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 Dr. Thomas married sports attorney Chris Bequette in 1996, and in 1997, just weeks after receiving her medical degree, she and her husband welcomed their first child, Christopher Jules Bequette II. | Photo: GettyImages Advertisement She graduated from Stanford in 1991 with a degree in engineering and from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1997. Thomas started skating at age 5 in San Jose. She was the first African-American to hold U.S. National titles in ladies' singles figure skating. He could have chosen to attend Vanderbilt, which was closer to home and a top-tier school academically in its own right one of his top factors when deciding between his options. She said her path had not always been easy. Thomas was diagnosed with bipolar disorder by April 2012. 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. The fog has cleared over Berkeley and been replaced with what announcer Tim Brando described as an air of optimism. Will you fill your lungs with this air and have it power your chants this Saturday, or will you close your windows. Not so surprisingly, she secured second place despite the injury, which deserves applause. T She rebounded at the World Championships, finishing a close second to East German skater Katarina Witt. His dad was there to challenge his footwork, break down film and naturally pull some strings to get him on Arkansas radar. For whatever reasons, they didnt think I was good enough to get an offer. 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. 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. Thomas was the first (and so far, only) Black woman to win the championship. The Washington Post mentioned she tends to talk about conspiracy theories about shadowy government figures. She was the first female athlete to win those titles while attending college full-time since Tenley Albright in the 1950s. "He was an easy kid to raise," Chris said.. Bequette started his Cal career with Sonny Dykes as his head coach. However, as we engage ourselves in her performance, we get to know that figure skating is a daunting task. Dr. Thomas married sports attorney Chris Bequette in 1996, and in 1997, just weeks after receiving her medical degree, she and her husband welcomed their first child, Christopher Jules Bequette II. I applied everywhere," Thomas said. Before divorcing, they had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette (b. She attributes her current predicament to the high legal fees surrounding her divorce from her second husband, Chris Bequette, and the costly child support. She had to face a lot of hardship and struggles from the beginning. Final score: Bears 15, Trojans 14. 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. I think it was harder before, Bequette said, speaking generally about his relationship with his mom and her split from the family. She graduated from Stanford in 1991 with a degree in . The Bay Area is a really cool place. Currently, Debi lives in a mobile house with her fiance, and the place is cluttered with dishes and stacks of documents. Many of Bequettes current teammates in Berkeley were in middle school. A mix of clouds and sun. Brown. / Debi Thomas / Calling Dr. Thomas / Olympian trades skates for scrubs, Debi Thomas, figure skating sensation out of San Jose who came up short of Olympic gold medal, is now a doctor. [7] She rebounded at the World Championships, finishing a close second to East German skater Katarina Witt. Debi loved staking from a very early age and has actively participated in various skating competitions since age five. She took a year off after graduating Stanford in 1991, another year off when her son was born in 1997. Born March 25, 1967 Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list Dr. Thomas has worked with the Women's Sports Foundation, and has always helped children's charities. Thomas relocated to Boulder, Colorado in the winter of 198788 to prepare for the Olympics. She allowed her medical license to expire; otherwise, the board could've revoked it. In 1997, Debi joined the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, later attended the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital. After redshirting his freshman year and competing on the scout team against former Cal football star Jared Goff, Bequette won the teams award for Most Improved Lineman. The second triple was not perfect and by her own admission, Thomas gave up on the rest of the program. On third down, quarterback JT Daniels hits St. Brown in stride, and the big receiver crosses inside the 10-yard line. However, she becomes the first African-American woman to win a medal in Olympics. As he recalls, his coaches pulled him from the tight ends, and just like that his career as a pass catcher was over. His house was on Windward Boulevard. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? surefire led conversion head; bayou club houston membership fees. Debi Thomas is currently engaged with her long-term boyfriend Jamie Looney. 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. Thomas expressed interest in becoming a doctor from an early age. photos, Baseball star McClure starting new athletic career with Illini football. She participated in the Caesars Tribute: A Salute to the Golden Age of American Skating, where many legends and icons of figure skating were present. His dads side of the family may rule the college football ranks, but his mom Debi Thomas takes things up a notch. Debi divorces Brian after eight years of marriage, and in 1996 she marries a handsome attorney, Chris Bequette. Debi Thomas was previously married to Christopher Bequette (1996 - 2010) and Brian Vanden Hogen (1988 - 1991). 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.. 