Steve Thomas Question Time
Steve Thomas is currently facing a nail biting wait to discover if he has won a spot in Team GB that is headed to the Beijing Paralympic Games in September. Currently into his fifth week of training and competing in Florida, the world-class sailor from Bridgend manages to finds the time to update Disability Sport Wales on his preparations:
DSW: You’ve just finished competing in the Rolex Miami OCR which brings together the world’s top Olympic and Paralympic class competitors. How did you get on?
It went well. The event was used as process regatta. It was used to restore some confidence in ourselves after the disappointing sixth place at the 2007 World Championships. The team has had some serious health and injury problems over the last few months and we’ve been unable to train and compete together.
This was the first opportunity to get everyone back into the boat and to sail again. Although it was a process regatta, we did set ourselves the target of being in a position of being able to win a medal on the last day. We did that but it didn’t quite go to plan!
In the end, we were in third position going into the final race of the event. We took the tactical option of covering fourth place so that we could secure bronze. However fifth came through into third place to pip us both. A little frustrating but the result wasn’t really important.
DSW: Would you say you were on course for Beijing?
I think there is always more work to be done in the preparation of any team or individual. You can never prepare enough – especially in a multi-dimensional sport like sailing. However, the team is gaining confidence. Along with some top quality training partners and a lot of sailing in the next six months, I think we can be in good shape for Beijing.
DSW: What are your goals and targets for Beijing? You’ve said before that you put a lot of pressure on yourself in Athens.
We did put a lot of pressure on ourselves in Athens. We were young and inexperienced. Another cycle and winning two World Championships has helped. However, the standard of competition has risen immensely in the last 3 years. In Athens there were probably five teams that could win a medal. Now you would probably have to say that there are 10. So, it’s going to be really tough. However, we are going there with the objective of winning gold.
DSW: What conditions can you expect in Beijing?
Visibility will be pretty poor plus the venue is very wavy. Coupled with light wind strengths, it will make it a very difficult place to sail. There is also a considerable amount of tide on the race course so judging lay-lines and approaches to the starting line is going to be tricky.
To help us become better prepared for the venue, we will be sailing in tidal venues in the UK throughout the rest of the year. We will also be heading out to China to train on the course in June and there is also a test event at the venue in May.
The humidity will be more than 90% so we’ll need sticky hydration strategies to help us overcome this. We are also relocating to Weymouth at the GBR sailing academy so that we are able to train daily in a performance environment.
DSW: You must get on pretty well with Hannah and John? How do you work as a team?
We have been together for five years now and a boat is a very lonely place when you don’t get on with those you sail with. Between now and the Games, we will spend 95% of our time together. That’s a lot of time – probably more than any marriage!
We are three very different characters, from three very different backgrounds. Hannah is the organizer! She’s the manager in the team. John is the joker and keeps everyone’s spirits up and I guess I’m the motivator. We come together to form a pretty formidable outfit.
John’s role is the helmsman – he steers the boat and is the second lead in tactics. I’m the mainsheet guy, making sure communication flows to and from one another and Hannah is lead tactician and bowman. She basically decides the race plan and how we implement that race plan. Along the way, we feed her vital information to help her make those decisions.
DSW: Who are your biggest rivals?
At the moment our main rivals are the Germans, Americans and the French. The Germans are very consistent and methodical. They have placed inside the top three in the last four World Championships. The Americans are going really well here in the States. The French helmsmen have a sailor who has done a lot of big boat sailing. Like I said, there are possibly 10 teams that could win a medal. You can also never underestimate the Chinese -they will have had a lot of training time in the venue which is invaluable.
DSW: What do you think is your biggest achievement to date?
I guess my biggest achievement to date is actually winning my first World Championship medal in 2003 after only sailing for nine months. That enabled me to follow my dream and become selected for Athens 2004.
DSW: And you’re not just skilful on the water. You’re not bad on the ice!
Yes, I am a former sledge hockey player but I retired from the sport after the 2006 Winter Games. I’d never say never about making a return to the ice though as I think it’s a great sport. However, being allocated a place on UK Sport’s podium programme, I am now a full-time sailor. I’m spending three weeks of every month away from home and am unable to commit any time to it. However, I still haven’t ruled out becoming the only athlete to compete at four consecutive Summer and Winter Paralympic Games!
DSW: Are you still at University?
I am returning to university after Beijing to complete my Honours part of my BSC in sports development degree. UWIC has been fantastic in supporting me and allowing me to defer parts of my course so that I can concentrate full time on my sports career.
DSW: Would you ever consider another sport?
Other sports do take my interest. I like the idea of running the London Marathon at some point. However, my focus is winning gold in sailing at Beijing for the moment!
DSW: Who have been your big supporters?
As an athlete who competes for your country, you have to make a lot of sacrifices in your life. Those around you have to make a lot of sacrifices too. I have so much gratitude for those who have helped me get where I am – especially my girlfriend Mari-Wyn and my close family. Without them, living my dream would not have been possible.
