The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstiubbs@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – In his bid to delight his home crowd on his return to Grand Bahama, Donald Thomas defied the doctor’s order not to compete and put on a show for the men’s high jump bronze medal at the 2022 North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships.

Thomas, Luis Enrique Zayas of Cuba and Django Lovett of Canada all soared the same height of 7-feet, 4 ½-inches or 2.25 metres, but on the countback, Thomas was given the bronze, Zayas got the gold and Lovett ended up with the silver.

Shaun Miller Jr, the other Bahamian in the final, had to settle for sixth with 7-2 1/4 (2.19m) as he watched his big sister Shaunae Miller-Uibo clinch the gold in her season-ending performance in the women’s 400m final.

It was Miller Jr’s second major international meet, having just competed with Thomas at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England just over a week ago where the 21-year-old was 10th with a best of 6-10 ¾ (2.10m).

Thomas, the bronze medallist in the 2018 NACAC Championships in Toronto, Canada, came into the meet having fallen short of the podium in Birmingham with a fourth place performance of 7-3 ¼ (2.22m).

A week before that at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, he was 12th in Group B with 7-3 (2.21m) for a two-way tie for 23rd overall.

Just before competing in the event, Thomas said he was advised by the doctor not to compete because of inflammation in his take off knee.

But he said he didn’t want to let the people down who came to see him compete.

“It felt good. This is home, so I wanted to come home and represent the Bahamian people to the best of my abilities,” Thomas said. “I felt a little short, but I will take it.”

Competing just in front of a large group of spectators on the first bend of the track, Thomas said it was an amazing feeling to feel their support. “When I heard the crowd making all that noise, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore,” said Thomas, as he stirred up the crowd on every jump he took. “Something in my mind said ‘let’s go, you gat to do it,’ so I just went for it.”

There was more pressure in the competition than there was from his knee being strapped down. “In the beginning of the competition, the strap was limiting my movement, so I just took it off,” Thomas said. “I just gave it all I had.”

Despite being considered the “old man” in the field at age 38, Thomas continues to enjoy a productive career that includes six Bahamas national titles.

World champion in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, Pan Am gold (2011), silver (2007) and bronze (2015) medallist, double gold medallist at the CAC Championships (2018 and 2010) and gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India in 2010.

He attributed his longevity in the sport to keeping his body healthy.

“I stay up with my vitamins, I stay in the gym, I stay with my physios and I train hard,” he revealed. “So I just keep a good habit.”

Now that he’s done, Thomas said he will shut down his season, go into rehab and get ready for next season.

“It was up and down (season). A lot of injuries,” Thomas pointed out.

“But I’m glad that it’s over.”

The 2001 world champion said his goal is come back better than he did this year as he continues his long and illustrious career.