Tharon

Drake

Quick Facts

• Drake swam for his father at Hobbs High School and has been swimming since he was nine. In 2007 he was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with amnesia. The condition was a result of vaccinations he had received. In 2008 his eyesight began to deteriorate and he was diagnosed with methylation disorder, which means his body does not absorb vitamins properly. He was named as an alternate for the U.S. team competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games; he applied for residency at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs the night the London roster was announced
• Son of Kimberly Hammed and Shawn and Karen Drake
• Has one brother, Tyler, and one sister, Kaitlyn
• Has two stepsisters, Carolyn Shaw and Heather Osbourne, and one step brother, Steven Shaw
• The night before a competition he watches the movie Talladega Nights, plays an instrument and listens to music
• Plays 15 instruments
• Volunteers with students at the local school for the blind
• In addition to swimming, Drake enjoys playing music on the piano and guitar and playing bridge with his church group.

Paralympic Experience

• 1-time Paralympian; 2-time Paralympic medalist (2 silver)
• Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, silver (100m Breaststroke SB11 - Men, 400m Freestyle S11 - Men), 8th (200m Individual Medley SM11 - Men), 9th (100m Freestyle S11 - Men)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2017 – gold (100m Breaststroke SB11 - Men, 400m Freestyle S11 - Men), silver (200m Individual Medley SM11 - Men), 5th (100m Freestyle S11 - Men)
• Years of participation: 100m Breaststroke SB11 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 100m Freestyle S11 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 200m Individual Medley SM11 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 400m Freestyle S11 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 50m Freestyle S11 - Men 2013
• Medals: 5 (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
• Gold – 2017 (100m Breaststroke SB11 - Men, 400m Freestyle S11 - Men)
• Silver – 2017 (200m Individual Medley SM11 - Men); 2015 (100m Breaststroke SB11 - Men)
• Bronze – 2015 (400m Freestyle S11 - Men)