Debi is not doing anything related to her medical career these days. Yet, even at 55, Debi Thomas misses no chance to express her love for the game that changed her life. [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. [10] Thomas won the bronze medal at the 1988 World Championships and then retired from amateur skating. In 2014, Thomas launched a GoFundMe for a YouTube show she said would uncover the reality of living in a town like Richlands. Bequette has been invaluable as a veteran on a defensive line that lost its top player, Brett Johnson, for the season because of a hip injury sustained in a car accident. You have permission to edit this article. In 1988 she won the bronze Olympic medal and in 1997 she graduated from Northwestern University Medical School. They had 1 child. I dont really have a glove right now, Bequette said. Even though they represent her pride and success, she cannot show them. The medical board recommended a distressed-physician program, but Thomas couldn't afford it. They will be moving to join her by year's end. Theyve done a great job.. She then surrendered to a police officer, saying she had a gun and wanted to hurt herself. Thomas began with a triple toe-triple toe combination, which was rare for a female skater in the 1980s. After being in almost 6 years of married life, their relationship started being falling which took place of divorce. So, how much is Debi Thomas worth at the age of 55 years old? For example, in 1987, Thomas suffered from an ankle injury, and even though she was injured, she participated in U.S Nationals. I love Champaign, Bequette said. She spent a year at the University of Arkansas doing a residency in general surgery and then moved on to do a year and a half of orthopedic research before she was accepted into the program in Southern California. Debi Thomas has an estimated net worth of $500 thousand that she earned from her skating career. Debi became a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and in 2006, she was offered an orthopedic fellowship at the Dorr Arthritis Institute in Los Angeles. They visit on the phone every now and then, and Bequette has only good things to say about her. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Debi Thomas Net Worth. "Luc is my greatest accomplishment," Thomas said. The Stanford influence was profound at home. 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. As a young child, Thomas was coached by Barbara Toigo Vitkovits at Eastridge Mall in San Jose. Before divorcing, they had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette (b. 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. He stopped playing travel baseball his freshman year in high school, concentrating more on football. Even though she was a pre-med student, she managed time for University and college. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021. I havent found a good corn maze like the one they have.. "We talk on the phone every day. She skated professionally for two years after the 1988 Games and eventually retired in 1992. Who is Lee Dae-hoon? 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. As he recalls, his coaches pulled him from the tight ends, and just like that his career as a pass catcher was over. He started high school at St. Thomas More, then went to Centennial for a semester. Discover Debi Thomas's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Retirement, Wife & Michael Jordan: Family, Career, Success & Net Ryan Lochte Net Worth: Earnings & Sponsors, Who Is Aaron Rodgers Wife? Despite that, it has never been easy for Debi, and she was the first African-American player in skating. Before it, Christopher was playing in California from 2015 to 2019. Im going to be joining the message boards once Im done playing.. My goal is to improve on last year and hopefully finish with more sacks (and) more tackles, and eat up more double teams so Weaver and the linebackers can make more plays, Bequette said. news Her sun sign indicates the personality of being passionate, motivated, and confident. "He was an easy kid to raise," Chris said.. Plus, as a medical specialist in a small town, she doesn't exactly have a lot of patients coming in. Bequettes relationship with his mother is somewhat distant. Debi has a flexible and agile body, a necessary trait for a figure skater. I felt like I had overcome the difficulties I was having and somebody finally gave me a chance.". She left the family when Luc was 13 and he remained with his dad at that point. Bequette is a fifth-year senior at Cal and already has his degree in legal studies. In 2018, when the Bears defense finished No. It worked. The name is Ethan and Austin Looney, they are living with Thomas in southwest Virginia. Family (1) Spouse Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. 