Skaters
Debi Thomas
Born:
March 25, 1967
Birthplace:
Poughkeepsie, NY
Height:
5' 6"
Level:
Senior
Hometown:
Champaign,
College:
Stanford University, Northwestern University
Club:
Los Angeles FSC
Coach:
Alex McGowan
Thomas represented the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club from 1983 on. She was coached by Alex McGowan from age 10 until she retired from amateur competition at age 21.
Thomas won both the 1986 U.S. and World championships, making her the first female athlete to win those titles while attending college full time since Tenley Albright in the 1950s. In 1987, Thomas placed second at the U.S. Championships to Jill Trenary but rebounded at the World Championships, finishing a close second to East German Katarina Witt.
In January 1988, Thomas reclaimed the U.S. title. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she and Witt engaged in a rivalry dubbed the "Battle of the Carmens," as both women skated their long programs to the music of Bizet's opera Carmen. Thomas earned the bronze medal behind Witt and Canadian Elizabeth Manley and went on to win the bronze at the 1988 World Championships.
After her figure skating career, Thomas went back to school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Thomas won both the 1986 U.S. and World championships, making her the first female athlete to win those titles while attending college full time since Tenley Albright in the 1950s. In 1987, Thomas placed second at the U.S. Championships to Jill Trenary but rebounded at the World Championships, finishing a close second to East German Katarina Witt.
In January 1988, Thomas reclaimed the U.S. title. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, she and Witt engaged in a rivalry dubbed the "Battle of the Carmens," as both women skated their long programs to the music of Bizet's opera Carmen. Thomas earned the bronze medal behind Witt and Canadian Elizabeth Manley and went on to win the bronze at the 1988 World Championships.
After her figure skating career, Thomas went back to school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
- 1988 - World Championships - 3rd
1988 - Olympic Winter Games - 3rd
1988 - U.S. Championships - 1st
1987 - Skate Canada - 1st
1987 - World Championships - 2nd
1987 - U.S. Championships - 2nd
1986 - World Championships - 1st
1986 - U.S. Championships - 1st
1985 - Skate America - 1st
1985 - Skateelectric Fall. (St. Ivel) - 1st
1985 - World Championships - 5th
1985 - U.S. Championships - 2nd
1984 - U.S. Championships - 6th
1983 - U.S. Championships - 13th
