Thirty-one-year-old Tom Scott, of Richardson, is among the many North Texans vying to make the country proud at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-Dallas) said that the area is home to some of the best athletes in the country and Scott was a shining example of that.
“North Texas is home to some of the best in the nation, and Richardson’s own Tom Scott is no exception,” he tweeted. “Congrats to him and all the North Texans representing our nation at the Tokyo Olympics, we are rooting for you back home!”
The games should have an extra meaning for Scott, who will participate in karate, a sport which will make its Olympic debut in this year’s games.
Scott trains at Plano’s Academy of Classical Karate, a facility that focuses on customary karate techniques and instils core values with a vision statement of “better lives through the study of Karate.”
The Tokyo Games, which were postponed from last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin in less than two weeks without spectators.
“Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home,” Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike recently said.
The ban on spectators was a compromise for Japanese officials as many within the country’s medical community, along with citizens, had hoped for the games to be postponed indefinitely.
“It’s gut-wrenching because many people looked forward to watching at the venues,” Koike said.
Without fans and family to offer support, Scott will have to rely on his intrinsic drive in order to bring home the gold at the upcoming event.
The karate competition of the games will take place on Aug. 5, with Scott set to compete on Aug. 6.
