Posted on 12/02/2015 7:13:00 AM PST by simpson96
Debi Thomas, an Olympic figure skating bronze medalist, is broke and living in a bed bug-ridden trailer, according to an Oprah Winfrey Network show that aired Saturday night.
"I did the best I could," Thomas said, crying, in a sitdown interview (clips here). "I don't have a plan.
"When things aren't right, and you're doing the best you can, it can be really hard. I'm a kind of person who made goals from the time I was 5 years old, and then you get to that point in life, and you're like, this isn't what I was expecting, and I've got to go in a different direction."
Thomas, now 48, won the 1986 World Championship at age 18 and, in the "Battle of the Carmens," rivaled Katarina Witt going into the Calgary 1988 Winter Games.
Witt repeated as Olympic champion, while Thomas took bronze.
Thomas then graduated from Stanford with an engineering degree in 1991 and from Northwestern Medical School in 1997 and became an orthopedic surgeon.
Thomas said she was fired twice from doctor jobs and, according to the TV show, divorced twice.
Thomas, who lost custody of her son, moved to Virginia and into a trailer with her fiance and his two boys. She said that they’ve had domestic disputes that required police intervention.
(Excerpt) Read more at olympics.nbcsports.com ...
Tonya Harding’s fault?
Trying to be #1 in sports is not a good career strategy. Only one can be #1, and only a few can make a living off it. The rest need a backup plan, like a job.
You would know better, But I know more than a couple health care pros that became addicts at work by scamming pills.
The woman clearly has mental health issues and needs treatment; she’s living with a guy who has a history of spousal abuse and admits he has struck Thomas in the past.
As for her medical career, it looks like she let her license lapse in 2014. Can’t be sure, but it appears that some sort of disciplinary action might have been in the works—I will certainly defer to FReepers who have more expertise in that area. However, she also has an undergraduate degree in engineering—you’d think that would be worth something, and might put her on track to starting a new career.
Watching her sad interview, it’s amazing that someone who once had such drive and determination is now looking for handouts and seems content to live in that trailer with an abusive partner. All the more reason to believe that she is mentally ill and in need of professional help.
Affirmative action admissions that can’t hack it in the real world.
“I smell a reality TV sow coming on.......”
I know you meant “show”, but, this is kind of hilarious.
Does the article say why?
That obvious question was left dangling, wasn’t it? The lady is not without educational and professional assets. She is dealing with something bad.
Looks like they are covering for her. When you go to pull her disciplinary report, you hit this:
The referenced document(s) is currently not available through the Practitioner Information website.
Please e-mail us at
medbddiscipline@dhp.virginia.gov
to request a copy. BE SURE to
include your name and mailing address.
For more details on the type of documents involved, see the definition of “Notices and/or
Statement of Particulars†and “Order†in our Help section.
Thank you.
Husband? The article mentions a fiance only. Ex-husband? Furthermore, “domestic disputes”. Not very kosher.
Sad for her.
I am very impressed she has an engineering degree (like me!) AND is a doctor?
most definitely!
I saw that; guessing—and it’s pure speculation on my part—that the medical board decided not to pursue further action; in return, Thomas agreed to never practice medicine again and let her license lapse.
There are also reports that she has a malpractice case pending in Virginia. If that’s true, some of her “poverty” may be an attempt to hide assets that might have to be liquidated if she loses the case. But based on her appearance and actions, she appears to be mentally ill and in need of professional help. In her current situation, she is not likely to receive it.
Another victim of ObamaCare.
I’ve had two knee replacements in the last year and was on Oxy and Dilaudid for the pain....
Had no prob giving them up but can see how easy it is to get hooked...
Consider these pain control Meds progress...I don’t like pain...but user beware...
Yep and it’s the main reason I made sure I didn’t fall in love with the Oxy after my surgeries....
Didn’t Yeb’s daughter get busted for trying to get Oxy from a drugstore drive thru?
google “cedarcide” and you will see it listed among the products.
It is worth it. I also used it for other things too, in the summer to fog my garden plants
I thought Jebs daughter got busted for Zanex?
Only good thing East Germany ever produced.
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