The year 12 student was born without arms and legs, so he knows heads turn when he jumps in the water.

“I just laugh at it now, you get used to it after a little while,” Thomas, 17, said.

Last week at the Riverina public high schools swimming carnival, where parents loudly cheer their child on, they applauded as one for the boy from Finley High School.

“To be honest I can’t hear them,” Thomas said.

“I know they’re doing it and it’s good to have some support, even though I don’t know who they are.”

As he has done since year 7, Thomas qualified for the NSW carnival and is aiming to build on the 20 state and 12 national swimming records he has already set.

Thomas, who followed siblings into swimming, says the water makes him feel calm.

Father David Burton said his son battled initially.

“He had a lot of trouble learning to swim,” Mr Burton said.

“We tried freestyle and he wasn’t really flash with that and then when he tried breaststroke he got the propulsion to get to the surface.”

Thomas added: “I can do all of the strokes, but freestyle is a modified version with a breaststroke kick and butterfly arms.”

Thomas, who has ambitions to compete at the Commonwealth Games next year and the Paralympics, draws strength from Tocumwal-raised Don Elgin.

He overcame open heart surgery at the age of three, and being born without his lower left leg and fingers fused, to win medals at the Paralympics and compete in running, shot put, high jump and discus.

“He doesn’t give up because of what he hasn’t got, he uses what he hasn’t got to his advantage,” Thomas said.

“He doesn’t whinge about what he hasn’t got, he makes the most of it.

“There’s no point wishing for something that’s not going to happen.

“I have to learn to be happy with what I’ve got or I will not be successful.”

Swimming is not Thomas’ only sporting forte, he recently completed a mini-triathlon involving a 500 metre swim, five kilometre bike ride and three kilometre run.

The Essendon fan also plays touch football and is part of the Blighty under-17s in the Picola football league.

“It is just rewarding, kicking the winning goal for your team or assisting putting the points on the board,” Thomas said.

“I like the team environment and they’re all friendly.”