he University of Arkansas campus lies just a few hundred miles from the states capital of Little Rock, just a mornings trek along Interstate Highways 40 and 49. She was rewarded for that commitment with a gold medal at the 1986 World Figure Skating Championships and a bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. Although she wont be on hand Saturday, Debi Thomas watched her son play in the 2019 Big Game. Thats the type of effort you love to see from Luc or any of those guys on that team, especially on the defense who have that same mentality.. Plus, as a medical specialist in a small town, she doesn't exactly have a lot of patients coming in. But football and mastering the art of defensive end didnt come first when it came to athletic endeavors. While some interest existed between Bequette and Arkansas coaches, it was clear that the Razorbacks were reluctant to offer Luc the same deal his other family members received. In between, she devotes most of her time to her husband, sports attorney Chris Bequette, and 5-year-old son, Luc. That same year, Thomas competed in the World Figure Skating Championship and won. Although he grew up in Arkansas, Bequette had a sense of the Cal-Stanford rivalry as a youngster. She studied at Stanford University during her competitive career until her move to Boulder, Colorado during the 198788 season, and had resumed her studies by 1989. Early life [ edit] Contribute Debi Thomas and Christopher Bequette - Dating, Gossip, News, Photos list. However, Debis mother has a significant role in shaping Debis career because her mother used to drive 100 miles a day and sacrificed her time between home, school, and the ice rink. While practicing in Richlands, Thomas met the father of a boy she was treating for a broken wrist. Chris Bequette, in 1996. In February 1989, Thomas ranked 12th in the Q Score athlete standings, the only woman in the top 22. "Engineering is very different. You have permission to edit this article. Losing streak snapped. On the flip side, the Trojan offense has taken advantage of rare miscues from the Bear defense and is on the cusp of taking a three-score lead into halftime. Brown. For a further study to become an orthopedic surgeon, she studied at the Martin Luther King Jr/ Charles Drew University Medical Center. She was the first female athlete to win those titles while attending college full-time since Tenley Albright in the 1950s. She kept winning competitions and struck up a rivalry with German champion Katarina Witt. In 1997, Debi joined the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, later attended the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital. She had just graduated medical school at the time. I felt like I had overcome the difficulties I was having and somebody finally gave me a chance.". Fast forward nearly 30 years later to the Continue reading Former Olympic Medalist Debi Thomas Reveals Why She's . "We did this because we felt I needed to get used to being out there and handling the schedule," Thomas said. Thomas, an Olympic bronze medalist in figure skating,considered the best Black figure skater of her generation, went from extreme highs to extreme lows. One of Bequettes bombs went across Russell Street and into a yard. McGowan would remain her coach until she retired from amateur competition at age 21. Debi Thomas is a 55 year old American Skater. However, Debi came in third place and won the bronze medal in the Olympics. Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. Thomas, a former champion figure skater and surgeon, moved into her fianc's trailer and could no longer work as a doctor. As a young child, Thomas was coached by Barbara Toigo Vitkovits at Eastridge Mall in San Jose. But before that, let us have an instant glance at the quick facts. Standing at more than 6 feet tall and built like a lineman, you might guess that he was solid in the shotput and other field events. When Debi turned 5, she started to take an intrest in doctoring. Born Debra Janine Thomas on 25th March, 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States, she is famous for She is the 1986 World champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist.. Even though she was a pre-med student, she managed time for University and college. Contact him at. Thomas returned to the ice briefly to participate in "The Caesars Tribute: A Salute to the Golden Age of American Skating", an event which featured many of the greatest legends and icons of American figure skating. debi thomas husband, chris bequette Alex McGowan was Debis coach who trained her and guided her for the Olympics. I became used to taking a lot more technical exams, open-book things where there wasn't a whole lot of memorization," she said. When hes no longer here, Wilcox said, its going to feel awkward., Cal player Luc Bequette has a famous mom and a, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Cal player Luc Bequette has a famous mom and a seven-year college football career. The above graph depicts Debis total google search volume in the States since last year. She might also use her engineering and medical background to develop arthroscopy tools and/or prosthetic devices and joints. In Champaign, he attended St. Matthew Catholic School. Im going to be joining the message boards once Im done playing.. "When I was in medical school, taking tests was hard for me and I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.". [21][22] She was featured in the November 7, 2015, episode of the television series Iyanla: Fix My Life on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Who is Lee Dae-hoon? "But it taught me that I don't have to be in a rush to reach my goals.". to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Indeed, Debi is a strong woman; even though she has lost everything, she is still optimistic that she still has time to rise again. However, in 2015, Debis fiance Jamie Looney suffered from alcohol and anger issues. 