Debi Thomas FIRST BLACK WINTER OLYMPIC MEDALIST
Debi Thomas
Debra Janine Thomas (born March 25, 1967) is 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.
Figure skater Debi Thomas wins a Bronze Medal becoming the first black to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.
Early life
Thomas was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and grew up in San Jose, California. Her parents divorced when she was young. Her mother worked as a computer programming analyst in Sunnyvale, California.
READ MORE: Debi Thomas FIRST BLACK WINTER OLYMPIC MEDALIST https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debi_Thomas
Debra Janine Thomas (born March 25, 1967) is 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.
Figure skater Debi Thomas wins a Bronze Medal becoming the first black to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.
Early life
Thomas was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and grew up in San Jose, California. Her parents divorced when she was young. Her mother worked as a computer programming analyst in Sunnyvale, California.
READ MORE: Debi Thomas FIRST BLACK WINTER OLYMPIC MEDALIST https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debi_Thomas
Thomas started skating at age 5 in San Jose. She competed in her first figure skating competition at age 9, finishing in first place. From then on, she was hooked on competitive skating. She attributes most of her success to her mother who sacrificed to drive her over 100 miles a day between home, school, and the ice rink.