The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedi.net

ON the road to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, later this month, Donald Thomas picked up a big victory on Tuesday in the men’s high jump at the Gateshead Diamond League meet in London, England.

Thomas, who will join Jamal Wilson in the high jump on the Bahamas’ 16-member team in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8, soared 7-feet, 4 12-inches or 2.25 metres for the victory.

“I’m feeling good. I just went back to the drawing board and sharpened up a few things and was ready to come back and jump today,” Thomas told The Tribune.

He fell short of his season’s best of 7-5 3/4 (2.28m), but with a personal best of 7-9 1/4 (2.37m), Thomas said this was just a confidence booster as he makes his return to the global stage after being injured in 2019 just before the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020, postponing the Olympics to this year.

Marco Fassinotti, of Italy, matched the same height as Thomas, but lost out on the countback. Third place went to Fabian Delryd of Sweden with 7-3 1/4 (2.22m) as he also beat out fourth place finisher Tobias Potye of Germany on the countback. “It was good competition, good weather,” Thomas said. “At this point, it’s just getting my steps down. I think I worked on some stuff today that will help me going forward.”

As the games approach and Thomas prepares himself for the one international medal that has eluded his résumé, the 37-year-old 2007 World champion said once he can get his approach together, he will be alright.

“Being off last year due to COVID-19, and being injured the year before, it was a little difficult, but I’ve found my rhythm and everything is clicking at the right time,” said Thomas, who has won the 2010 Commonwealth Games, 2018 Continental Cup, 2011 Pan American Games and both the 2010 and 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. This is his final meet before Tokyo, so Thomas said the focus is for him to go back to the drawing board. He intends to talk to his coach, Luis Pinilo, so he can sharpen up his tools and get ready to compete at the games.

With all of the unrest going on in Cuba, Thomas said Pinilo has assured him that everything is okay, although the people are fed up with the situation over there.

“He’s still working with me, giving me some pointers,” Thomas said. “I’m in great shape and I’m feeling good. I can’t wait for the Olympics to get underway.”