LET’S HELP LOCAL BOY THOMAS GET TO THE DEAFLYMPICS…
Posted by Devenia Besant on 25 Apr 2025
It’s always lovely to see those reaching for the stars and we were so excited to find out about local lad Thomas and his achievements to qualify for the 2025 Deaflympics in Japan. However the dream to represent our country at the games will be difficult without fundraising.
Here Thomas’ mum Kristin explains their story:
Our son, Thomas was born deaf and despite this, he has become a competitive swimmer with Epsom District Swimming Club and GB Deaf Swimming Club. Thomas has been working his socks off for the last 18 months to qualify for the Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, in November 2025.
Recently, his place on the team was confirmed and we are so proud of all his hard work so we want to support him to get there.
Currently, Deaf athletes receive no funding from sports bodies, government or lottery funding, unlike their hearing counterparts. So the cost to represent his country is down to him and us completely.
We are aiming to raise £5,000 through sponsorship and fundraising to help Thomas represent Great Britain on the world stage. Anything extra will help him represent GB at further opportunities in European and World Championships in the future too.
Thank you so much for all your support.
Love, Kris, Rob and Thomas
What are the Deaflympics?
The Deaflympics are held every four years, and are the longest running multi-sport event in history after the Olympics.[3] The first games, held in Paris in 1924, were the first ever international sporting event for athletes with a disability.
The event has been held every four years since, apart from a break for World War II, and an additional event, the Deaflympic Winter Games, was added in 1949. The games began as a small gathering of 148 athletes from nine European nations competing in the International Silent Games in Paris, France, in 1924; now, they have grown into a global movement.[2]
Officially, the games were originally called the “International Games for the Deaf” from 1924 to 1965, but were sometimes also referred to as the “International Silent Games”. From 1966 to 1999 they were called the “World Games for the Deaf”, and occasionally referred to as the “World Silent Games”. From 2001, the games have been known by their current name Deaflympics (often mistakenly called the Deaf Olympics).
To qualify for the games, athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in their “better ear”. Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and the like are not allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level. Other examples of ways the games vary from hearing competitions are the manner in which they are officiated. To address the issue of Deaflympians not being able to be guided by sounds, certain sports use alternative methods of commencing the game. For example, the football referees wave a flag instead of blowing a whistle; on the track, races are started by using a light, instead of a starter pistol. It is also customary for spectators not to cheer or clap, but rather to wave with both hands, the Deaf form of applause.
Info source Wikipedia.
Can you help Thomas and his family reach their fundraising goal, you can donate via their Just Giving page here.
Good luck Thomas, we look forward to seeing you achieve your dreams.
Dee xx
