Debi Thomas
I tell people I'm too stupid to know what's impossible. I have ridiculously large dreams, and half the time they come true.Collection: Dreams
So I went for engineering, specifically product design, which I enjoyed.Collection: Design
I begged my mom to let me start skating.Collection: Mom
I was always very strong in math, physics and calculus.
I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice.
Just because you didn't start out perfect doesn't mean you can't have an excellent result in the end.
My mother introduced me to many different things, and figure skating was one of them. I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice.
The Olympics: not one of my better memories.
Probably the '86 nationals. That was my first real national title and first real statement I ever made in figure skating, and my life changed after I returned.
For as long as I can really remember, I wanted to be a doctor.
I am not really sure how I got interested in medicine.
I watch a lot of professional skating, and I am really looking forward to going to nationals.
I would make my mom buy me the toy doctor kit.
My skating is a very emotional thing that comes from the heart, never doing it for the medal.
Right now I am doing my residency in orthopedic research.
What was most important to me at the Olympics was going out there and performing my best. When I messed up the first jump combination, which was my big move, it hit me that I messed up the program of my life.
I got a bronze medal and I can't complain about that, the only African-American to get a medal in the Winter Olympics.
I've got this thing with skating and school - to see how much I can accomplish.
Being an Olympian, I always have this strong belief in excellence.
But I like it when my patients are impressed not knowing that I was an Olympian.
I wanted to be a doctor since I was five.
I want people to know when I'm taking care of them I'll give it all that I've got.
You can accomplish anything with pure persistence and drive.Collection: Persistence
If you trust your nerve as well as your skill, you're capable of a lot more than you can imagine.Collection: Teaching
What makes you really come together under pressure is determination and focus and toughness.Collection: Success
My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be.Collection: Softball
Figure skating was a pretty individual sport. I've grown up a lot since those days and enjoy being part of a team now. Being a doctor is about working with nurses, therapists, anesthesiologists, and I've learned more about team play being a doctor than when I was in sports.Collection: Sports
It is great to be a part of the whole skating family, and it makes me feel ecstatic that my name will be among the greats of the sport.Collection: Sports