Tharon Drake

Tharon Drake
Personal information
Nationality  United States
Born (1992-12-19) December 19, 1992
Canyon, Texas, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[1]
Weight 175 lb (79 kg)[1]
Sport
Sport Swimming
Strokes Breaststroke, freestyle, individual medley
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
2016 Rio 400m Freestyle S11
2016 Rio 100m Breaststroke SB11
IPC World Championships
2015 Glasgow 100 m Breaststroke SB11
2015 Glasgow 400 m Freestyle S11

Tharon Drake is an American swimmer. He is the current U.S. record-holder in S11 class in 50m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley (short course); 50m and 100m breaststroke (short course); 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke (long course).[1] Drake won silver in the 100m breast at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championship. Drake lost his eyesight following complications from a routine vaccination.[2]

At the 2016 Paralympic Games, Drake won a silver medal in the 400m Freestyle S11.[3][4] Drake's time in the finals was 4:40.96, behind USA teammate Brad Snyder.[5] Drake also won a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke SB11[6] with a time of 1:11.50.[7]

Swimming career

Tharon began swimming at the age of 9. He swam on the Hobbs High School and Caprock Swim Team, both in Hobbs, New Mexico. In November 2007, Drake suffered from amnesia that was onset from routine vaccines. It was determined that an existing genetic condition compromised his immune system and his body couldn't fight off the viruses from the vaccines.[8] Through help of medication, he was able to overcome the amnesia. In February 2008, Drake noticed some changes in his vision, and by June 2008, he was totally blind, without any perception of light.[9]

After graduating high school in 2011, Tharon continued his path in swimming and qualified as an alternate for the 2012 London Paralympics.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 http://www.teamusa.org/para-swimming/athletes/Tharon-Drake
  2. ↑ http://www.wptz.com/sports/2016-olympics/blind-swimmer-tharon-drake-headed-to-rio/40001690
  3. ↑ http://poststar.com/sports/olympics/brad-snyder-and-tharon-drake-go---in-men/youtube_cff4c575-d2f2-5006-b0d6-86f532ff79a0.html
  4. ↑ http://dailyjournalonline.com/sports/olympics/brad-snyder-and-tharon-drake-victory-ceremony-men-s-m/youtube_5429bc26-e66b-59b7-b226-6953ad96bda5.html
  5. ↑ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/bs-sp-digest-0911-20160911-story.html
  6. ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/Video/2016/09/13/Tharon-Drake--Mens-100m-Breaststroke-SB11-Silver-Medal-Ceremony--2016-Paralympic-Games?channel=dmNW1iNTE6969v0EiPW3o93aweg1XErA
  7. ↑ http://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/swimming-standings-sw-mens-100m-breaststroke-sb11
  8. ↑ http://www.abqjournal.com/228795/blindness-cant-slow-hobbs-swimmer.html
  9. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/health/blind-swimmer-national-record-holder/
  10. ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2012/June/17/US-Paralympic-Swimming-Team-named.aspx


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