1 seeds for Pac-12? But with the two nose guards still absent and true freshman Brett Johnson under his wing, Bequette has emerged as more than just a competent replacement for Palmer. She was also selected by President George W. Bush to be part of the U.S. Delegation for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin Italy along with other former Olympians: Dorothy Hamill, Eric Heiden, Kerri Strug, and Herschel Walker. College athletes typically are given five years to play four seasons. Currently, Debi lives in a small house with her fiance and his two sons in a small house. Women's basketball ballot breakdown | Two No. The pair tied the knot in autumn 1996 and welcome a baby boy into their life. Thomas relocated to Boulder, Colorado in the winter of 198788 to prepare for the Olympics. The things I miss the most are the four seasons. They will be moving to join her by year's end. Arkansas was definitely my dream school, obviously, with the family connections, Bequette stated. Yet, even at 55, Debi Thomas misses no chance to express her love for the game that changed her life. She was a Black figure skater, surgeon, and community activist. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. There have been other roadblocks not completely of her making. She was crowned World Figure Skating champion in 1986, and twice won the U.S. National Figure Skating Champion title. . After their competitive years are over, their livescan be just as hard. However, her fans would love to see more from her and see more about her even though she is not involved in social media. Cal linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk pounces on the rock, and USC is denied the endzone at a pivotal moment of its season. 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. Her rivalry with East Germany's Katarina Witt at the 1988 Calgary Olympics was known as the Battle of the Carmens. That's a huge boost for the Dubs, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Born in 1967, Debi is currently 54 years old. Her 18-year-old son Christopher is now . Wedding, Kids & Girlfriends. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do, Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more. Im going to be joining the message boards once Im done playing.. In 2012, Thomas and Looney argued. Thomas married Brian Vander Hogen on March 15, 1988 in Boulder, Colorado. While the Bears linebacker and defensive back units command the majority of media headlines centered around the program, Bequettes story epitomizes the defensive renaissance that is happening at Cal. Debi Thomas, M.D., grew up wanting to be a champion figure skater and a doctor, and she has succeeded as both. 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. In 2018, when the Bears defense finished No. McGowan would remain her coach until she retired from amateur competition at age 21. As my dad says, just inflict pain and punishment every play, and I just tried to hit him as hard as I could, Bequette said. However, she even lost custody of her son due to bankruptcy. This weekend, Thomas will cap her. Arkansas has spring football, which offered Luc a chance for greater exposure during the recruiting process. [11] Before divorcing, they had a son named Luc Bequette (b. Interestingly, Debi became the first female athlete to win all those awards while attending college full-time. Or working as a financial advisor like his dad. In September 2007, she began working at Carle Clinic in Urbana, Illinois. After their relationship ended, she married a sports attorney, Chris Bequette, in autumn 1996. Bequette, who is cleared to play this week, said the Big Game means more than ever, given this years circumstances. [13] In September 2007, she began working at Carle Clinic in Urbana, Illinois. [15], Thomas, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, married Brian Vander Hogen on March 15, 1988 in Boulder, Colorado. Similarly, after winning various competitions continuously, Debi wins ABCs Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year Award. Thomas skated strong compulsory figures and performed well in the short program to an instrumental version of "Something in My House" by Dead or Alive. And Thomas, even though they were dating, prescribed him pills. His email is asmussen@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@BobAsmussen). Bequette played four sports in high school: football, baseball, wrestling and track. It worked. She was inducted into the U.S. rene verdugo urquidez released SU,F's Musings from the Interweb. Like Curtis Orchard. "There are days now when I would like nothing better than to stay in bed. davenport funeral home crystal lake, il obituaries Cal is stoked he did. There are new goals now. I work in a very busy hospital with not very many residents," Thomas said. The skater was first represented at the Los Angeles Figure Skating Club in 1983 and began her professional life. She left the family when Luc was 13 and he remained with his dad at that point. The field also included f Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. [11] Thomas followed this with a surgical residency at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital and an orthopedic surgery residency at the Martin Luther King Jr./Charles Drew University Medical Center in South Central Los Angeles. 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. As the program enters its third season under Wilcox and DeRuyter, fans are hoping that third times the charm! rings true for a team that has earned wins over top-15 teams in each of the last three seasons. She won the two biggest career matches in engineering college. Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. I felt like I had overcome the difficulties I was having and somebody finally gave me a chance.". In her past, the figure skater was married twice in her life. Bay Area college basketball: Can anyone join Stanford women, Saint Marys men in March Madness? Debi is not doing anything related to her medical career these days. Just as St. Brown collides with the initial defender, Bequette flies in, having run across the field from the weak side. Ive got to get out and do that, Bequette said. But its 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. 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. Although the current Cal coaching staff did not recruit Bequette, its safe to say his coaches have fallen in love with everything he has brought to the program since his arrival. Even though they represent her pride and success, she cannot show them. After she retired from amateur skating, she won World Champion twice and some other competitions. However, things started to change after her divorce from Chris. Three words Bequette uses to describe himself include passionate (about football), happy (he loves to smile and laugh) and adventurous. She was featured in the November 7, 2015, episode of the television series, Iyanla: Fix My Life, on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Debra Janine Thomas (born March 25, 1967) is an American former figure skater and physician. Chris Bequette wanted to move back to Arkansas, where Lucs uncle, aunt and cousins lived. Similarly, Debi is an inspiration because she came when black women were discriminated against and not given equal opportunities. Thomas won the bronze medal at the 1988 World Championships and then retired from amateur skating. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. Debi Thomas real name: Debra Janine Thomas Height: 5'5''(in feet & inches) 1.651(m) 165.1(cm) , Birthdate(Birthday): March 25, 1967 , Age as on 2023: 55 Years 10 Months 28 Days Profession: Sports Persons (Figure Skater), Father: McKinley Thomas, Mother: Janice Thomas, School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, College: Charles R. Drew University, Married: Yes, Children: No In July 2006, she began a one-year fellowship at the Dorr Arthritis Institute at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, California, for sub-specialty training in adult-reconstructive surgery. Plus, as a medical specialist in a small town, she doesn't exactly have a lot of patients coming in. With a veterans poise 25 starts and counting Bequette was the obvious choice by defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter to fill that void. You don't look a day over 60, Good Morning, Illini Nation: Bracketology on the eve of March. He misses Billy Barooz, where he often went with his dad. It only made sense for Luc, a talented and versatile lineman from Little Rock, to follow in his familys footsteps and become the next Bequette to run onto Razorback Stadiums field come football season. This article was last updated by on October 12, 2022. She started her medical career professionally in 2007 after passing various Orthpodic Surgons license exams. Debi Thomas was born on March 25, 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. High 49F. She then surrendered to a police officer, saying she had a gun and wanted to hurt herself. Currently, Debi is somewhere in Virginia, living in a small house with her fiance. 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. Before divorcing, they had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette (b. Copyright 2023 The Daily Californian, The Independent Berkeley Student Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 14 things you need in your car before you drive to Tahoe, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Josh Yuen covers football. McGowan would remain her coach until she retired from amateur competition at age 21. 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. [9] By winning the bronze medal, Thomas became the first black athlete to win any medal at the Winter Olympics. She is an actress, known for Nutcracker on Ice (2009), American Gladiators (1989) and Calgary 1988: XV Olympic Winter Games (1988). Thomas placed fifth in the World Championships in 1985 and won gold in 1986. Login Thomas and fianc Jamie Looney now live with Looney's two sons, Ethan and Austin, in southwest Virginia. Tuesday evening June 29, 2010.Robert K. O'Daniell/The News-Gazette Luc Bequette gets his trophy at the LIttle League Home Run Derby in Eisner Park in Champaign, IL. A new adventure. In between, she devotes most of her time to her husband, sports attorney Chris Bequette, and 5-year-old son, Luc. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.. Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Others merely think she looks familiar. In certain packages, hell transition back to the edge where he compiled a team-high-tying five sacks as a redshirt junior last fall. At the end of my skating career, I had done a lot of juggling at Stanford and I hadn't really learned how to study for medical school.". [4] 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. They haven't revealed the information when they engaged. Bequettes future seems on a good path. It's the resume: This is. Although he grew up in Arkansas, Bequette had a sense of the Cal-Stanford rivalry as a youngster. Thomas was performing well, and she was evolving to be a better skater and a better competitor. Rainfall around a half an inch. From then on, she was hooked on competitive skating. While Debi was a young olympian, she had a toned leg and lean physique. In April 2012, 'U.S. It seems like every day I hear something new and crazy that shows how long Ive been in college, said Bequette, 24. 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. She told the newspaper it was to help him wean off the drugs. Home. 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