Gymnast heads for World University Games

A gymnast with his sights set on the 2012 Olympics has been selected as part of a five man team to take part in the World University Games in Belgrade in July.

 

Ahmahd Thomas, 19, from Thetford has just completed a Foundation Degree in Graphic Design at University Campus Suffolk Bury St Edmunds.

 

“The World University Games is the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics,” said Ahmahd. “It is a good start to my training for the gap year. I will have a lot of motivation to push on through and train really hard.”

 

He is taking a year off from his studies to concentrate on training in the hopes of winning a place at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 before returning to complete the full BA (Hons) qualification.

 

Because of his FdA course, Ahmahd has only managed to train for half the time of his fellow competitors – 3 hours a day on six days a week – but he has managed to keep abreast of them, finishing ninth in the senior national British Championships last year as well as producing a stunning display of sports themed work for the end of year Graphic Design show.

 

“My coach has been very impressed with the way I have been able to balance my training with my studying and stay at a decent level,” said Ahmad.

 

Ahmahd says he cannot remember when he started training – he has been doing gymnastics for as long as he can remember. His mother Janet started him going to the gym when he was a toddler because he was a very active child and she wanted to channel all that energy.

 

His first gym teacher saw the potential in Ahmahd and advised his mother to nurture it.

 

“It wasn’t a chore for me because I enjoyed it,” says Ahmahd. “I wanted to pursue it as I got older, so I continued on with it.”

 

Janet has been a sterling support to Ahmahd, driving him on the 100 mile return journey to Huntingdon where he trains, and encouraging him when he has felt like giving up.

 

“I owe everything to my mother,” said Ahmahd. “I wouldn’t have been able to get there. When times were hard, she said: ‘Don’t worry about it, keep on going.’ I wouldn’t be in the position I am now if not for her.”