Sinclair Thomas retires from international sport

Great Britain wheelchair basketball player Sinclair Thomas called an end to his international playing career at the Visa Paralympic World Cup.

The 38-year-old from Shropshire played the opening few minutes of Great Britain’s bronze medal match victory over the Netherlands in Manchester before bowing out as an international player.

A time-out was called and Sinclair was given a guard of honour by his team-mates to mark a playing career that spanned 20 years and included medals at the Paralympic Games, as well as World and European Championships.

“It was emotional, no question,” he said afterwards. “It’s great to go out winning, but obviously it was a shame not to be in the final.”

Sinclair said he had been mulling over retirement for about a year. He decided whatever else happened in his career he couldn’t better the feeling of being on the podium at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

“Athens was such a difficult tournament for us. We lost our first two games and no-one gave us any hope,” he said.

“We were like British bulldogs.  I don’t think I’d ever get the feeling back of being on the podium that day after coming back and winning the bronze medal.

“Getting on the rostrum was the highlight of my whole life,” he said.

The GB team seized bronze on the final day of Athens 2004 with a thrilling 82-66 victory over the Netherlands.

But he also had the disappointment of missing out on bronze at Sydney 2000, when GB were beaten by the USA in the dying seconds of the third place play-off.

Speaking shortly after his last game playing in GB colours, when GB again beat the Netherlands to take bronze at the 2007 Visa Paralympic World Cup 74-37, he quipped: “I needed a bit of a rest at my age.

“I just felt it was time now,” he added. “The younger guys need to take a chance now.

“It’s a bit weird because I’ve been playing for 20 years. We’ve had some up and downs, and there have been lot of medals along the way, but in some ways I’m glad it’s over.”

The vastly experienced Sinclair will continue playing and coaching his local team, Wolverhampton Rhinos, and will also be involved in the coaching set-up with GB at the forthcoming European Championships in Germany.

“Our primary goal is to qualify for Beijing, do the business there and then go on to the World Championships in Birmingham in 2010 and London 2012,” he said.

“Coaching is a different mindset, because I won’t be able to get out there on the court to change things, so it’s going to take some time to adjust.

“We’ve got a new coach with some new ideas and it will take some time to bed in,” he added. “The young guys have got to step up now and take on the mantle.”

Sinclair said he’s seen some huge changes in his time in the sport – including a big increase in media coverage and general interest in wheelchair basketball – during his career.

“The sport has changed a lot,” he said. ”It’s bigger and gets a lot more TV and media coverage. Everyone knows about the GB wheelchair basketball team now.”

GB team-mate Jon Pollock paid tribute to the contribution Sinclair has made to the team.

 "Sinclair has been a good friend to me and helped me tremendously in my career,” he said. “He is a character on the team that won't be replaced."

Murray Treseder, GB’s new head coach, added: “I’m pleased for Sinclair. He is a good player and has been a warrior for the team for so long. It’s great for him that the team played well in his final game.”