debi thomas husband, chris bequette
Bequette lived in Champaign from August 2007 to 2013. 1997), who as of 2021 played defensive tackle for California.[18]. 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. Help keep Debi Thomas and Christopher Bequette profile up to date. However, when she was 12 years old, she won the silver medal at the national novice finals. She skated professionally for two years after the 1988 Games and eventually retired in 1992. They started 1-5, found a rhythm with back-to-back decisive wins over Colorado and Oregon State, then were hit with a COVID outbreak that forced 24 players including Bequette to miss a game at Arizona two weeks ago. At the same time, it is kind of a lot of pressure living up to what my mom did being at the top of her game.. She was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating. Imatorbhebhe asked Bequette about his old hometown. [1] In January 1988, she reclaimed the U.S. national title. Thomas moved practices from Illinois to Indiana and finally to Richlands, Virginia in 2010. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. Then, worked at King-Drew Medical Center as a junior-attending-physician specialist. Plus, as a medical specialist in a small town, she doesn't exactly have a lot of patients coming in. The year prior, she had come fifth. Overall, she finished third and won the bronze medal, behind Witt and Canadian skater Elizabeth Manley (Thomas fell from first place going into the long program to third place overall in the final standings). 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. The Bay Area is a really cool place. She graduated from Stanford in 1991 and enrolled in Northwestern University for medical school. Debi Thomas, M.D., grew up wanting to be a champion figure skater and a doctor, and she has succeeded as both. I applied everywhere," Thomas said. She briefly competed as a professional, but mostly wanted to focus on her medical career. It's the resume: This is. At the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Debi Thomas made history as the first African-American athlete to win a medal at any Winter Olympics. McGowan would remain her coach until she retired from amateur competition at age 21. Bequettes favorite moments in Champaign are times he spent with friends. When it was all said and done, however, Bequettes desire to play college football took priority over all else. With the win, Cal became bowl-eligible: a primary goal head coach Justin Wilcox established in year No. [15], As of December 2010, Thomas was in private practice at ORTHO X-cellence Debra J. Thomas, MD, PC in Richlands, Virginia, which has since ceased operations. Debi started participating in skating competitions when she was 12 years old, which means her career started early. The popular figure skater has lived a life of turmoil, ups-and-down, bankruptcy, and divorce. "I'm thankful I have a better relationship with. I think it was harder before, Bequette said, speaking generally about his relationship with his mom and her split from the family. Apart from that, Debi has beautiful black eyes and black eyes. Hes 6-foot-2, 290 pounds. [5] Thomas was a pre-med student at Stanford University during this time, although it was unusual for a top U.S. skater to go to college at the same time as competing. In June 2005, she graduated from the Orthopedic Residency Program at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. Thomas won bronze, making her the first Black athlete to medal in the Winter Olympics. "I am definitely getting the experience of a lifetime. When Debi turned 5, she started to take an intrest in doctoring. Thomas married sports attorney Chris Bequette in the fall of 1996. However, she has maintained silence about why she is not working as a physician. College football: Illinois vs. California, 3 p.m., Dec. 30, Remember him? The medical board recommended a distressed-physician program, but Thomas couldn't afford it. As a resident at L.A.'s Martin Luther King Jr./Charles Drew University Medical Center, she typically puts in 12-hour shifts, but 36-hour spans are not unusual, Thomas says. She set up a practice in Illinois, but had difficulty getting along with other doctors, reported The Washington Post. [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. They all had great teams and went to really big bowl games, and were all on top-ranked teams, Bequette said. Like Curtis Orchard. Good for our program, good for the younger players. Talking about her education, Debi graduated from Stanford University as an orthopedic surgeon. Debra Janine Thomas (born March 25, 1967) is an American former figure skater and physician. The technique is a little different (at nose guard), but hes got the right attitude about things as well. Thomas began figure skating when she was five, she told Holland Sentinel. As an offensive and defensive lineman in high school for coach John Fogleman at Catholic, Bequettes talent and background presented a solid case. Ive come to have an appreciation for autumn. is 1.67m (5ft 52in) . "There are days now when I would like nothing better than to stay in bed. At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Thomas and Witt engaged in what the media called the "Battle of the Carmens," since both women's long programs (the second skate in the competition) were to music from Bizet's operaCarmen. 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Things began to change after her divorce from Chris. [1] Overall, she finished third and won the bronze medal, behind Witt and Canadian skater Elizabeth Manley (Thomas fell from first place going into the long program to third place overall in the final standings). I think Illinois has got a good team. Its a good jinx, though.. In fact, in 2015, there was news that she was living in a bedbug-infested trailer in the Appalachian mountains. news The eighteen year old won the short program and landed four triple jumps to place second in the long program, enough to win the overall competition. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Bequette knows Illini defensive line coach Austin Clark, a former Cal defensive lineman and graduate assistant with the Bears, defensive lineman Kenyon Jackson and receivers Dominic Stampley and Josh Imatorbhebhe. This is precisely what Debi Thomas found out. Reaching this point was a challenge, she admits. 