As other kids wear through shoes, Tomas Klein wears through blades.
Born without tibia bones, Tomas had his lower legs amputated at 13 months old, but by the age of 18 months he was walking with prosthetics and by four he was - then - the youngest person in the world to be fitted with carbon fibre blades.
Now at 14 years old he has competed in his first triathlon. Tomas uses a hand cycle for the 10km bike section and carbon fibre prosthetics for the 3km run. Tomas said there is a bit of manoeuvring involved in the transition, but “if I can’t do it one way, I’ll just try another.”
"I always thought I couldn't do a lot when I was a kid but I tried it and it worked, and if it doesn't work you try something different, find a way around it," he said.
His family came to Australia from the Netherlands a year ago and recently Tomas competed in his first triathlon with SuperSprint.
Tomas was inspired to get involved in sports after watching a triathlon for people with a disability in San Diego, run by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. He had the opportunity to meet other amputees, who inspired him to take part. Now Tomas is inspiring others.
"Down at a triathlon I heard someone say, 'wow look at that kid go! If he can do it I can do it," said Keith Klein, Tomas’ father.
“He often gets stopped in the street, people just want to tell him that they’re proud of him and that he’s amazing. It’s incredible the effect he has on people.”
Like any teenager, Tomas has his difficult days. But father Keith says there's no self pity allowed in his household.
"It's not always so easy but in the end he has to be part of society no one is going to cut him a break just because he has prosthetics on."
