Photo credit: Reinhardt Hamman
Tomi was one of three young Welsh para-athletes who were invited to the week-long training camp in Stellenbosch, along with Will Bishop (Denbigh), Ashton Fish (Caerphilly) and their coach and Disability Sport Wales Performance Pathway Officer Morgan Jones.
The GAPS programme offers athletes from Africa, Asia and Europe a development opportunity in preparation for the Commonwealth Youth Games, which takes place in Trinidad and Tobago in August.
For 17-year-old Tomi, who attends sixth form at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf Cardiff, the GAPS training camp wasn’t just a great opportunity to experience some hot-weather training, but also an amazing goal upon which to focus on during his recovery following neurosurgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital at the beginning of the year.
From a very young age, sport has been extremely important to Tomi, and he’s participated in everything from taekwondo to rugby, swimming, cycling and a lot more
Indeed, sport has always given Tomi something to talk about and given him a real sense of purpose in life.
Tomi discovered athletics when, as a nine-year old, he attended an insport Series event organised by Disability Sport Wales.
Tomi was invited to try athletics by DSW Performance Pathway Senior Officer Nathan Stephens, he hasn’t looked back from that day since.
“Visiting South Africa was class,” says Tomi.
“I enjoyed the warm weather training and having the opportunity to represent Wales at competition level is always awesome.
“Sport has been the building blocks of my life; it is who I am today. It has given me focus, self-belief and self-determination.
“My goal is to become a Paralympian in the near future.”
“It’s amazing to see Para events being included within the Commonwealth Youth Games for the first time this year,” adds Nathan.
“We’re delighted that three Welsh Para-athletes and coach Morgan Jones were given the opportunity to attend the GAPS programme which provided them with an incredible competition and development experience.
“This is a huge opportunity for youth Para sport, to give young developing athletes to compete on the world stage and help with the transition into senior competitions and future multi-sport games.”
“To give young developing athletes a chance to compete on the world stage and to help with the transition into senior competitions and future multi-sport games is a huge opportunity for youth Para sport.”
For further information on the TRINBAGO Commonwealth Youth Games please click here:Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games (commonwealthsport.com)
For more information of the Disability Sport Wales Performance Pathway programme, please click here:https://www.disabilitysportwales.com/en-gb/performance/inspire-form#cookieConsent