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.. Fast forward nearly 30 years later to the Continue reading Former Olympic Medalist Debi Thomas Reveals Why She's . But Thomas believes she's not troubled, just free from the shackles she's put on herself to become a high achiever. In Champaign, he attended St. Matthew Catholic School. We see a ton of trauma. In November 2015, it was reported that she was living in a bed bug-infested trailer in the Appalachian mountains with her fiance who was struggling with anger and alcohol issues. A baseball hitting machine who won the C-U Little League home run derby at Eisner Park in Champaign. The things I miss the most are the four seasons. In 1988 she won the bronze Olympic medal and in 1997 she graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. From his first day forward, Bequette was a lineman much to the delight of his dad, who started nearly 40 games at Arkansas on the offensive line. Similarly, after winning various competitions continuously, Debi wins ABCs Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year Award. His initial thoughts were, I dont know if this guy can play D-line. The more he saw me move, he decided I could, Bequette said. About Debi Thomas - Facts and Photos of Legendary Skater of 80's Era. See As soon as Debi announced her bankruptcy in 2014, her life changed. gopuff warehouse address; barts health nhs trust canary wharf; *Debi Thomas was born on this date in 1967. While gaining her elite ranking in skating, she stubbornly maintained her commitment to her educational goals, completing high school and enrolling at Stanford University to obtain a degree in engineering. As it was last season, the performances of Cals defense will dictate where this team lands come the seasons end. He came into this world in 1997, her son is currently playing for Boston College as a defensive tackle. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Debi Thomas Thank you! The couple has one son, Christopher Jules, who was born in 1997. . Thomas relocated to Boulder, Colorado in the winter of 198788 to prepare for the Olympics. And a win on Saturday? [13] In September 2007, she began working at Carle Clinic in Urbana, Illinois. After winning the 1988 World Champion, Debi retired from amateur figure skating. Last year, one of the Cal quarterbacks played baseball. His email is asmussen@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@BobAsmussen). 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 personality, and went from clinic to clinic, never staying longer than one year. Bequette is a fifth-year senior at Cal and already has his degree in legal studies. Farmer's Empowerment through knowledge management. The son of Chris Bequette and Debi Thomas, Luc moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 2013. Soon, Thomas started falling behind paying her bills and had to close the clinic. At first skating in a local mall in California, at 10, she signed with her coach Alex McGowan and represented the Los Angeles Skating Club. [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. Debi Thomas has an estimated net worth of $500 thousand that she earned from her skating career. The scene? In 1987, Thomas suffered with Achilles tendinitis in both ankles and struggled at the U.S. Nationals, placing second to Jill Trenary. The main reason for Debis bankruptcy was her divorce, and she had to pay a considerable amount of money as an alumnus to her ex-husband to raise their son. One of the most popular female sports stars of the 1980s was Debi Thomas, a queen of the ice. Hes just a good guy to be around, said Cal coach Justin Wilcox, whose tenure began in Year 3 of the Bequette Era. Her sun sign indicates the personality of being passionate, motivated, and confident. From the second marriage, Thomas gave birth to her only child Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette. I dont really have a glove right now, Bequette said. In 2012, Thomas and Looney argued. I havent found a good corn maze like the one they have.. So, the Redbox Bowl wont be the last game of his college career. Thomas was making waves in the figure skating scene. "Engineering is very different. She's perfectly satisfied living in the trailer with Looney. Bequettes father, in the stands that night, is among the Cal faithful celebrating the key stop. She had to face a lot of hardship and struggles from the beginning. Not so surprisingly, she secured second place despite the injury, which deserves applause. 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. She served on the advisory board of Athletes Against Drugs and the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Advisory Board. 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.. Likewise, her shoe size is 9 in the United States and 8 in the United Kingdom. Currently, Debi lives in a small house with her fiance and his two sons in a small house. His name is Jamie Looney, and they began a relationship. Youre a lineman, get over here!. A new adventure. Debi is the only African-American ice skater to win a medal in figure skating in the Winter Olympics and the first to win an award in any event during the Winter Games. [1] She won the title again in both 1989 and 1991. egardless of what position hes playing, Bequette only knows how to compete at one speed. On the other hand, this American lady stands at 1.67m and weighs 116.8 lbs. But when he ran over to the tight ends group at his first football practice as a ninth grader, his coaches at Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys had other ideas. Contact him at. Debi Thomas with her current life partner (Source: Twitter). You name it, he played it. Cal lost to an Arizona team that hadnt won a game in more than two years a Pac-12 record 20-game losing streak then had to postpone its game last week against USC when the virus spread to 44 players, coaches and staff. I knew she was going to be fine.. Thomas, who contested the bipolar diagnosis, declared bankruptcy in 2014. Then, she competed in many competitions and has won the title such as 'World Championship', 'U.S. After getting engaged with Lonney, she became the stepmother of two children who are from her fiance's past relationship. Were trying to get to our eighth win and look good for the rest of the country.. Women's basketball ballot breakdown | Two No. She was inducted into the U.S. In February 1989, Thomas ranked 12th in the Q Score athlete standings, the only woman in the top 22. The field also included f Due to this reason, Debi had to face a lot of problems. Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk pounces on the rock, and USC is denied the endzone at a pivotal moment of its season. Debi Thomas was born on March 25, 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. Or, with his bigger stature and struggles throwing a football, a tight end. 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