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). In January 1988, she reclaimed the U.S. national title. After their relationship ended, she married a sports attorney, Chris Bequette, in autumn 1996. Debra Janine Thomas (born March 25, 1967) is an American former figure skater and physician. And after seeing so much success, this failure was indigestible to her. In 1988, one stumble kept Debi Thomas from standing atop the podium for figure skating at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, taking home the bronze instead. As I mentioned, I love traveling and so that was definitely one of my main reasons for coming here.. That was about Dad being more familiar with football, he said. You name it, he played it. [11] Before divorcing, they had a son named Luc Bequette (b. The pair tied the knot in autumn 1996 and welcome a baby boy into their life. She served on the advisory board of Athletes Against Drugs and the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Advisory Board. It was kind of weird because we found out through Twitter when we were home for Christmas break., I thank the old staff for recruiting me and getting me here, but I love the staff I have now, Bequette said. She won the two biggest career matches in engineering college. "There are days now when I would like nothing better than to stay in bed. But Thomas believes she's not troubled, just free from the shackles she's put on herself to become a high achiever. You don't look a day over 60, Good Morning, Illini Nation: Bracketology on the eve of March. But it's not the years that distinguish Bequette, a 6-2, 295-pound defensive end who will start for the Bears on Saturday in the 124th Big Game at Stanford Stadium. A new adventure. Its a good jinx, though.. Plus, as a medical specialist in a small town, she doesn't exactly have a lot of patients coming in. The move to Virginia was controversial, as Thomas moved there after her divorce from her husband, Chris Bequette, and left her son. "Part of the reason was my grades. However, despite Debis problems, she helped her fiance to get over his problems. She was a Black figure skater, surgeon, and community activist. Debi Thomas is currently engaged with her long-term boyfriend Jamie Looney. High 49F. (Josh) was thinking about coming here and was going to move into our house, Bequette said. We see a ton of trauma. considered the best Black figure skater of her generation, conspiracy theories about shadowy government figures. Bequette played four sports in high school: football, baseball, wrestling and track. I knew she was going to be fine.. National Title Championship winner was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression. I was worried about my son, having to leave him. As a result, Debi is awarded Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women for Trailblazing. 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. But still, Debi managed to become an inspiration to many skating lovers and aspiring skaters. It's the most challenging thing I've ever done.". The entire Cal defense yells as St. Brown coughs the ball up. Anyone can find her on different websites if anyone wants to know about her. She got hold of a gun and fired it to the ground. . After completing her engineering at Stanford University, she moved to Boulder, where she studied orthopedic surgery at Martin Luther King Jr. University. Bequette says he talked recently with his mom, who joked about the Big Game rivalry. She was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating. When it was all said and done, however, Bequettes desire to play college football took priority over all else. At the age of 5, she started learning skating by Barbara Toigo Vitkovits at Eastridge in San Jose. After getting engaged with Lonney, she became the stepmother of two children who are from her fiance's past relationship. photos, Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. On 25th March 1967, Thomas was born to her parents McKinley Thomas and Janice Thomas. Thomas committed to medical school before her skating career ended. His dad was there to challenge his footwork, break down film and naturally pull some strings to get him on Arkansas radar. However, she was highly skilled and appreciated by her patients. As her financial status goes, she is in a terrible condition. national title', 'Tenley Albright', 'Winter Olympics', and so on. At 55 years old, Debi Thomas height This summer, fresh off a year in which he graduated with a degree in legal studies and started all 13 games for Cal, he visited Yosemite National Park for the first time the perfect escape for an athlete who describes himself as passionate, happy and, of course, adventurous. As a young child, Thomas was coached by Barbara Toigo Vitkovits at Eastridge Mall in San Jose. 1997), who as of 2021 played defensive tackle for California.[18]. In the year 2016, Debi had filed for bankruptcy. Thomas expressed interest in becoming a doctor from an early age. Or, with his bigger stature and struggles throwing a football, a tight end. He is currently fifth on the team with 44 tackles, with four for loss and three sacks. She entered Stanford University as a pre-med student and won her first National Championship in 1986 while in college. Indeed, Debi is a strong woman; even though she has lost everything, she is still optimistic that she still has time to rise again. Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I had a good reason not to tell my friend I was moving, Warriors 3 Things: Steve Kerr entered playoff mode before Golden State's win over Portland. They had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette before divorcing. 13 in S&P+ ratings nationally, he took things a step further, earning the title of Most Valuable Lineman. 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