She qualified for the Games nonetheless, but shortly afterwards took an overdose of paracetamol. The first of these manifested itself a couple of months before trials for the 1994 Commonwealth Games, when Thomas dislocated her shoulder. In addition to what would become severe depression, Thomas was set back by multiple serious injuries. Triggered by the suicide attempt of another swimmer, she approached sports psychologist Clark Perry for help. She felt immense pressure to perform and lacked social confidence. Away from her family, the reclusive Thomas began a long struggle with depression at the AIS. After school she returned for more training before going to the study hall for her schoolwork. Thomas would rise at 5 am and train at the gym or the pool for a couple of hours before school.
#THOMAS AND FRIENDS THUMPER FULL#
Training at the AIS was gruelling for a full time student. She won gold at The Age National Championships the same year. Thomas came home from the Tournament with bronze.
#THOMAS AND FRIENDS THUMPER UPGRADE#
She achieved the upgrade in just three months, qualifying in March 1993 for the Pan Pacific Swimming Tournament in Kobe, Japan. Living on a 'B scholarship', meaning that a portion of her expenses had to be covered by her family, Thomas was determined to swim for her country at an international event - this would ensure an upgrade to the all-inclusive 'A scholarship'. Thomas opted to continue her schooling full time despite the rigours of her training at the Institute. A visit to Ballina by Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) coach Jim Fowlie led to the offer of a place at the AIS in Canberra in 1992. Petria Thomas' talent was obvious, and she began training at Ballina with Stan Tilley, who specialised in coaching her pet stroke - butterfly. Watching the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 1984, her own Olympic dream was born. She was having formal lessons at the age of five and by 1982, aged seven, she was good enough to compete in the New South Wales State Titles. The Thomas family lived close to the beach and Petria began swimming at an early age, keen to keep up with her older sister. Petria's grandmother, Nana Thomas, had been a great skier and tennis player in her time, talented enough to beat her male counterparts.
Her parents, Denise and Alan Thomas, didn't play sport but supported their girls - particularly Denise, who drove them endless kilometres to local clubs and events. Petria spent summer weekends with the Nippers at the Brunswick Heads Surf Lifesaving Club. The warm climate was conducive to outdoor activity, and the girls took part in running, tennis and netball. Petria Thomas was raised in Mullumbimby, northern New South Wales, where she and her sister Stacey played sport from an early age. She currently resides in Belconnen, Canberra, with her husband Julian Jones. Thomas was inducted into the Australian Institute of Sport Swimming Hall of Fame in 1996, and was crowned the AIS Athlete of the Year in 20. Her tally of eight Olympic medals (three gold, four silver, one bronze) is the best ever for an Australian woman, equal with Dawn Fraser and Susie O'Neill. Over the course of her swimming career, despite recurrent illness and injury, Petria Thomas won 3 Olympic Gold Medals, 3 World Championships, 9 Commonwealth Games Gold Medals, 13 Australian Championships, and 3 Pan Pacific Gold Medals. More information about Petria Thomas can be found in the AWAP register.
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