Tom Smith recognised for deaf cycling at Specsavers' Sound Barrier Awards
Tom Smith from Cardiff has been recognised at the Specsavers' Awards. The cyclist, who is profoundly deaf, has been crowned Specsavers’ Sound Barrier Star 2013 after recovering from serious injuries and childhood bullying to become one of Britain’s top cyclists- and a hopeful for the Tour de France.
The 26 year old was awarded at the celebration– held in aid of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – after spending the last five years training, fundraising and putting a spotlight on deaf cycling. This summer he competed in the Deaflympics held in Bulgaria, winning silver and bronze for UK Deaf Sport’s Team GB, making him the country’s most successful athlete at the Games.
Not only a champion for deaf sport, Tom also competes in non-disabled cycling, and represented team GB in the European Championships were he kept pace with the likes of Olympian Geraint Thomas.
Taking up cycling at the age of nine, Tom always dreamed of becoming a professional sportsman. Hoping to push on from his success in the deaf cycling world, Tom’s immediate aim is to compete in the Tour de France and other top cycling events in the next three years.
UK Deaf Sport nominated several athletes as part of the awards and 4 of the 10 regional winners were deaf sporting stars. Three of these were then selected to be part of the national finals (3 of just 6) with Tom winning out of a very strong field to take the National Award.
This success continues the recent flurry of awards being given to deaf athletes over the past few months including.
- Mel Jewett Marathon, Damaris Cooke Football, Kirstie Allen Badminton also winning their regional final of the Sound Barrier Star Awards.
- Stefan Pichowski Secretary of English Cricket Association for the Deaf (ECAD) winning The Outstanding Contribution to Disability Cricket at the National Nat West Cricket OSCARs
- Oliver Eadsforth being honoured as one of the Outstanding Community Volunteers during the FA 150th celebrations at Buckingham Palace
- And the amazing achievement of Gerry Hughes being the first deaf person to sail signal handed around the world via all six capes.
Tom was presented with his award at the ceremony in London – held to celebrate deaf and hearing impaired people who triumph over adversity - by international singing star and acclaimed actress Maureen Nolan. Maureen became an ambassador for the awards after breaking her silence on her own hearing loss earlier this year. Maureen says:
‘Tom is an incredible young man who really is an inspiration to us all. He knows no boundaries to success, to have achieved what he has while battling his own hearing loss, years of bullying and serious injury is remarkable. Tom really is a world class, deserving winner with a very promising sporting career ahead of him. He’s definitely one to watch.’
After collecting the award, Tom said:
‘My hearing loss is part of my ability and what makes me so determined to succeed. I’ve spent my life being told I can’t do certain things because of my hearing condition, and I hope this award shows the deaf and hard of hearing world that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.’
Fitted with hearing aids as a youngster, Tom’s sporting success comes after a childhood of personal torment and serious injuries sustained in a car crash that could have ended his career. Tom was the target of severe bullying at school as a result of his deafness, with one incident leaving him hospitalised with two broken wrists and a broken arm.
Despite a tough school life, Tom found his passion in cycling. As a competitive cyclist, Tom trained himself to a level where he was competing with the country’s elite. However, his career was dealt a serious blow when he was involved in an accident that left him needing multiple back operations and parting him from competitive cycling for three years. Tom said:
‘I had a tough childhood marred with serious bullying. My accident almost made me turn my back on the sport I love; after working so hard, I was suddenly unable to exercise, became overweight and was wondering whether it was worth it. However, I knew I had to keep going.’
Tom was determined to carry on, using his hearing loss and personal hardship as the catalyst for his cycling success. Not only does Tom now compete as a GB deaf cyclist, he also runs, manages and drives fundraising for the whole of GB Deaf Cycling.
Tom’s summer success at the Deaflympics almost did not happen, with his grandfather passing away just a month before he was due to fly out. He said:
‘I was extremely close to my grandfather, he was and always will be a role model to me. Losing him was one of the hardest moments of my life, but made me all the more determined going to Bulgaria to not only represent my country, but to make my family proud.’
Specsavers offers free hearing checks at any of its 400 hearing centres across the country. To find your nearest audiologist, visit www.specsavers.com/hearing
More information on UK Deaf Sport
Establish in June 2003, UK Deaf Sport are the Strategic lead Agency for Deaf Sport in the UK
UK Deaf Sport Vision is “More people participating and reaching their full potential through sport
UK Deaf Sport are the recognised member of the
- International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).
- European Deaf Sports Organisation (EDSO)
- Member of the UK Council on Deafness (UKCoD)
Tom Smith is part of UK Deaf Sport new Ambassador programme along with a selection of other athletes from both Deaflympic and non-Deaflympic sports. If you are interested in linking into this programme and accessing some of these inspirational ambassadors to be present and any of your events then please get in touch with Bill Baillie UK Deaf Sport National Talent Officer on talent@ukds.org.uk or call him on 07850 796241.
