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 representative,[3] and was the first Pacific Islander to qualify through FIS regulations for the Winter Games[4][5][6] He competed in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events.[7] He failed to complete his first run in the Slalom event after 'clipping' a gate,[8][9] but completed the Giant Slalom and finished fifty-fifth with a time of 2:41.98.[10] Spectators reportedly cheered as they admired the 'Fiji's ice man' competitive speed in the events, 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 white water rafting guide and 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" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, 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