The three-strong team of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas have tasted success after success after joining forces in the three-person Paralympic keelboat. Having finished sixth in their first Paralympic outing at Athens 2004, Robertson became the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar sailing to helm his crew to back-to-back IFDS World Championship titles in 2005 and 2006. However by their own admission they suffered an under-par Worlds last year – taking seventh in Rochester, USA and they will be desperate to force their way back on to the podium in Beijing. Thomas also represented Great Britain at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin as part of the Ice Sledge Hockey team that finished seventh.
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Name: |
Stephen Thomas |
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Class: |
Sonar |
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Position: |
Mainsheet |
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DOB: |
5 January 1977 |
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Born: |
Bridgend, Wales |
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Currently Living: |
Cardiff, Wales |
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Started Sailing: |
Aged 26 in Newcastle with John Robertson in early 2003 |
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Duration in current class: |
Since 2003 |
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Name of Sailing Partner: |
John Robertson and Hannah Stodel |
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Coach: |
Mark Rushall |
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Greatest Strengths in Sailing: |
Physical qualities, motivational |
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Greatest Weakness in Sailing: |
Tactical knowledge |
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Biggest Goal: |
To medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games |
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Who has been the most influential person in your sailing career: |
My current team mates |
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Other interests away from sailing: |
Ice Sledge Hockey also cinema, socializing. |
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Personal sponsors: |
Oyster, Little Britain Challenge Cup |
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Sailing Career to date: |
2004 Athens Paralympics 6th
2007 IFDS Worlds 6th
2006 IFDS Worlds Gold
2005 IFDS Worlds Gold
2003 IFDS Worlds Bronze
2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta Gold
2008 Hyeres Olympic Classes Regatta Gold
2008 Paralympic Midwinters 4th
2008 Rolex Miami OCR 4th 2007 Rolex Miami OCR Bronze
2005 Rolex Miami OCR Gold |
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Meet the sailor… |
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Who is Stephen Thomas? |
A double World Sailing Champion and Paralympian, action man Stephen also represented GBR in Ice Sledge Hockey at 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy as well as having played rugby for Wales under 18s.
Stephen is a double below the knee amputee as a result of meningococcal septicaemia in 1996. He cites Sir Steven Redgrave as his sporting hero and says that the toughest competition in Beijing will come from the German, Norwegian, American, Greek and Israeli teams.
Stephen says his most embarrassing sailing incident occurred on the last leg of the first race of the 2004 Paralympic Games, with the finish line in sight, when the sheet I was hanging off of came out of the cleat and he ended up overboard. |