Kurt Thomas (gymnast)
Encyclopedia
Kurt Bilteaux Thomas (born March 29, 1956 in Miami, Florida
) is an American Olympic
gymnast
.
While at Indiana State University
in Terre Haute, Indiana
, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team 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 the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan Award
for the best amateur athlete in the US and earned six medals at the World Championships, including gold on the horizontal bar and floor exercise, and silver in the all-around, parallel bars, and pommel horse. He was expected by many to win a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics
, but the games were boycotted by the United States government. Two gymnastic moves were named for him, the Thomas Flair, a pommel horse move and the Thomas salto
, his signature skill on floor exercise, a tucked 1.5 backward salto with 1.5 twist into a roll out (a difficult and dangerous skill even by today's standards). The Thomas Flair on pommel horse, and then also performed on floor, was developed over years by several Pommel Horse specialists. But in gymnastics new moves are named in the gymnastics rule book after the gymnast who is the first to perform the move in international competition.
Thomas starred in the 1985 film Gymkata
as an athlete sent by the US government to compete in a deadly competition called "The Game." The film was not a major hit, but has developed somewhat of a cult following. Thomas has also starred in the syndicated show True Confessions
and has worked as a commentator for ESPN
.
In 1996, Thomas married Rebecca Jones, a dancer who also choreographs gymnastic routines. They have 2 children together, named Kassidy and Hunter Thomas.
In 2003 Thomas was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
. He and his wife currently operate the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in Frisco, Texas
. His gym has hosted the USAG
-sanctioned Kurt Thomas International Invitational gymnastics meet annually since 2003. Kurt Thomas was recently inducted into yet another Hall of Fame in 2011 and attended a fashion show featuring sports stars with his wife, Becky.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
) is an American Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gymnast
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
.
While at Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
in Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, Thomas became a member of the US Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. In 1978, Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise in a world championship
1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 19th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Strasbourg, France, in 1978 from October 23 to October 29.The new rule was introduced: eight gymnasts competed in each of the apparatus finals....
. In 1979 he became the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan Award
James E. Sullivan Award
The James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the American Amateur Athletic Union , is awarded annually in April to "the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States". Often referred to as the Oscar of sports awards, it was first presented in 1930. The award is named for the AAU's founder and past...
for the best amateur athlete in the US and earned six medals at the World Championships, including gold on the horizontal bar and floor exercise, and silver in the all-around, parallel bars, and pommel horse. He was expected by many to win a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, but the games were boycotted by the United States government. Two gymnastic moves were named for him, the Thomas Flair, a pommel horse move and the Thomas salto
Thomas salto
The Thomas salto is an extremely difficult and dangerous move performed during the floor exercise in Artistic gymnastics. It is named after American gymnast Kurt Thomas.-Technical details:...
, his signature skill on floor exercise, a tucked 1.5 backward salto with 1.5 twist into a roll out (a difficult and dangerous skill even by today's standards). The Thomas Flair on pommel horse, and then also performed on floor, was developed over years by several Pommel Horse specialists. But in gymnastics new moves are named in the gymnastics rule book after the gymnast who is the first to perform the move in international competition.
Thomas starred in the 1985 film Gymkata
Gymkata
Gymkata is a 1985 martial arts film starring Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as Jonathan Cabot, an Olympic gymnast who combines his gymnastic ability with ninjutsu to enter a deadly competition in a fictional country, Parmistan...
as an athlete sent by the US government to compete in a deadly competition called "The Game." The film was not a major hit, but has developed somewhat of a cult following. Thomas has also starred in the syndicated show True Confessions
True Confessions
True Confessions is a confession magazine targeted at young women readers. It wasoriginally published by Fawcett Publications, beginning in 1922....
and has worked as a commentator for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
In 1996, Thomas married Rebecca Jones, a dancer who also choreographs gymnastic routines. They have 2 children together, named Kassidy and Hunter Thomas.
In 2003 Thomas was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, located in Oklahoma City, USA, is a hall of fame dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of the world's greatest competitors, coaches and authorities in artistic gymnastics....
. He and his wife currently operate the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Frisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
. His gym has hosted the USAG
USA Gymnastics
United States of America Gymnastics or USAG is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States. The mission of USA Gymnastics is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of gymnastics....
-sanctioned Kurt Thomas International Invitational gymnastics meet annually since 2003. Kurt Thomas was recently inducted into yet another Hall of Fame in 2011 and attended a fashion show featuring sports stars with his wife, Becky.