First, People: Conversations Featuring Tom Davis

["Tom Davis is a father, husband, U.S. Military veteran, retired two-time Paralympian, and soon-to-be chef. In 2006, Tom sustained several injuries—including the loss of one of his legs, a traumatic brain injury, and a broken back—after being caught in an explosion in Iraq. He picked up adaptive sports in 2011 after recovering from his injuries. He started riding and racing as a hand cyclist, which eventually led him to compete in Tokyo and Rio during the Paralympic Games in their para-cycling events.

As a kid, Tom recalls running around his grandparents’ farm, dreaming of running the 10,000m race at the Olympics.

“I loved playing football, baseball, and all that stuff, but I always was a runner. After I got hurt and lost my leg, the first time I got on a handcycle, it was like—to be able to go fast again and feel the wind—it was incredible,” said Tom. Though he had an Olympic-level dream, he never thought he would actually make it to the Olympics.

“That’s always what I wanted to do, but I never expected that I would actually make it. When I was younger, I definitely was never disciplined as I needed to be [to achieve that goal],” said Tom. “It wasn’t until after I got hurt and started riding and racing that I could see that I was actually kind of good at [hand cycling].”

Before he started seriously training for para-cycling, Tom had been weight lifting and gained a lot of muscle mass. He had not ridden his handcycle for two years. One day while lifting at the gym, Tom felt called by God to start riding and racing again. Immediately, Tom left the gym, dusted off his handcycle, and started riding.

In reflecting on his Paralympic career, Tom has taken something away from each race and event in which he has competed. His athletic career as well as his military experience has had a great impact on his character and personal values. As a naturally competitive and driven individual, Tom strives to do everything to the best of his ability. Throughout his cycling career, he learned that reaching his personal best performance would take more hard work, sacrifice, and discipline than he originally thought.

“It’s easy to see someone else do it—when you watch the Olympics, you see the people do it but you don’t see what they do behind the scenes,” said Tom. After getting fourth in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Tom knew he could do better if he really buckled down. After that, he started seriously training to go to the Paralympics. He sought out a coach and other supporters to create a community that would help him improve his performance. He finally saw his training efforts and dedication to cycling come together when he qualified for the Paralympics in Rio. For Tom, this was a defining moment.

Beyond the hard work, competitions, wins, and losses, Tom emphasizes that his ultimate goal is to be remembered as a respectful, kind, and generous athlete who helped others. He talks a lot about wanting to do things the right way, even if it’s hard or uncommon. To Tom, community is about supporting others (teammates and competitors alike) no matter how different they are. He encourages people to talk with their neighbors to get to know their stories. In Tom’s experience, simple conversations have led to better understanding and meaningful relationships. Though he is an excellent athlete, Tom values being a compassionate leader and kind person most. It’s a vital part of him being the best version of himself.<\/p>\n\n

“If you’re the best, but you don’t help other people, then I think you’ve failed,” said Tom.

Check out our candid conversation with Tom: Part 1: Paralympic Experience Video Part 2: Community Video