First class effort as Wolverhampton Olympian Kristian Thomas receives degree
Wolverhampton-born Olympic gymnast Kristian Thomas has graduated with first class honours.
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Kristian, who won Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals, finished his three-year Bachelor of Science in Strength and Conditioning – passing with first class honours at the University of Wolverhampton.
He was among other students at the university to receive their degrees – along with a special Cranlea Dissertation Prize for the best dissertation in the Department of Sport.
Now he plans on returning to gymnastics as a sport practitioner – helping other athletes achieve their top level by handling their training, nutrition, and helping them recover from injury.
He said: "It feels pretty good actually. It's a nice feeling to go there and connect with the people you've spent three years with.
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"The course was very similar to sports science and hopefully it gives me an opportunity to go into the sport as a practitioner.
"Elite sport is where I would like to end up – I was out of it but it's nice to keep in touch with something I'm very passionate about."
The 30-year-old, who claimed bronze at the 2012 Olympics in the men's artistic team, added: "The staff were great, really supportive, encouraging and helpful. They definitely helped and showed their expertise – I'm very grateful for their help.
"I was out of education for 10 years but once I found my feet and what I needed to do, putting the time and effort into it was a bit like what I do in training."
Kristian also claimed gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the same category.
The athlete retired in October 2017.