Thomas Voorhoeve ran the ten kilometers for the first time last weekend during the Eindhoven Marathon. Last year Thomas, who has Down syndrome, ran the five kilometers, but now he had raised the bar considerably. “It was super cool, super cool and I will do it many more times.”
Since January, 19-year-old Thomas has been training every Monday evening at the Eindhoven Atletiek athletics club to run the ten kilometers. “He is sweet, kind, listens well and is very easy to coach,” says his trainer Ben van der Plas. Teammates are also very pleased with their new training partner. “He is very fanatical, sometimes we have to slow him down a bit,” he said.
“He’s very fanatical.”
His stepmother Danielle Voorhoeve-Schurgers recognizes that fanaticism. She trained with Thomas to be able to run the ten kilometers in ‘a good and healthy way’. “Sometimes I can’t keep up with him, he goes so fast.” During the marathon she ensured that Thomas did not run too fast.
It is certainly not self-evident that someone with Down syndrome can achieve such a sporting performance. “People with Down’s have a slightly different physique,” Danielle explains. “That makes running more difficult for them. Fortunately, physically, Thomas has few of the problems that you often see in other people with Down.”
“It was a piece of cake.”
“Easy-peasy, a piece of cake,” was the ten kilometers according to Thomas. He was encouraged by acquaintances and strangers. That helped me complete the miles. Thomas, together with his stepmother, set a time of one hour, nine minutes and 44 seconds.
His employer, a baker, gave him two cakes delivered to his home for this great achievement. Thomas now wants even more: next year perhaps the half marathon, which is more than twenty kilometers. “First enjoy this and then we will look further,” says Danielle. For Thomas, enjoyment first and foremost turns out to be a piece of cake: “Super delicious.”
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Thomas has Down syndrome but runs the 10 kilometers like a rocket