Laurence Thoms
Laurence Thoms is a Fijian alpine skier who was born in Suva. He represented Fiji at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and attracted media attention as a competitor from a tropical nation at the Winter Olympics.
Thoms was Fiji's flag-bearer during the Opening Ceremony, being his country's representative, and was the first Pacific Islander to qualify through FIS regulations for the Winter Games He competed in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. He failed to complete his first run in the Slalom event after 'clipping' a gate, but completed the Giant Slalom and finished fifty-fifth with a time of 2:41.98. Spectators reportedly cheered as they admired the 'Fiji's ice man' competitive speed in the events, and "went crazy when he crossed the finish line".
One newspaper described Thoms' participation as exemplifying "the true spirit of the Games".
Before taking part in the Olympics, Thoms had worked as a white water rafting guide and ski instructor in New Zealand. His participation in the Olympics was funded by a retired Swiss businessman living in Fiji, who had founded the Fiji Alpine Ski Association.
