I cannot believe I found this. I remember watching this on TV. It was the Gala at the end of - I think - the Winter Olympics. I couldn't even remember her name, just that she was American and I think she skated the whole competition brilliantly with a severe injury (so the bandage isn't just part of her costume) I love the way she made fun of herself. Great comic performance - as flawless as Les Dawson playing the piano. Brilliant, and thanks for uploading it. Made me laugh all over again.
@vutmat123 This was just an exhibition performance. She just demonstrates a connection 2skating, &life on the ice. We all skated like this at 1 time, & we see little girls everyday running around the rink like this. It is a far more endearing emotional connection to her fans, than any 'additional' triple jump or spin could be...it shows a thoughtful 'intellectual' approach to her skating, which I have to say is quite absent from all the techinically brilliant programs we see presented today.
The sad thing about this performance is that this is not what people remember of Debi Thomas - people remember her more for her poor behaviour at the '88 Olympics when she didn't congratulate either Witt or Manley on the medal podium -- skating still looked fun to Debi here -- in '88 she appeared to be having no fun
Yes, I remember being disappointed with her for kind of quitting after the missed triple/triple. It appeared so un-American on the television, but I am sure she was just in an unfamiliar emotional state. It is hard to have 33 million pairs of eyes focusing on you.......thanks for commenting, best wishes
You are so right and thanks for reminding me -- all eyes were on Thomas and Witt during those games and in reality the pressure of that situation resulted in the type of actions between the two that the media had been trying foster from the get go -- the world would have loved to have seen the 2 girls go on the ice with loaded pistols and take 10 paces each and open fire on one another. Thanks for commenting back
I think "I" would have enjoyed that as well!!! That sounds like fun........This sport needs another good knee whacking!!!! Drug overdoses, meth lab vixens, and a Drunk Russian Car thief at Skate America just isn't going to cut it!! (That's sooo 1970's!!!) lol best wishes
Well the opposite of this actually happened on the ladies podium at the '88 Worlds - Thomas secretly wed after the '88 Games, Manley had found out and leaned over and congratulated her on the podium, Witt overheard and all 3 started girly banter while accepting their medals -- it was hilareous to watch -- check out the clip of it here on Youtube !!
@k9henrydog I recently saw the Bud Greenspan film about the 1988 Olympics,, and was 'educated' abit by it. It focuses on the Battle of the Brians, and the Ladies event. The camera focused a great deal more on Debi's face during the performance, and you can honestly "see" she is fighting and calling on all her competitive experience to try and save, or at least make her performance "work"! This did NOT come across in the live televised event!! I can now see that it was the editing......
@k9henrydog ...(part 3) television either!! ANd I would encourage any American sports networks NOT to even Hire Her.....After this insight, she has dropped to the absolute BOTTOM of my list......Catch this insightful Olympics tribute if you have the opportunity.......and learn a lesson, not to judge based only on What You See.......it is almost always, NOT the complete story. best wishes
@k9henrydog YOUTUBE messed up this comment by omitting Part 2....It is KATARINA I am talking about not ever watching on television again........I will update my COMMENTARY section later tonite, to make sure no one is confused by my notes......The editing of the programmer "created" Debi so called response. She did 'not' acknowlege Katarina on the awards stand, but after her and Utta Muellers catty and unsportmanlike behavior during the event, (doucmented on tape I WOULD NOT HAVE EITHER!!!
@kevinvisaman At least she didn't yank off her medal like Surya Bonaly did at one worlds.Debi is a Dr.now( orthopedic surgeon ).She is doing more important things.
Yes, it does....but it's certainly not intermitably and unenduringly long!!! Good point, but don't get me started on how things are done "nowadays"!! lol best wishes
lol but k9, there are also the horrible spin positions. if anything, she looks like she's doing my least favourite but new variation on the upright spin, where they don't cross feet, but instead keep the free leg en passe with the spinning leg...i can't describe it, but that sebestyen does all the time.
