Midori Ito is incomparable! Her technical abilities will never be matched I feel! Not even in 2011! Debi Thomas did lack major personality and came off as a bitch. Midori and Tonya Harding were the excitement of the 80s!
Debi Thomas was main reason why I became a skating fan. Sure, the 1988 Olympics was not her finest hour, but at least she brought home a Bronze medal. As for the snub, Debi explained that she was in complete shock that she did not skate well. Even Katarina acknowledged her respect for Thomas in her autobiography by stating that at least Debi was honest with her emotions when she was on the podium. By the way, they became good friends afterwards. For all the haters out there, where is your medal?
Jutta Mueller scares me to death and gives me unpleasant shivers going up and down my spine.. If she was standing around me 24/7, I would have blown my brains out years before I ever got to the Olympics.
Debbie Thomas's short program was far superior and should have given her a greater edge going into the free skate. I have always admired Witt but was disappointed to hear of her tactics--I would imagine she was under more pressure than we will ever know from her government. It is still no excuse, but they ruled her life. She seemed to be genuinely more of a good sport and she seemed to enjoy skating after the fall of East Germany. It was such an exciting Olympic contest, though.
Debi was a powerful skater and when she skated clean she was usually more impressive that Witt, Kadavy or Manley.She also had great energy when she was on.If you don't see it then it can't be explained to you.
But, Witt was the better competitor and deserved to win.
Thomas remains one of the most overrated skaters of all time. Why do some of you like her so much? Im serious; I've been a fan of skating for 20 years and I don't get it at all. She wasn't graceful, she didn't have good jumps, and she certainly wasn't good at hitting it when she needed to? Was it that she was American? I don't understand. And sportsmanship? Thomas was the one who didn't acknowledge Witt or Manley on the podium, despite skating like shit.
@mlc2005 She wasnt even the best American skater. Kadavy on a good day skated circles around her, but was an inconsistent headcase and didnt even get the marks she desered (eg- better than Thomas) even when she skated well and deserved it. The USTA pushed Thomas even after she lost the U.S title to Jill Trenary, they loved the story of a African American champ, etc...Compared to Ito, Manley, Witt, Kadavy, and even Trenary or Leistner she was nothing special.
@mlc2005 I do disagree Thomas didnt have good jumps though. She did have very good jumps, but Ito and Manley had much better jumps, and Witt, Kadavy, Ivanova, Leistner, Trenary were all just as good of jumpers although some were inconsistent. And she was somewhat graceful I felt but overall she wasnt a great artist.
Witt always tried to shake her competitors up--Sumners, Chin, Kadavy, and Thomas all commented about it over the years.Maybe Witt felt she had to do it to get an edge to win.Poor sportsmanship for sure.
When I found out that Witt did this kind of thing I lost some respect for her.
Debi looked so cute here!So focused and in concentration mode.
You know, seconds before Debi went out to skate her Long-when she was with her coach at the boards getting last bits of confidence boosting-Katarina stood literally 3 feet away from them just staring at Debi.
Why do you think she did this?Probably wanted to cheer Debi on.
Midori Ito is incomparable! Her technical abilities will never be matched I feel! Not even in 2011! Debi Thomas did lack major personality and came off as a bitch. Midori and Tonya Harding were the excitement of the 80s!
greekluv85 11 months ago
@greekluv85 Tonya Harding was worse than a bitch -- how "exciting". YAWN.
JNagarya 5 months ago
No one even considers the fact that a Canadian girl has a shot, eh? Well, she won silver, so go frig yourselves!!
ralphyization 11 months ago
Debi Thomas was main reason why I became a skating fan. Sure, the 1988 Olympics was not her finest hour, but at least she brought home a Bronze medal. As for the snub, Debi explained that she was in complete shock that she did not skate well. Even Katarina acknowledged her respect for Thomas in her autobiography by stating that at least Debi was honest with her emotions when she was on the podium. By the way, they became good friends afterwards. For all the haters out there, where is your medal?
Scarcro1 1 year ago
Jutta Mueller scares me to death and gives me unpleasant shivers going up and down my spine.. If she was standing around me 24/7, I would have blown my brains out years before I ever got to the Olympics.
indiatree 1 year ago 4
Liz Manley was robbed of gold !
