With a whip and a crack, little Thomas Petrie lit up our TV screens as he showcased his outstanding talents for all of Australia on Little Big Shots.
‘I felt a bit nervous at the start when I walked out on stage,’ seven-year-old Thomas admits to New Idea.
‘But after a while, I didn’t feel nervous anymore. And my friends think it’s pretty awesome.’
Thomas’ penchant for whip cracking, which has seen him win gold at the Stanthorpe championships in Queensland three years in a row, started when he was just a toddler.
While these aren’t your average hobbies for a seven- year-old, his mother Karen reveals why her son loves them so much.
‘Tom is actually hearing impaired. He had lots of ear infections as a little boy and now he’s got his third set of grommets,’ she says.
Over the years, Thomas has undergone multiple surgeries to help improve his hearing.
‘We are so proud of him, he’s done so well,’ Karen beams.
‘The whip cracking, the bike – he’s just one of those kids that picks up things quickly.’
Read the full story in this week’s issue of New Idea, on sale now.
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