A member of the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club, Frederick Toms, alongside partner Norway Jackes, competed in the coxless pairs event at the 1908 Summer Olympics and was defeated in the semi-finals by the Leander Club duo from Great Britain that would go on to win the gold medal. As there were only four crews in the tournament, however, Toms and Jackes (as well as the German team that lost their semi-final race) are considered bronze medalists. He also captured the senior coxless fours title at that year’s Canada’s Henley Royal Regatta, with Phil Boyd and the non-Olympians L. M. Dixon and J. A. Thompson. Toms lived most of his life in Toronto and was involved in the construction industry as a salesman and contractor.