From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Olympic medal record Thomas starred in the 1985 film Gymkata as an athlete
sent by the US government to compete in a deadly com-
Artistic Gymnastics petition called "The Game." The film was not a major hit,
World Championships but has developed somewhat of a cult following. Thomas
has also starred in the syndicated show True Confessions
Gold 1978 Strasbourg Floor exercise
and has worked as a commentator for ESPN.
Gold 1979 Ft. Worth Floor exercise In 1996, Thomas married Rebecca Jones, a dancer who
also choreographs gymnastic routines. They have 2 chil-
Gold 1979 Ft. Worth Horizontal bar
dren together, named Kassidy and Hunter Thomas.
Silver 1979 Ft. Worth All-around In 2003 Thomas was inducted into the International
Silver 1979 Ft. Worth Parallel bars Gymnastics Hall of Fame. [2] He and his wife currently
operate the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in
Silver 1979 Ft. Worth Pommel horse Frisco, Texas. His gym has hosted the USAG-sanctioned
Bronze 1979 Ft. Worth Team competition Kurt Thomas International Invitational gymnastics meet
annually since 2003. Kurt Thomas was recently inducted
Pan American Games
into yet another Hall of Fame in 2011 and attended a fash-
Silver Mexico City 1975 Pommel horse ion show featuring sports stars with his wife, Becky.
Silver Mexico City 1975 Vault
Bronze Mexico City 1975 All-around
References
1. ^ "KURT THOMAS". International Gymnastics Hall of
Bronze Mexico City 1975 Horizontal bar
Fame. http://www.ighof.com/honorees/
honorees_thomas.html. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
Kurt Bilteaux Thomas (born March 29, 1956 in Miami,
2. ^ "Who Really Invented the Flair". International
Florida) is an American Olympic gymnast.
Gymnast Magazine. http://www.hinsdale86.org/staff/
While at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, In-
mwanner/Alumni/Flair%20Article.pdf. Retrieved
diana, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team
October, 1980.
at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In 1978, Thomas was the
first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor
exercise in a world championship. In 1979 he became External links
the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan Award
• Kurt Thomas at Fédération Internationale de
for the best amateur athlete in the US and earned six
Gymnastique
medals at the World Championships, including gold on
• Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Center
the horizontal bar and floor exercise, and silver in the
• Kurt Thomas Invitational meet
all-around, parallel bars, and pommel horse. He was ex-
• List of competitive results at Gymn Forum
pected by many to win a gold medal at the 1980 Summer
• Kurt Thomas at the Internet Movie Database
Olympics, but the games were boycotted by the United
States government. Two gymnastic moves were named
for him[citation needed], the Thomas Flair, a pommel horse Persondata
move and the Thomas salto, his signature skill on floor Name Thomas, Kurt
exercise, a tucked 1.5 backward salto with 1.5 twist into Alternative names
a roll out (a difficult and dangerous skill even by today’s
Short description
standards). The Thomas Flair on pommel horse, and then
also performed on floor, was developed over years by Date of birth March 29, 1956
several Pommel Horse specialists. [1] But in gymnastics Place of birth
new moves are named in the gymnastics rule book after Date of death
the gymnast who is the first to perform the move in in-
Place of death
ternational competition.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Categories:
• 1956 births
• Living people
• People from Miami, Florida
• American male artistic gymnasts
• Indiana State University alumni
• Gymnasts at the 1976 Summer Olympics
• Olympic gymnasts of the United States
• James E. Sullivan Award recipients
• Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics
• World champion gymnasts
• Medalists at World Gymnastics Championships
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