Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Kurt Bilteaux Thomas ( born March 29, 1956 in Miami ) is an American former gymnast. He is the first American who became world champion in artistic gymnastics.
Career
Kurt Thomas started at the age of 14 years in high school with the gymnastics. After several top rankings on gymnastics festivals Thomas in 1975 was allowed to start at the College Championships NCAA. In the individual all-around, he was ranked ninth He also qualified for the Pan American Games in 1975 in Mexico City. There, he won two silver medals ( pommel horse and vault ) and two bronze medals ( bars and individual all-around ).
In 1976 Thomas the Olympic Trials and was fourth at the NCAA Championships in the all around. With the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976 Thomas reached with the U.S. team place seventh in the individual all-around he was number 21 for the apparatus finals he could not qualify. The following year, Thomas was a three time U.S. champion ( all-around, floor, horizontal bar ), plus college champion in the all around and on the pommel horse. He won the Romanian International Championships in the all around, to the Flower Memorial and the Mardi Gras Invitational. More top rankings in the all around were second places at the American Cup and the Four countries struggle between the USA, Germany, Hungary and France.
1978 and 1979 were in the career of Kurt Thomas, the most successful years. In 1978 he won the American Cup, the U.S. Championships and U.S. World Cup exudates (all in the all around ). For this purpose, a quadruple triumph came at the Windy City Invitational ( More combat, ground, jump and pommel horse ). The World Gymnastics Championships 1978 in Strasbourg, France, he finished fourth with the team and 6th place in the all around. His victory in the floor exercise marked the first world title of an American Turners. In the World Cup, he finished second place in the all around, on the ground and on the parallel bars, pommel horse on he came in 3rd place
1979 Thomas repeated the all-around victory at the American Cup. Also, the Mardi Gras Invitational he could win, as well as the Pacific Championships. These ( More combat, Reck, bars) and two three victories came at the NCAA Championships at the U.S. Olympic Festival ( all-around, pommel horse ). The World Cup precipitates he finished 2nd place in the all around. The World Gymnastics Championships 1979 in Fort Wayne Thomas erturnte six medals. He was twice world champion (floor and stretching ), got three silver medals ( all-around, pommel horse and vault ) and one bronze ( team). In the World Cup he was once on the podium (3rd place Pommel Horse ).
Through the Olympic boycott the USA Kurt Thomas could not participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Also winning the American Cup did not change Thomas ' decision to retire from active gymnastics. Nevertheless, he remained as a commentator for ABC with the gymnastics in conjunction. To this end, he initiated a turn show. In 1985 he played the lead role in the action flick Asia Mission by Robert Clouse. Another film performance was on 1988 in the TV drama Circus.
At the age of 35 he tried a comeback in 1991. At the U.S. Championships, he managed the 22th place in the all around. In 1992 he took on the pommel horse even place 6, 2003, Thomas had one last film appearance. In the same year he entered the last time in a movie. In the Spanish Comedy Slam, he is seen as a manager.
Other honors
2003 Kurt Thomas was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. In his honor, two -turn figures were named: Thomas Flare on Pommel Horse and the Thomas Salto on the ground.
Another " Award " is nominated for the Golden Raspberry as the worst newcomer ( for Asia Mission ).
Private life
Kurt Thomas is derived in Frisco, Texas, the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Center. He is married and has a son and a daughter.