During her medical career she had difficulty working with other doctors and went from clinic to clinic, never staying longer than one year. So that disproves that theory.. As for the skating, everyone, except perhaps Thomas, could forgive that. She started seeing Jamie Looney, a single father of two who lived in a trailer and soon realized he had troubles with alcohol and prescription narcotics. In Colorado, all I had to do was skate and skate and skate. Months before the Olympics, Thomas debated whether she should try it so soon into her routine. It was like being at Skate Canada again. That same year she also won the Ladies title at the 1986 World Figure Skating Championships in Geneva, Switzerland. Even though she said that she wanted to be known as a skater, not as a black skater, she could not deny that she felt responsibility as a role model. In 2015, Debi made headlines and grabbed national attention once again when she appeared in an episode of OWNs Iyanla: Fix My Life to made her struggles public. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. When asked if she had told her coach Alex McGowan, she replied: 'Why would I tell him?'. In February 1986, she took the senior women's title at the U.S. The band recorded two independent albums I've Suffered A Head Injury and Pop Smear. Thanks to her mother, Debi started training in figure skating, and she was inspired by the ice skating show Mr. Frick. She is the spokeswoman for their reading campaign. Around that time, the father of a patient asked her out. McGowan, who coached Thomas for 11 years, was surprised and at first refused to believe the news when told of the wedding while he was watching the show in the ice stadium. Figure Skating Championships becoming the first African American to win a non-novice title. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.espn.com/skating/news/2000/0209/345701.html, http://blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_state_of_black_america_news/16253, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. Thomas again won a championship in the U.S. National Title competition and thus was chosen to represent the United States in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). Debi Thomas and Brian Vanden Hogen were married for 2 years. BRIAN VANDEN HOGEN DIRECTOR A proven leader who optimises operational performance through infrastructure and operational planning, capital works and facilities management, Brian excels in project delivery, operational performance and business contingency planning and solutions. Structural Info Facts Brian Vander Ark is an American singer-songwriter best known as lead singer for the band The Verve Pipe. Olympian mentality is rough because you just get frustrated with how everybody does everything, Debi explained of her behavior. She won the senior title in the U.S nationals, and the gold medal in the world championship, describing that last victory as probably one of the best experiences that Ive ever had in skating.". But Ogden said they turned down some offers and are still entertaining others. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter. She was the first athlete since Tenley Albright in the 1950s to win those titles while attending college. Brian Vanden Hogen is currently single. But I dont have any regrets.. Thomas was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1967 and first started skating around the age of five. Thomas revealed Saturday night during the gala show. He toured extensively in support of the album, including a double-bill acoustic tour with Butch Walker. Brian Vanden Hogen girlfriend, wife list. ''I've had too many things on my mind that I want to accomplish,'' she said. No other woman finished among the top 22. Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages, Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. She is the 1986 World champion, the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. Human Capital/Human Resources leader with strong experience as both an internal HR business partner and an external human capital consultant to senior leaders. She then moved to Boulder, Colorado to help her prepare for the Olympics, leading her to win the US National title the following year. Debi Thomas was once a promising figure skater who won big titles, appeared in the covers of magazines, and was named athlete of the year. In fact, Thomas began a relationship shortly after arriving in Boulder with a University of Colorado student, Brian Vanden Hogen. In 1992, he disbanded Johnny with an Eye to form The Verve Pipe with Brad, drummer Donny Brown and guitarist Brian Stout. Speaking about her personal life, Debi Thomas has been married twice. 'I did not want the news to detract from my focus on the World Championship,' said Thomas, who finished third in the women's event to East Germany's Katarina Witt and Elizabeth Manley of Canada Saturday. send a message to a profile manager: https://www.blacknamesproject.com/people/debi-thomas-debra-janine-thomas, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debi_Thomas, https://www.newspapers.com/image/191059259/?article=e072bd0b-be1a-4bd0-a526-632b688f4780&focus=0.019761946,0.31032646,0.17781022,0.6181982&xid=3398, USBH Notables, Needs Genealogically Defined, US Black Heritage Project, Needs Profiles Created, US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles. Thomas has resumed her pre-med studies at Stanford. Even though she said that she wanted to be known as a skater,. Before divorcing, they had a son named Christopher Jules "Luc" Bequette (b. Debi Thomas at her home in Fountain Valley, July 6, 2006 | Photo: GettyImages. Debi became a practicing orthopedic surgeon, and in 2006, she was offered an orthopedic fellowship at the Dorr Arthritis Institute in Los Angeles. Mini Bio (1) Debi Thomas was born on March 25, 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. But I know hes not able to sit back and say, OK, Debi, do whatever you feel you have to do. Hes not able to do that.. But if she missed it, it might set the tone for the rest of her four-minute performance. In 1997 she graduated from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. As of mid-2018, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $20,000, earned mostly through success in professional figure skating, and from her work as a physician, however, divorces and working in relatively poverty-stricken areas as a physician have limited the size of her bank account. Only the Trusted List can access the following: Leave a message for others who see this profile. In