1987 Debi Thomas' Greatest Performance

A great admirer of Mr. Frick, Debi introduced us to a very familiar skater, Wanda Beasel.......anyone who has spent any time at all in a skating rink recognizes this insightful performance. Not many skaters manage to endear themselves so heartily in the eyes of their fans, but Debi was a breath of fresh air in a somewhat turbulant and crazy period of ladies figure skating (culminatng in the insanity of Detroit). Truly a great representative of toughness and beauty in American skating. I recently happened to see Bud Greenspan's 1988 Olympic documentary about the men's and women's figure skating event. Like many, I had been puzzled over the year's by Debi's actions at the games, but there was so much going on behind the scenes there, that a lot is now understandable. Unlike the men's competitors (the 2 Bryans) who both gave each other berth and respect during the event, Debi was repeatedly bombarded by a psychic assault from Katarina and Uta Mueller (it is shown many times in the film). I hope winning two Olympic titles was worth such unsportsmanlike behavior. I wouldn't have acknowledged her on the podium either. I just wish we had all known the WHY at the time.