I'll keep my eyes open and try to catch Julia soon!! At this point in time, I would be 'amazed' if anyone came up with a NEW spin position.....it seems they have all been done, to death!!! I honestly don't see how this new system can work....it is so dreadfully boring......even for lifelong fans!!! They have turned it into a 'balance beam' routine, where everyone just sits with baited breath, waiting to see if it comes off in one piece!! There is supposed to be a musical component to the work
i never thought i'd say this, but roller skating even looks cleaner, and roller skating to me was beautiful, but looked not-so-clean in comparison. and with regards to spin position, i think they've overdone the biellmann and the y-catch spin that people joke about some skaters jumping in that position.
She is waiting for her music to start, with the Wanda Beasel introduction. I think she is using 'gum chewing' as a metaphor for competitive inexperience!??!!? As a coach, I have taken gum out of a students mouths before testing, and other performances.....it happens more than one would think....I see nothing 'retarded' about it......best wishes
OMG!! That was hilarious. . .I've seen skaters like that. . .I WAS a skater like that!! In some move I'm still a skater like that, LOL! And man, that was some hard stuff, how did I miss this routine?
Yes, it looks very familiar to skaters worldwide!! I love the LUTZ moment...isn't that always how it happens, out of the blue! The music AND the routine, need no translation, it is universal...thanks for posting, best wishes
Detroit is a reference to the Nancy Kerrigan assault....which may or may not have involved Tonya Harding.......World Champion Jill Trenary was passed over in favor of Kristi Yamagucci....it was a very nasty competitive environment!! lots of politics.........
it never changes though. nowadays, they're just nicer about hiding the rivalries. and we still have mean skating moms (suzanne bonaly led to mama leung).
Debbie Thomas IS an African-American...no blackface would be needed! She is portraying a very, youing inexperienced skater, which we have all seen a lot of if you have spent much time near an ice rink.....it is quite an insightful performance, and greatly appreciated in the skating world...you don't have anything to be disturbed about...best wishes
omg yes--especially the "long" setup...which is what everyone does nowadays, too! i think debi thomas was seeing more what everyone will do today lmao
Two decades before her time!!!! All the programs look exactly the same nowadays...I don't see how they can think this is appealling to 'paying' audiences. I saw Debbie on Public Television last night, as an orthopedic doctor, giving advise and info about common injuries!! Bet she has a lot of skating patients!!! How's YOUR Biellman spin these days, anyway???
I cannot believe I found this. I remember watching this on TV. It was the Gala at the end of - I think - the Winter Olympics. I couldn't even remember her name, just that she was American and I think she skated the whole competition brilliantly with a severe injury (so the bandage isn't just part of her costume) I love the way she made fun of herself. Great comic performance - as flawless as Les Dawson playing the piano. Brilliant, and thanks for uploading it. Made me laugh all over again.
ebichu64 9 months ago
OMG--how had I never seen this. Hilarious. Always loved Debi. What a great sense of humor on top of all her other talents. :)
KimDavidsonMusic 1 year ago
hahaha..... THIS debbie thomas should go to the 2014 Olympics!!! bet no one can beat THIS !!!!! LOL
ViVi80 1 year ago
This was hilarious.
kitkat051888 1 year ago
How is this a good performance. I know she meant to do all the falls but did she get a good score...um I'm lost after reading you guys comments.
vutmat123 1 year ago
@vutmat123 This was just an exhibition performance. She just demonstrates a connection 2skating, &life on the ice. We all skated like this at 1 time, & we see little girls everyday running around the rink like this. It is a far more endearing emotional connection to her fans, than any 'additional' triple jump or spin could be...it shows a thoughtful 'intellectual' approach to her skating, which I have to say is quite absent from all the techinically brilliant programs we see presented today.
k9henrydog 1 year ago
@vutmat123 You're "punking" us right?
EightballRus 1 year ago
@vutmat123 meant to be comedic. people get a kick out of it.
HowDareThey1970 1 year ago
Debi Thomas' performance to George Michael's "One More Try" at the 1988 Olympics winner's venue Exhibition was a work of art.