figure skating, the underprivileged are all those whose parents earn less than six figures each year. She also lost custody of her son due to poor living conditions. People who have organized various shows in which she has performed, and those who have publicized them, and even some of the other skaters, say that she is demanding and temperamental, as if, they say, she expects to be treated as the gold medalist that she never became. Celebs Wiki Debi Thomas fans also viewed: Cho Kuk Edgar Berger James Cantor Christopher Nielsen Daniel David Tiger Memon The two met at the University of Colorado when Thomas moved there last year to train. On the show, Iyanla Vanzant slammed Debi for losing the custody of her then-13 years old son, while raising Looneys two boys. I felt like, If this is my Olympic experience, why does Mr. McGowan feel he has to control it? Coaches should try to read more what their skaters are thinking. To speak further of her accomplishments as a figure skater, Debi won the Bronze Medal at the Winter Olympics in Calgary 1988, after which she retired from amateur figure skating, but participated in professional events, including the World Professional Championships in 1988, which she won as a part of the Stars On Ice skating group. Even though she gave them a reason not to in Calgary, people still seem to like her. ''I just want to get on with my life. Thomas attended Stanford University in California while continuing her training in figure skating. Afterwards Thomas earned an engineering degree at Stanford and then attended medical school at Northwestern University in Illinois and became a physician. She admitted that she gave up during her performance, saying that she lost her motivation only seconds into her routine when she failed to complete her most difficult trick, consecutive triple jumps. Here I was at the Olympics, and I didnt feel like I was at the Olympics, she said. She became the only woman to reach the top 22 of the Q score athlete standings, and was later inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame. 'Now that these championships are over, I want to let all my friends and supporters know how happy I am. The only other time she had put skating ahead of school, when she was a 13-year-old eighth-grader in San Jose, the result was the most miserable year of her life. 20072023 Blackpast.org. The 8th Annual Black Achievement Awards (1987)as Herself, The Official 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Video (1988)as Herself / American Figure Skater Bronze Medalist, Bud Greenspan's Favorite Stories of Winter Olympic Glory (2002)as Herself, Your email address will not be published. I have often thought about Debbie Thomas, and wondered to what extent that harsh reality shaped her mind. However, she wouldnt last more than a year in that or any other institution because she was difficult to work with. Debi lost her bronze medal to the bank, and she doesnt feel bad about it. But I told him that if that were true, I wouldnt have won at the national championships (a month before the Olympics). There were no apologies, just explanations. PRIVACY TAKE-DOWN REQUEST 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. She earned her bachelors degree in engineering from Stanford University in 1991 and then retired from skating in 1992 to enroll at the Northwestern University Medical School. She was also the first African American to earn the U.S. national titles in ladies singles figure skating. I went for the opening ceremony, then went back home for a week to train. Clipping found in Green Bay Press-Gazette in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Feb 20, 1998. debi thomas brian vanden hogen He eventually quit and started the band Johnny with an Eye with his brother, Brad Vander Ark. Brian Vanden Hogen girlfriend, wife list. Jill Trenary, Debi Thomas and Caryn Kadavy fter capturing medals at the U.S. Figure Skating and a World Figure Skating Championship (1986). According to a February 2016 online article in The Washington Post, she had declared bankruptcy, let her medical license expire, and was living with her fianc in a trailer in rural southern Virginia (see Miscellaneous links). They have also lived in Denver, CO and Westminster, CO. Brian is related to Tracy Renee Szobody and Eric James Olson as well as 3 additional people. The gold medal within her grasp, needing only good, not great, scores to win the long program at the Olympic Saddledome and finish ahead of defending champion Katarina Witt of East Germany and Elizabeth Manley of Canada, Thomas gave a disappointing performance and finished third. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Type above and press Enter to search. She felt that she had disappointed millions of American people. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Inducted into the San Jose [California] Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. Yet, almost a year ago to this day, on the next-to-last night of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada, Thomas, by her own admission, neither skated nor behaved like a champion. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 'I love the sport and I would like to put something back into it, maybe in a center for young athletes, not necessarily skaters. He eventually quit and started the band Johnny with an Eye with his brother, Brad Vander Ark. And continued: I dont care about living in a trailer. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. Press Esc to cancel. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Debi Thomas was born on 25 March 1967, in Poughkeepsie, New York State USA, and was a professional figure skater before becoming a physician. Bud Greenspan's Favorite Stories of Winter Olympic Glory, The Official 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Video, Herself / American Figure Skater Bronze Medalist. It was just sitting in a box somewhere, she stated. I thought amateur skating was hard, she said. But marketing experts said that besides winning a bronze instead of a gold medal, she did not project the proper image in Calgary. I wasnt mentally focused on hitting that program. She said Vanden Hogen is a student at the University of Colorado. Then, on the podium for the awards ceremony, she ignored the rules of sportsmanship, failing to acknowledge Witt, the gold medalist, and Manley, the silver medalist, even when they tried to congratulate her for winning the bronze medal. His first husband was Brian Vander Hogen (1988-96), then she was married to sports attorney Chris Bequette (1996-98), with whom she has a son. On March 15, 1988 Debi Thomas married, Brian Vander Hogen in Boulder, Colorado. Debi Thomas is a part of US Black history. Brian Vanden Hogen Director HVH Group Pty Ltd Greater Sydney Area HVH Group Pty Ltd, +7 more University of Colorado Boulder Brian Vanden Hogen Business Analyst at Electronic Theatre. That is so technically difficult that no other woman even attempted that in her long program. Required fields are marked *. The song is on album Underneath, by The Verve Pipe. Critics arent satisfied, Olympic snowboarders accuse USOPC, national federation of sex trafficking in lawsuit, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. Thomas, who celebrated her 21st birthday Friday, was married on March 15 in Boulder, Colo., to Brian Vanden Hogen, who turned 23 that day. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. She was also the first African-American to hold the US National title in ladies single figure skating. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If that isnt an example of greatness, I dont know what is. The truth is, she said, she did not lose the gold medal that night. In 1988, Thomas competed at the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. No longer an amateur, Thomas said she might consult McGowan at times in future. Thomas, of San Jose, Calif., came in third in the final standings of the women's event Saturday. Her first professional victory came in 1986 when she won the Gold Medal at the 1986 World Figure Skating Championships, and the same year she won the US national title which also increased the overall size of her net worth. Debi Thomas on "Iyanla: Fix My Life" | Source: YouTube/OWN. Contribute Who is Brian Vanden Hogen dating? Ark joined the band His Boy Elroy as a guitarist.[when?] After winning a number of youth competitions, Thomas caught the eye of coach Alex . Get this The Des Moines Register page for free from Wednesday, March 30, 1988 band By JULIE HUTCHINSON 1988 Knight-Ridder Newspapers " DENVER, COLO. - They hugged so hard you could almost hear . By the time she sent her application to Stanford University, Debi had described herself as invincible., American figure skater (and future Olympian) Debi Thomas, Palo Alto, California, 1987 | Photo: GettyImages. Brian Vanden Hogen - Director Project, Operations & Facilities Consultant - HVH Group Pty Ltd | LinkedIn View Brian Vanden Hogen's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional. Debra Janine Thomas was born on the 25th March 1967 in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA of American and African ancestry. I always had a really soft spot in my heart for Debi. She was unable to keep the practice going, and soon after, bills started to mount. She is the 1986 World champion, the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, and a two-time U.S. national champion. She said that she plans to graduate in December of 1990. They began dating steady a year ago and married on her husband's 23rd birthday. Inducted into the U.S. If ever the word champion fit a figure skater, it was Debi Thomas. But in defense of himself, he did say that he coached Thomas no differently last year than he had in years before and that his remarks to her before she skated in Calgary were little different from those he made to her before other performances. She was incredibly gracious and wrote me a long letter (snail mail) with great suggestions. He told me, Do it for America. I thought, What does America have to do with this? Im the one who skated all those hours. After their relationship ended, she married a sports attorney, Chris Bequette, in autumn 1996. Help us build our profile of Brian Vanden Hogen! But she sacrificed whatever she had to assure that her daughter could pursue her goals. A pre-med student at Stanford, she was the first U.S. champion since Tenley Albright, the 1956 Olympic champion, to combine serious academic pursuits with skating. It was also my way of putting skating in its right perspective. In 1997 she graduated from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It was a struggle. Brian Vanden Hogen was previously married to Debi Thomas (1988 - 1991). After the show aired, Debi said they blew things out of proportion to make her, and her fianc, Jamie, look bad. At a Baltimore press conference recently during the national championships, the first she has attended as a spectator, she was the same Debi Thomas that she has always been in such situations: intelligent, witty and candid. Debi Thomas at the U. S. Figure Skating Championships, Kansas City, Missouri, January 31, 1985 | Photo: GettyImages, My mother introduced me to many different things, and figure skating was one of them, Debi told ABC Sports. If so, that is a side of her that she does not reveal publicly. She would bounce back at the World Championships, and finished in second place behind Katarina Witt. Graduated from Northwestern Medical School (1997), Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in engineering, On the cover of Time magazine (February 15, 1988). She was in shock, Ogden said. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. She first got married to Brian Vander Hogenbut got divorced, and later she married to Chris Bequette. Graduated from Northwestern Medical School (1997), Graduated from Stanford University with a degree in engineering, On the cover of Time magazine (February 15, 1988). He read about it in news reports after the world championships, in which she again finished third. How tall is Kristopher London? Before the Olympics, it was anticipated that she would emerge as their brightest star. By age nine, she was taking formal lessons and winning competitions. The couple resides in sout-west Virginia in what is rumoured to be a somewhat difficult relationship. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Vander Ark acted in the film Rock Star in 2001. He once asked me, Why do you want to go to school when you can go all the way in skating?. The couple has one son, Christopher Jules, who was born in 1997. Her mother, a computer engineer, split from her dad when Debi was 9, and she was raised alongside her brother Richard Taylor in San Jose, California. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Mikaela Shiffrin wins gold in giant slalom for seventh world title, Bass chief of staff says hell avoid Olympics issues for a year. When a police officer arrived, Debi said she had a gun and wanted to hurt herself. View the profiles of people named Brian Vanden Hogen. 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