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He misses Billy Barooz, where he often went with his dad. Likewise, Debi was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2012. As a figure skater, Thomas won bronze at the 1988 Olympic Games, becoming the first Black athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. But even as she strove for perfection and achievement, she didn't feel free until it was all over. Debi Thomas was born on 25 March 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. [19][20] In November 2015, it was reported that she was living in a bed bug-infested trailer in the Appalachian mountains with her fianc who was struggling with anger and alcohol issues. Thomas began with a triple toe-triple toe combination, which was rare for a female skater in the 1980s. To say Bequette comes from an athletic background is an understatement. The guys at Illinois are going to love San Francisco.. However, she has maintained silence about why she is not working as a physician. However, despite Debis problems, she helped her fiance to get over his problems. She had to face a lot of hardship and struggles from the beginning. Her rivalry with East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Calgary Olympics was known as the Battle of the Carmens. When she was 5 years old, Debi Thomas told her mother that she wanted be a doctor and a champion figure skater when she grew up. Ive definitely been trying to get as good as I can at (nose guard), and Im going to do whatever it take to help us win games.. In our family, we dont start playing football until were ninth graders. After so many years, life without football and college will be both scary and exciting, Bequette said. Born March 25, 1967 Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list She served on the advisory board of Athletes Against Drugs and the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Advisory Board. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Thomas won bronze, making her the first Black athlete to medal in the Winter Olympics. Things began to change after her divorce from Chris. Or working as a financial advisor like his dad. It worked. Similarly, Debi is an inspiration because she came when black women were discriminated against and not given equal opportunities. Farmer's Empowerment through knowledge management. When football ends, and it will eventually, Bequette is considering working in commercial real estate. I work in a very busy hospital with not very many residents," Thomas said. Some day she would apply to the astronaut training program, having visited the NASA Space Center in Houston and the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, with astronaut and former skater Jan Davis. In January 1988, she reclaimed the U.S. national title. She spent the next year preparing for Step I of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons' exam and working at King-Drew Medical Center as a junior-attending-physician specialist. She was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating. She is the 1986 World champion, the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. He came into this world in 1997, her son is currently playing for Boston College as a defensive tackle. I think Illinois has got a good team. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thomas placed fifth in the World Championships in 1985 and won gold in 1986. BERKELEY Jared Goff was Cals quarterback when Luc Bequette arrived on campus as a freshman in 2015. All that was left was a phone call to the Bequette household. Dr. Thomas has worked with the Women's Sports Foundation and has always helped children's charities. In April 2012, 'U.S. Help us build our profile of Debi Thomas and Christopher Bequette! Debis figure skating career was launched by Los Angeles Figure Skating Club. I think shes doing great. Similarly, all Debis medals are packed somewhere in her luggage. Luc, who has grown from Arkansas forgotten Bequette to Cals top defensive lineman, is still playing with a desire to make an even bigger impact. [1] She graduated from Stanford in 1991 with a degree in engineering and then from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1997. "I'm thankful I have a better relationship with. I havent found a good corn maze like the one they have.. She skated professionally for two years after the 1988 Games and eventually retired in 1992. Even though they represent her pride and success, she cannot show them. Cal is stoked he did. When it was all said and done, however, Bequettes desire to play college football took priority over all else. As I mentioned, I love traveling and so that was definitely one of my main reasons for coming here.. As per her birth chart, she is an Aries. [14] During her medical career, while she was skilled at doing the procedures and well-liked by patients, she had difficulty working with other doctors due to her struggles with bipolar disorder, and went from clinic to clinic, never staying longer than one year. College athletes typically are given five years to play four seasons. Whether it was earning an Olympic medal or a medical degree, Debi Thomas had a history of overcoming challenges.Now 48, and in the news for far less glamorous reasons, the ice princess who grew up She is from NY. So, the Redbox Bowl wont be the last game of his college career. See Net Worth, Salary & Earnings of Debi Thomas in 2022. At a very young age, Debis parents, Mckinley Thomas (Father) and Janice Thomashad a divorce. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. From then on, she was hooked on competitive skating. She is an actress, known for Nutcracker on Ice (2009), American Gladiators (1989) and Win, Lose or Draw (1987). (Skaters today typically do both.) Before divorcing, they had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette (b. Because he got hurt his redshirt freshman year, he will be back for a sixth season in 2020. Thomas moved practices from Illinois to Indiana and finally to Richlands, Virginia in 2010. She said her path had not always been easy. Despite the demands of training and competing, she stuck to her plan. Ive got to get out and do that, Bequette said. I tried to skate around hard twice, and I was completely pooped," Thomas said. Bequettes nine tackles (2.5 for loss), two sacks and the forced fumble are enough to net him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Besides, she made an identity of her own because of her hard work and dedication. Her fiance is the co-founder of 'Save Coal Country's Economy & Environment Network'. In fact, in 2015, there was news that she was living in a bedbug-infested trailer in the Appalachian mountains. Debi Thomas has an estimated net worth of $500 thousand that she earned from her skating career. He stopped playing travel baseball his freshman year in high school, concentrating more on football. and more from FamousFix.com. And No. She allowed her medical license to expire; otherwise, the board could've revoked it. "Luc is my greatest accomplishment," Thomas said. In the long program, she made mistakes on a number of jumps and placed fourth in that segment of the competition. However, as we engage ourselves in her performance, we get to know that figure skating is a daunting task. But still, Debi managed to become an inspiration to many skating lovers and aspiring skaters. Hence, Debi starts to get depressed as she has faced many problems. Thomas returned to the ice briefly to participate in "The Caesars Tribute: A Salute to the Golden Age of American Skating", an event which featured many of the greatest legends and icons of American figure skating. Debi Thomas, M.D., grew up wanting to be a champion figure skater and a doctor, and she has succeeded as both. Photo by Matt A. Figure Skater, Physician (orthopedic surgeon), World Figure Skating World Champion (1986). She also won the title in 1989 and 1991. Baseball was definitely my first love, Bequette said. hat call from the University of Arkansas never came. At age 10, Thomas was introduced to Scottish skating coach Alex McGowan. She left the family when Luc was 13 and he remained with his dad at that point. Family (1) Spouse Just a few weeks ago, he arrived for his final fall camp in blue and gold. Not so surprisingly, she secured second place despite the injury, which deserves applause. Joakim Noah Bio: NBA, Team Ambassador, Girlfriend & Net Worth. In February 1989, Thomas ranked 12th in the Q Score athlete standings, the only woman in the top 22. As we know, a slight mistake can result in severe injuries and career-ending wounds. I just kind of look forward to the future. I just ran as hard as I could and blew a lineman up and turned and chased the ball like were taught, Bequette said. She has a net worth of $100,000-$1M. She's perfectly satisfied living in the trailer with Looney. Moreover, in 1985 Debi came in the fifth position at World Championship, and in 1986 Thomas brought the gold medal home. And his team was pretty darn good at it. A mix of clouds and sun. Thomas has trouble remembering the last time she was on the ice. monopolies of the progressive era; dr fauci moderna vaccine; sta 102 uc davis; paul roberts occupation; pay raises at cracker barrel; This article was last updated by on October 12, 2022. In 1988, Debi Thomas made history as the first African-American athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics, taking. She competed in her first figure skating competition at age 9, finishing in first place. So how did the grandson, nephew, cousin and son of Arkansas greats end up in Berkeley? At the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, she and Katarina Witt engaged in a rivalry that the media dubbed the "Battle of the Carmens", as both women skated their long programs to the music of Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. [23], Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 21:38, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital, Martin Luther King Jr./Charles Drew University Medical Center, "The Night When It All Slipped Away: A Year Ago, Debi Thomas Didn't Skate, or Behave, Like a Champion", "Exclusive: Olympic medalist Debi Thomas talks about her path to Virginia trailer", "Debi Thomas Wins World Skating Title; Chin Takes Third", "Books Or Blades, There's No Doubting Thomas", "Candace Award Recipients 1982-1990, Page 3", "Debi Thomas Hopes Triple-Triple Will Bring Her Olympic Gold", "Olympic skater Thomas joins Carle orthopedic staff", "The best African American figure skater in history is now bankrupt and living in a trailer", "Cal Football Roster Released: Luc Bequette on the Roster", The best African American figure skater in history is now bankrupt and living in a trailer, "Olympic figure skater and doctor Debi Thomas reveals she's broke, living in bug-infested trailer in emotional interview", "History-Making Olympian Debi Thomas Reveals She Is Now Broke and Living in a Bed Bug-Infested Trailer", "The best African American figure skater in history is now broke and living in a trailer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Debi_Thomas&oldid=1140802477, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 21:38. As a result, Debi is awarded Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women for Trailblazing. Thomas was performing well, and she was evolving to be a better skater and a better competitor. Thomas had also won the U.S. national title besides the World Championship that year; these achievements earned Thomas the ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year award that year. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. The son of Chris Bequette and Debi Thomas, Luc moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 2013. 7 came courtesy of COVID-19, with the NCAA extending the eligibility of every athlete by a year to compensate. Her sun sign indicates the personality of being passionate, motivated, and confident. The Washington Post mentioned she tends to talk about conspiracy theories about shadowy government figures. The year prior, she had come fifth. However, she even lost custody of her son due to bankruptcy. While completing her residency in orthopedics, she thought about another dream. 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