DietrichHamilton 2 years ago
@DietrichHamilton Agree 100%. I remember it like it was yesterday. :D
UnpredictableFrizz 1 year ago
The sad thing about this performance is that this is not what people remember of Debi Thomas - people remember her more for her poor behaviour at the '88 Olympics when she didn't congratulate either Witt or Manley on the medal podium -- skating still looked fun to Debi here -- in '88 she appeared to be having no fun
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
Yes, I remember being disappointed with her for kind of quitting after the missed triple/triple. It appeared so un-American on the television, but I am sure she was just in an unfamiliar emotional state. It is hard to have 33 million pairs of eyes focusing on you.......thanks for commenting, best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
You are so right and thanks for reminding me -- all eyes were on Thomas and Witt during those games and in reality the pressure of that situation resulted in the type of actions between the two that the media had been trying foster from the get go -- the world would have loved to have seen the 2 girls go on the ice with loaded pistols and take 10 paces each and open fire on one another. Thanks for commenting back
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
I think "I" would have enjoyed that as well!!! That sounds like fun........This sport needs another good knee whacking!!!! Drug overdoses, meth lab vixens, and a Drunk Russian Car thief at Skate America just isn't going to cut it!! (That's sooo 1970's!!!) lol best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
Well the opposite of this actually happened on the ladies podium at the '88 Worlds - Thomas secretly wed after the '88 Games, Manley had found out and leaned over and congratulated her on the podium, Witt overheard and all 3 started girly banter while accepting their medals -- it was hilareous to watch -- check out the clip of it here on Youtube !!
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
@k9henrydog I recently saw the Bud Greenspan film about the 1988 Olympics,, and was 'educated' abit by it. It focuses on the Battle of the Brians, and the Ladies event. The camera focused a great deal more on Debi's face during the performance, and you can honestly "see" she is fighting and calling on all her competitive experience to try and save, or at least make her performance "work"! This did NOT come across in the live televised event!! I can now see that it was the editing......
k9henrydog 1 year ago
@k9henrydog ...(part 3) television either!! ANd I would encourage any American sports networks NOT to even Hire Her.....After this insight, she has dropped to the absolute BOTTOM of my list......Catch this insightful Olympics tribute if you have the opportunity.......and learn a lesson, not to judge based only on What You See.......it is almost always, NOT the complete story. best wishes
k9henrydog 1 year ago
@k9henrydog YOUTUBE messed up this comment by omitting Part 2....It is KATARINA I am talking about not ever watching on television again........I will update my COMMENTARY section later tonite, to make sure no one is confused by my notes......The editing of the programmer "created" Debi so called response. She did 'not' acknowlege Katarina on the awards stand, but after her and Utta Muellers catty and unsportmanlike behavior during the event, (doucmented on tape I WOULD NOT HAVE EITHER!!!
k9henrydog 1 year ago
@kevinvisaman At least she didn't yank off her medal like Surya Bonaly did at one worlds.Debi is a Dr.now( orthopedic surgeon ).She is doing more important things.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
THIS is the way an exhibition should be... this is so much more fabulous than a 15 year old skating to a celine dion song
mlc2005 3 years ago 5
Great minds think alike, Mic!!! I couldn't agree more......best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
Debi's got a sense of humor. Cool.
LynRuiz 3 years ago 7
funny--the step sequence at around 1:30 looks a lot like the ones we have now, with the gyrating and excessive upper body movements
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
Yes, it does....but it's certainly not intermitably and unenduringly long!!! Good point, but don't get me started on how things are done "nowadays"!! lol best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
lol but k9, there are also the horrible spin positions. if anything, she looks like she's doing my least favourite but new variation on the upright spin, where they don't cross feet, but instead keep the free leg en passe with the spinning leg...i can't describe it, but that sebestyen does all the time.
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
I'll keep my eyes open and try to catch Julia soon!! At this point in time, I would be 'amazed' if anyone came up with a NEW spin position.....it seems they have all been done, to death!!! I honestly don't see how this new system can work....it is so dreadfully boring......even for lifelong fans!!! They have turned it into a 'balance beam' routine, where everyone just sits with baited breath, waiting to see if it comes off in one piece!! There is supposed to be a musical component to the work
k9henrydog 3 years ago
i never thought i'd say this, but roller skating even looks cleaner, and roller skating to me was beautiful, but looked not-so-clean in comparison. and with regards to spin position, i think they've overdone the biellmann and the y-catch spin that people joke about some skaters jumping in that position.
