Laurence Thoms

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]

Laurence Thoms
Personal information
Birth nameLaurence Thoms
NationalityFijian
Born (1980-03-26) March 26, 1980
Suva, Dominion of Fiji
Sport
CountryFiji
SportAlpine skiing

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
  1. "Laurence Thoms", L'Equipe
  2. "Beach boy takes to the slopes", BBC, February 15, 2002
  3. "Eleven on their own in Games", Associated Press, February 13, 2002
  4. "Beach boy takes to the slopes", BBC, February 15, 2002
  5. "Flames and Flickers: Fiji team starts at a party", ESPN, February 20, 2002
  6. "Fiji's lone 2002 Olympian lured by a newspaper ad" Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, Deseret News
  7. "Flames and Flickers: Fiji team starts at a party", ESPN, February 20, 2002
  8. "Alping Skiing results - Men's Slalom", CNN
  9. "Slaw Says: Olympics produce year's new heroes", Ball State Daily, February 25, 2002
  10. "Results -- Thursday, Feb 21", ESPN
  11. "Games run into scandal at end", Western Courier, February 22, 2002
  12. "Games run into scandal at end", Western Courier, February 22, 2002
  13. "In Praise of the Lone Olympians", Time, February 21, 2002
  14. "Eleven on their own in Games", Associated Press, February 13, 2002
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