University of Nottingham athlete named city's 'Disabled Sportsperson of the Year'

This year has also seen him break into the senior Great Britain Disability Athletics Team, sealing a place at the IPC World Athletics Championships in New Zealand. Despite being one of the youngest competitors in his event, Thomas finished seventh overall in his first senior international event.

A personal best of 29.34 metres followed when Thomas beat his childhood hero and British number one Stephen Miller for the first time. His primary aim now is to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, but with progress quicker than expected and the support of Nottingham behind him, Thomas admits to having one eye on London 2012.

For now, Thomas is content to focus on his winter training, spurred on by picking up another accolade in a remarkable season. He is also keen to get more students involved in disability athletics and has been using his blog — http://thethomasgreenblog.wordpress.com — to get more people engaged with the sport at University.

After the awards, Thomas said: “It felt fantastic to win the award. It was great to be at an evening with so many talented sportspeople, and to actually be recognised with an award was very flattering.”

Hannah Webber, the University’s Disability Sports Office, continued: “As a University we feel truly privileged to have an athlete of Thomas’s ability studying and training with us. In the last two years, he has not only performed on the field, but also in the ‘classroom’ — demonstrating that he is a real all rounder with the potential to represent The University of Nottingham and his country at the ‘biggest show on earth’ next year in London.”

For more information about the Nottingham Sports Awards 2011, which recognise the effort and dedication of those involved in sport and a chance to say a big thank you for their contribution to life in the city, visit: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=16747  

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