The sheer number of trophies, medals and pennants.

The collection is the result of 61 years of competition in athletics events around the world.

And now the 73-year-old is set to add another trophy to the cabinet after being named world masters thrower of the year.

The number one ranked thrower in Australia, Thomas beat out the best male and female throwers from around the world to claim the trophy, which she will receive in Spain this September.

“It’s the greatest award I’ve ever got,” Thomas said. “I can’t believe how I was picked out from all the other athletes. I do six events and I’m pretty high up in the world in all six, I rank in about the top four and in the throws pentathlon I’m number one.”

After an illustrious open age career that included gold in the javelin at the 1969 Australian Athletics Championships, Thomas made the move into masters events in 1975, the very early days of the concept. 

“I joined the masters in 1975, I was still competing in senior athletics then, there were only four women that joined, but at first we weren’t accepted. It was a men’s club and we had to push to change the rules. Eventually they let us in and now there are more women than men and the Australian women outperform the men at World Championships.

“Masters used to be a lot of people who had never done athletics before, now it’s much more competitive, we’re getting former Olympians competing.”

The Illawarra Blue Stars member believes the appeal of masters athletics lies in the friendly atmosphere of the sport, an atmosphere that provides competitors with the opportunity to remain active and form strong friendships later in life. 

“It’s the friendships you get from meeting up with people,” she said. “I’ve been to 18 World Masters Championships, Oceania Games, now we’re going to indoor worlds as well, so I’ve been to two of those.  

“People think you can’t do it, then they look at me and say ‘Well she can compete’. My doctor encourages it, he always says ‘Well, have you started training yet?’ ”

While the sport has helped Thomas remain active throughout her life, she has been forced to spend less time training in recent years as the toll of 60 years of athletics mounts. She has no plans, however, of stopping any time soon.

“I’ve got artificial parts everywhere. I need a new hip, which I’ll get done when I come back from Spain.

“I will keep doing it as long as I can. People say ‘Your body’s wearing out, give it up’, but why should I give it up, I love it.”