The Paralympic Usain Bolt gets ready for Toronto 2015

Jamaica’s Tevaughn Thomas hopes to emulate his hero by winning Parapan 100m gold on Monday. 10 Aug 2015
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Tevaughn Thomas and Usain Bolt

Jamaica’s Tevaughn Thomas wants to emulate his hero Usain Bolt by becoming junior world champion.

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By Hernan Goldzycher

“I like being told I am the Paralympic Usain Bolt, he is my hero and the best athlete in history.”

Jamaica’s Tevaughn Thomas hopes to emulate his hero Usain Bolt by winning 100m gold on the first day of athletics at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games on Monday (10 August).

 

The 16-year-old sprinter, who was Jamaica’s flagbearer at Friday’s Opening Ceremony, will line-up in the 100m T47 class for athletes with an arm impairment and is aiming to perform well in Toronto.

 

“Training has been going well. My objective is to get the gold medal. Only my best is good enough,” said Thomas.

 

To win gold on Monday, Thomas will have to beat a world class field that includes the Brazilian duo of Yohansson Do Nascimento Ferreira, the 2011 world champion, and teenage sprint sensation Petrucio Ferreira, who has clocked 10.88 seconds this season.

 

Thomas says he likes being referred to as the para-sport equivalent of Usain Bolt.

 

“I like being told I am the Paralympic Usain Bolt, he is my hero and the best athlete in history,” he said. “It is not easy, but I will try to achieve as many things in Paralympic sports as Usain did in Olympic,” said Thomas.

“I just have to execute what I have trained. I am mentally and physically ready. I cannot wait for the race to start,” he said.

 

Thomas started running when he was in Primary School. “It cheers me up a lot,” he assured.

 

Regarding his future, he wants to “qualify for a Paralympic Games, win a gold medal and be an ambassador of Jamaica in the world.”

 

Athletics action at Toronto 2015 gets underway 15:00 EDT and will be shown live at www.ipc-athletics.com