August 30, 2007: With less than 2-years in the sport of high jumping, Bahamian Donald Thomas, a virtual unknown, stunned the world by flying away with gold at the world championships in Osaka Japan on Wednesday.

According to jonesbahamas.com , Thomas was a highflying basketball player, who was discovered at Linwood Community College in the U.S. after he accepted a challenge from a fellow student to try 6'6" in the high jump. He cleared the height and kept going and the next week he was on the school track and field team where he competed in running sneakers, and the rest is history.

The 23-year-old Thomas said following his top of the world achievement, "I'm not surprised I won,". "I never doubt in myself."

The naturally talented jumper is now at Auburn University, developing his talent and reaching for new heights.

"Olympics is next target, and after more training and learning the event, the goal could be also the world record," he said.