Athletes: Debi Thomas

Womanica

Debi Thomas (1967-present) is an American figure skater who became the first Black athlete to win a medal in any sport at the Winter Olympics in 1988. She wasn’t content with just being a world class skater, she also became a doctor, earning degrees from Stanford University and Northwestern University. Now in her fifties, she recently returned to skating.

For Further Reading:

• The New York Times: Sports of The Times; One Slip in a Life of Great Balance
• NBC Sports: Debi Thomas, 1988 Olympic medalist, returns to a different figure skating competition
• World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships: Debi Thomas’ Comeback (Part 1)

This month we're celebrating the women who performed physical and mental feats in sports. They overcame societal barriers, personal struggles, and fierce competition to pursue their dreams of glory. We're talking about Athletes.

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