Power Skating Returns to America
THE OFFICIAL BOOK OF FIGURE SKATING

Debi Thornas was one of the first modern American power skaters, gaining international prominence with World and Olympic medals when the full arsenal of triple jumps first became an expected part of free skating and when compulsory figures were on the decline as part of the competitive structure.

Born in San Jose, California, Thomas took to the ice as a girl, after seeing an ice show with a fascinating trick skater named Mr. Frick. Her initial interest was strictly recreational, but she was a strong, athletic child and showed promise as a skater. began to train seriously with Alex McGowan, even though financing such a program was a struggle for Thomas' single mother, Janice, a computer programmer.

Debi Thomas's determination was as strong as her talent, though, and by the time she was fifteen, in 1982, had reached the Senior level of the US. Championships. 1985, she won two international events, finished second the US. Championships, and placed fifth at her first World Championships.

The following year, she won the US title and was only the first woman to beat East Germany's Olympic gold medallist, Katarina Witt, but also the first African-American ever to win the Worlds. Fellow Californian, Brian Boitano won the Men's title, and the two became instant favourites to capture the gold at the 1988 Olympics.

Witt, however, was not about to be written off, and she proved her tenacity by regaining her World title at the 1987 event in Cincinnati, where Thornas finished second. The tight competition set up what would be called the Battle of the Carmens at the upcoming Olympics: By chance, each had chosen music from Bizet's Carmen and neither would back down and change. Like the Battle of the Brians between Boitano and Brian Orser, the face-off of Witt and Thomas turned into a media frenzy, exploiting the dramatic political element of East meets West.

Thomas's program was challenging and difficult; she was the only medal contender to attempt a triple toe/triple toe combination during the Games, but she failed to land it, and ended up with the bronze medal. Witt was confident and flawless as she claimed her second Olympic gold. Elizabeth Manley of Canada took silver. It was a huge disappointment for Thomas, one that would be repeated at the ensuing World Championships in Budapest: Witt finished first Manley second, Thomas third.

That summer, Thomas turned professional and went on tour, but not for long. Throughout her skating career, she had been a dedicated student at Stanford University, where she resumed her studies. She continued to make occasional special appearances on the ice, but priority now was her work at Northwestern University School of Medicine.