Debi Thomas
Debi Thomas
Debra Janine Thomasis an American former figure skater and physician. She is the 1986 World champion, the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. Her rivalry with East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Calgary Olympics was known as the Battle of the Carmens...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFigure Skater
Date of Birth25 March 1967
CityPoughkeepsie, NY
CountryUnited States of America
american-athlete gold meant national needed olympic shot
Plus, it also meant a lot because it was the Olympic year, and if I wanted a shot at Olympic gold I needed to be national champion.
memories olympics good-memories
The Olympics: not one of my better memories.
real life-changing firsts
Probably the '86 nationals. That was my first real national title and first real statement I ever made in figure skating, and my life changed after I returned.
softball sports motivation
My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.
medicine
I am not really sure how I got interested in medicine.
skating watches looking-forward
I watch a lot of professional skating, and I am really looking forward to going to nationals.
mom skating my-mom
I begged my mom to let me start skating.
sports team doctors
Figure skating was a pretty individual sport. I've grown up a lot since those days and enjoy being part of a team now. Being a doctor is about working with nurses, therapists, anesthesiologists, and I've learned more about team play being a doctor than when I was in sports.
engineering design products
So I went for engineering, specifically product design, which I enjoyed.
orthopedics research residency
Right now I am doing my residency in orthopedic research.
school skating accomplish
I've got this thing with skating and school - to see how much I can accomplish.
doctors wanted five
I wanted to be a doctor since I was five.
people giving care
I want people to know when I'm taking care of them I'll give it all that I've got.
knowing patient impressed
But I like it when my patients are impressed not knowing that I was an Olympian.