthleteProfile.aspx?id=6871 archive 2])
{{British Indoor Athletics Championships men's 200 metres champions}}
{{Footer U23 European Champions 4x100m Men}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifton, Rikki}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English male sprinters]]
[[Category:British male sprinters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Alumni of Loughborough University]]
[[Category:Black British sportsmen]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]