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
Why is she acting like a retard at the beginning of the performance?
iPikee 3 years ago
She is waiting for her music to start, with the Wanda Beasel introduction. I think she is using 'gum chewing' as a metaphor for competitive inexperience!??!!? As a coach, I have taken gum out of a students mouths before testing, and other performances.....it happens more than one would think....I see nothing 'retarded' about it......best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
This made me smile.
cutelilpooky 3 years ago
A true work of art then!! We have proof! best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
what was 'the insanity of detroit?'
Burpingbelcher 3 years ago
Nancy Kerrigan getting "Whacked" by a competitors entourage.......
k9henrydog 3 years ago
and the corresponding media hoopla that followed it!
k9henrydog 3 years ago
The best exhibition routine ever! Legendary.
Burpingbelcher 3 years ago
scott hamilton ruins this
shayneinsc 3 years ago
OMG!! That was hilarious. . .I've seen skaters like that. . .I WAS a skater like that!! In some move I'm still a skater like that, LOL! And man, that was some hard stuff, how did I miss this routine?
kamwrites 3 years ago
Yes, it looks very familiar to skaters worldwide!! I love the LUTZ moment...isn't that always how it happens, out of the blue! The music AND the routine, need no translation, it is universal...thanks for posting, best wishes
k9henrydog 3 years ago
What gets me is the axel. Coming to a dead stop, love it!
kamwrites 3 years ago
Comedy on Ice.
waddleduckie1 3 years ago
This is hilarious.
MazeleyFanClub 3 years ago 2
what was the insanity of Detroit? and why was figure skating crazy at the time?
actually, i don´t understand a thing.
zecrazygerman 4 years ago 2
Detroit is a reference to the Nancy Kerrigan assault....which may or may not have involved Tonya Harding.......World Champion Jill Trenary was passed over in favor of Kristi Yamagucci....it was a very nasty competitive environment!! lots of politics.........
k9henrydog 4 years ago
The Tanya/Nancy thing was in 1994. Trenary wasn't world champion until 1990. So I'm failing to see the relevance.
mraurora 4 years ago
A long history of insanely competitive girls!
k9henrydog 4 years ago
not to forget Tiffany Chin's mother as well!!!!
k9henrydog 4 years ago
it never changes though. nowadays, they're just nicer about hiding the rivalries. and we still have mean skating moms (suzanne bonaly led to mama leung).
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
I am disturbed.
Ariegiggles 4 years ago
By what????
k9henrydog 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
That is terrible...I mean how dare someone do that?
That woman went out there in blackface and portrayed an ice skater as...Well, you saw it...
Ariegiggles 4 years ago
Debbie Thomas IS an African-American...no blackface would be needed! She is portraying a very, youing inexperienced skater, which we have all seen a lot of if you have spent much time near an ice rink.....it is quite an insightful performance, and greatly appreciated in the skating world...you don't have anything to be disturbed about...best wishes
k9henrydog 4 years ago
LMFAOOOOOO.
thanks fro posting =]]
xOlympicDreamsx 4 years ago
thelutz jump just sends it right over the edge, doesn't it!!!!
k9henrydog 4 years ago
omg yes--especially the "long" setup...which is what everyone does nowadays, too! i think debi thomas was seeing more what everyone will do today lmao
sekretaznman81 3 years ago
Two decades before her time!!!! All the programs look exactly the same nowadays...I don't see how they can think this is appealling to 'paying' audiences. I saw Debbie on Public Television last night, as an orthopedic doctor, giving advise and info about common injuries!! Bet she has a lot of skating patients!!! How's YOUR Biellman spin these days, anyway???
k9henrydog 3 years ago
I've always loved this exhibition! It takes enormous skill to do such a "send-up"...thanks for sharing it.
skatesindreams 4 years ago