1.
I tell people I'm too stupid to know what's impossible. I have ridiculously large dreams, and half the time they come true.
Debi Thomas
2.
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.
Debi Thomas
3.
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.
Debi Thomas
4.
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.
Debi Thomas
5.
Right now I am doing my residency in orthopedic research.
Debi Thomas
6.
You can accomplish anything with pure persistence and drive.
Debi Thomas
7.
What makes you really come together under pressure is determination and focus and toughness.
Debi Thomas
8.
I was always very strong in math, physics and calculus.
Debi Thomas
9.
So I went for engineering, specifically product design, which I enjoyed.
Debi Thomas
10.
But I like it when my patients are impressed not knowing that I was an Olympian.
Debi Thomas
11.
If you trust your nerve as well as your skill, you're capable of a lot more than you can imagine.
Debi Thomas
12.
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.
Debi Thomas
13.
I am not really sure how I got interested in medicine.
Debi Thomas
14.
My skating is a very emotional thing that comes from the heart, never doing it for the medal.
Debi Thomas
15.
The Olympics: not one of my better memories.
Debi Thomas
16.
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.
Debi Thomas
17.
I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice.
Debi Thomas
18.
I wanted to be a doctor since I was five.
Debi Thomas
19.
I want people to know when I'm taking care of them I'll give it all that I've got.
Debi Thomas
20.
Just because you didn't start out perfect doesn't mean you can't have an excellent result in the end.
Debi Thomas
21.
I got a bronze medal and I can't complain about that, the only African-American to get a medal in the Winter Olympics.
Debi Thomas
22.
I would make my mom buy me the toy doctor kit.
Debi Thomas
23.
I begged my mom to let me start skating.
Debi Thomas
24.
I watch a lot of professional skating, and I am really looking forward to going to nationals.
Debi Thomas
25.
For as long as I can really remember, I wanted to be a doctor.
Debi Thomas
26.
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.
Debi Thomas
27.
Being an Olympian, I always have this strong belief in excellence.
Debi Thomas
28.
I've got this thing with skating and school - to see how much I can accomplish.
Debi Thomas