Returning Paralympians share
their experiences with Suporntum Mongkolsawadi, director of the Father Ray
Foundation.
Derek Franklin
The Kingdom of Thailand first participated at the Olympic Games in
1952 and since then Thai athletes have won seven gold, six silver and eleven
bronze medals. Compare this to the Paralympic Games where Thailand first
entered in 1984, and whose athletes have won thirteen gold, eighteen silver
and twenty bronze medals. More than double the amount of medals in just half
the time, an amazing feat.
Sakda
Khamta receives a certificate for completing 1479km from Pattaya to Nong
Khai.
Of the fifty athletes that made up the Thai national team at this year’s
Paralympic Games, eight were former students and teachers from the
Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities in Pattaya.
The school promotes sports to all its students, and those who show talent
are encouraged in their training to participate in local and national
competitions.
For Supachai Koysub, former student and teacher at the school, the recent
Games in London were his fourth Paralympics, and so far he has won four
gold, four silver and one bronze, including silver in the 4x400m T54
wheelchair race in London.
Another former student, Watcharaphon Vongsa, won a gold medal in the team
boccia competition. Other former students from the school competed in
power-lifting, wheelchair racing, swimming and rifle shooting.
Supachai, accompanied by three other Paralympians recently visited the
Pattaya campus where they started their sporting career. Wheelchair racers
Sukhum Namlun and Sakchai Yimbanchang, together with power-lifter Narong
Kasanun, were given a rapturous welcome by the students and teaching staff
on their return.
Representing your country and winning a gold medal takes many years of
training. But an athlete must start somewhere; he or she must receive
support and encouragement at a local level and for anyone living with a
disability the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities
in Pattaya is the perfect place to start.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected]
Supachai Kousub shows his
silver medal to principal of the Vocational School, Udomchoke Churut.