Marchjoy1963 2 years ago
Debbie Thomas's short program was far superior and should have given her a greater edge going into the free skate. I have always admired Witt but was disappointed to hear of her tactics--I would imagine she was under more pressure than we will ever know from her government. It is still no excuse, but they ruled her life. She seemed to be genuinely more of a good sport and she seemed to enjoy skating after the fall of East Germany. It was such an exciting Olympic contest, though.
johnjohn19761 2 years ago
Debi was a powerful skater and when she skated clean she was usually more impressive that Witt, Kadavy or Manley.She also had great energy when she was on.If you don't see it then it can't be explained to you.
But, Witt was the better competitor and deserved to win.
TheHoopify 2 years ago
Thomas remains one of the most overrated skaters of all time. Why do some of you like her so much? Im serious; I've been a fan of skating for 20 years and I don't get it at all. She wasn't graceful, she didn't have good jumps, and she certainly wasn't good at hitting it when she needed to? Was it that she was American? I don't understand. And sportsmanship? Thomas was the one who didn't acknowledge Witt or Manley on the podium, despite skating like shit.
mlc2005 2 years ago 7
@mlc2005 I agree that Thomas is overrated, but I disagree about one thing: I think she was very graceful, much more so than Witt.
kwadruple 1 year ago
@mlc2005 Well said.
jngwatson 1 year ago
@mlc2005 She wasnt even the best American skater. Kadavy on a good day skated circles around her, but was an inconsistent headcase and didnt even get the marks she desered (eg- better than Thomas) even when she skated well and deserved it. The USTA pushed Thomas even after she lost the U.S title to Jill Trenary, they loved the story of a African American champ, etc...Compared to Ito, Manley, Witt, Kadavy, and even Trenary or Leistner she was nothing special.
heninwarrior 1 year ago
@mlc2005 I do disagree Thomas didnt have good jumps though. She did have very good jumps, but Ito and Manley had much better jumps, and Witt, Kadavy, Ivanova, Leistner, Trenary were all just as good of jumpers although some were inconsistent. And she was somewhat graceful I felt but overall she wasnt a great artist.
heninwarrior 1 year ago
@mlc2005 Who the heck remembers any skaters in the 80s like Katarina the nitwit? Except Midori, I don't find any other skaters in the 80s are good.
kev7978 1 year ago
@mlc2005 I think you're right about the skating part. It looked like she just gave up and didn't try to win.
icedogfan1 1 year ago
I love Midori's openning spin. I love her triple Lutz as well !
kazzicup 2 years ago 9
Witt used to really do a number on Ivanova who aready was a nervous free skater. But she was a competitor.
Teddybearblue007 3 years ago 2
Witt always tried to shake her competitors up--Sumners, Chin, Kadavy, and Thomas all commented about it over the years.Maybe Witt felt she had to do it to get an edge to win.Poor sportsmanship for sure.
When I found out that Witt did this kind of thing I lost some respect for her.
starkat139 3 years ago
She already had an edge with steriods !
karrtt1234 2 years ago
Debi looked so cute here!So focused and in concentration mode.
You know, seconds before Debi went out to skate her Long-when she was with her coach at the boards getting last bits of confidence boosting-Katarina stood literally 3 feet away from them just staring at Debi.
Why do you think she did this?Probably wanted to cheer Debi on.
aquamarineye 3 years ago
And at '87 Worlds I believe, Debi stayed at the boards too the entire time while Katarina skated her long program (last, and won).
rckland 2 years ago
No.Debi did not stand 3 feet from Witt and her coach (staring them down) before Witt went to skate.
Debi simply stayed out of the way and watched the performance.
There is a difference.Witt was always the low-brow competitor who thrived on these tactics.
Ingredient3 2 years ago
I want to see the whole documentary! Is it posted anywhere?
MTVMANN 3 years ago
Boy I could slap that Debi Thomas right across her poor sport face.....the way she glared at Kati ...
CZERCHIE46 3 years ago
her "game face" is no different than swimmers, marathoners, or any other sport.
RegularJesus 2 years ago