HAMER Thomas

Classification
S14, SB14, SM14 (IPC, 21 Jan 2021)

Type of Impairment
Intellectual impairment (swimming.org, 21 Mar 2018)

General
RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER
His father has a vision impairment as a result of a brain tumour in 2014. Hamer says their respective impairments have seen them form a closer relationship. "During lockdown [during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020] I worked for my dad because the pools weren't open, the gyms weren't open, so I was stuck doing nothing. My dad has a building company so I was out on site with him. We've been in the same boat really, me and my dad, because when he helps me do computer work for British Swimming and Paralympics GB, there's always bits of surveys we've got to do and we find it funny because I can't read it and he can't see it. Whereas when I was back at school, he was the one who could read it, see it, he helped me do all that. He's one of the strongest people I know and I'm so proud of him. He's literally my hero." (paralympics.org.uk, 03 Dec 2020)

BOY SCOUT
He is a member of the East Lancashire Scouts in Rawtenstall, England. He has also served as an ambassador for the organisation. "I go every Tuesday night and I absolutely love it. I try to do as many weekends, parades as I can. It's just good to give something back." (eastlancashirescouts.org.uk, 17 Jan 2021; Twitter profile, 27 Nov 2019; lancashiretelegraph.co.uk, 04 Apr 2018)