The 68-year-old had one of his most prized possessions thieved on September 4, according to police.

The custom-made tricycle was stolen out of a storage locker in the underground parking garage of Thomas' apartment in Edmonton in Canada, with the theft being reported to police on September 17.

CTV News Edmonton was contacted by the former athlete's friend, Ian Young, who said somebody had seen the thief riding the trike and recorded them in action.

The individual then abandoned the tricycle and fled, with police able to return it to Thomas.

Young, who also had his three-wheeler stolen from the parking garage, has not had his tricycle returned, but has received a donation which enabled him to purchase a new one.

Thomas is well-known among the ranks of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association and is in the organisation's Hall of Fame.

At the 1984 and 1988 Paralympic Games, Thomas won a total of three bronze medals - two in athletics and one in swimming.

He first competed internationally in 1981 and would continue to do so until 1994, when he retired after the first International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships in German capital Berlin.

The Canadian continued to compete in 10-kilometre road races in Edmonton and in 2005 participated in the World Master Games in his hometown as well.

Thomas was also the first President of the Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association from 1979 to 1986, and in 2002 received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contribution to sport and his community.