Laurence Thoms
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Laurence Thoms |
| Nationality | Fijian |
| Born | March 26, 1980 Suva, Dominion of Fiji |
| Sport | |
| Country | Fiji |
| Sport | Alpine skiing |
Laurence Thoms (born March 26, 1980) is a Fijian alpine skier who was born in Suva.[1] He represented Fiji at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and attracted media attention as a competitor from a tropical nation at the Winter Olympics.[2]
Thoms was Fiji's flag-bearer during the Opening Ceremony, being his country's only representative,[3] and was the first Pacific Islander to qualify for the Winter Games in his own right (rather than through the wild cards process).[4][5][6] He competed in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events.[7] He failed to complete the Slalom,[8][9] but completed the Giant Slalom and finished fifty-fifth with a time of 2:41.98.[10] Spectators reportedly cheered and encouraged him, and "went crazy when he crossed the finish line".[11]
One newspaper described Thoms' participation as exemplifying "the true spirit of the Games".[12]
Before taking part in the Olympics, Thoms had worked as a ski instructor in New Zealand.[13] His participation in the Olympics was funded by a retired Swiss businessman living in Fiji, who had founded the Fiji Alpine Ski Association.[14]
References
- ↑ "Laurence Thoms", L'Equipe
- ↑ "Beach boy takes to the slopes", BBC, February 15, 2002
- ↑ "Eleven on their own in Games", Associated Press, February 13, 2002
- ↑ "Beach boy takes to the slopes", BBC, February 15, 2002
- ↑ "Flames and Flickers: Fiji team starts at a party", ESPN, February 20, 2002
- ↑ "Fiji's lone 2002 Olympian lured by a newspaper ad", Deseret News
- ↑ "Flames and Flickers: Fiji team starts at a party", ESPN, February 20, 2002
- ↑ "Alping Skiing results - Men's Slalom", CNN
- ↑ "Slaw Says: Olympics produce year's new heroes", Ball State Daily, February 25, 2002
- ↑ "Results -- Thursday, Feb 21", ESPN
- ↑ "Games run into scandal at end", Western Courier, February 22, 2002
- ↑ "Games run into scandal at end", Western Courier, February 22, 2002
- ↑ "In Praise of the Lone Olympians", Time, February 21, 2002
- ↑ "Eleven on their own in Games", Associated Press, February 13, 2002
