Injured star back on track
Ex-Scotland rugby player sets his sights on
athletics
A rugby star who was horrifically injured and nearly paralysed
has made a sporting comeback - this time as a sprinter.
Thom Evans, who used to play rugby for Scotland, made his debut
as a professional runner in Glasgow at the weekend.
He took part in the National Senior Indoor Championships at the
Kelvin Hall sports arena, where he was cheered on by his girlfriend
the actress and model Kelly Brook.
Thom, who is 26, finished fourth in his 60-metre race but got a
personal best time of 7.20 seconds.
He said: "I was pretty nervous before the heat because I didn't
want to false start on my first competitive appearance. It was good
to be here and get a real feel for athletics … it's all new to me,
but I enjoyed it."
In a Six Nations rugby match against Wales in 2010, Thom landed
badly in a collision with another player and seriously injured his
neck. Doctors said he had just narrowly escaped being
paralysed.
Click here to see an interactive diagram of common
rugby injuries.
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Injured star back on track
The amazing comeback of the sportsman who was 'one
millimetre from paralysis'
Two years ago, as he lay in a Cardiff hospital after suffering a
serious injury during Scotland's Six Nations tie against Wales,
Thom Evans thought he might never walk again, let alone run.
The injury left him a millimetre from being paralysed, and ended
his rugby career.
But on Sunday, the former Scotland winger returned to
competitive sport - as a sprinter, in the National Senior Indoor
Championships at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall where he was cheered on by
his girlfriend, the actress and model Kelly Brook.
The ex-Glasgow Warriors player has been exploring athletics
since his recovery from the severe neck injury. In sickening
scenes, Evans landed badly in a collision with a Wales player
during the game. He remained on the pitch prostrate before he was
taken away by stretcher.
His parents, Brian and Sally, and elder brother Max, a fellow
Scottish internationalist, kept a bedside vigil as he recovered and
within months he was taking his first steps.
The Zimbabwe-born sportsman is now working with coach Margot
Wells, the wife of Scottish Olympic gold medallist Allan, and hopes
he can eventually compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In the stands at the Kelvin Hall, Ms Brook appeared nervous,
covering her face with her hands, as she watched Evans make it to
the final of the 60 metres event. She was joined in the audience by
the sprinter's mother and brother.
He finished the race in fourth place but secured a personal best
time of 7.20 seconds. Northern Irish athlete Dean Adams took the
title in 6.95 seconds.
Evans admitted he had been nervous about his start in the first
heat, and was then left frustrated when a much better one counted
for nothing as the final false-started.
"Obviously it is a massive difference from the world of rugby
where it is a team sport and you can 'play your way into a game'
which lasts 80 minutes.
"So it is all new to me but I enjoyed it.
"I want to compete in Scotland during the spring and the summer
and that will be over 200 metres and 400 metres.
'When I played there for Glasgow Rugby we used to do warm-ups in
the Kelvin Hall in the winter so I am familiar with the arena and
the track.'
"I am ready to start the training for that with the help of my
coach, Margot Wells, and her experience and guidance is valuable to
me as well as the support from Kelly."
Evans, who won 10 caps for Scotland, was playing in a Six
Nations match against Wales on February 13, 2010, when he collided
with Welsh player Lee Byrne.
He underwent two operations on his neck and it was revealed that
his cervical vertebrae had been knocked out of alignment and he had
been only one millimetre from paralysis or death.
Click here to see an interactive diagram of common
rugby injuries.
Lesson ideas and suggestions
Read and discuss lesson ideas on our Facebook page
Join our mailing list (Glow login
required)