Kurt Thomas, the first U.S. male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died. [1] Two years later, he became the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal in floor exercise, accomplishing the feat in the 1978 World Championships. Kurt became a commentator, acted in a film and opened his own gymnastics school, according to Screencrush. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding into or around the brain. Yesterday I lost my universe, my best friend and my soul mate of twenty-four years. He had a . In the 1979 worlds in Fort Worth he successfully defended the floor exercise title and won the horizontal bar while adding silver in the all-around, pommel horse and parallel bars. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. And will be dearly missed by family, friends, and everyone. Kurt is survived by Beckie, their children Kassidy and Hunter, and his son from a previous marriage, singer Kurt Travis. He also won gold in the horizontal bar and a silver in the all-around, pommel horse and parallel bars it was the most medals won at a single world championship by an American, but was later eclipsed by Simone Biles. Kurt Thomas Gymnasts cause of deatha stroke caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem. [12], Thomas featured in the 1985 film Gymkata, playing the role of an American gymnast who travels to the fictional country of Parmistan in order to compete in a deadly competition called The Game. wins Santa Anita Derby, puts himself in Kentucky Derby picture, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Even after Gavin Lux injury, Andrew Friedman hints at patient approach with roster, Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits. Thomas became known in the gymnastics world for his creativity and flair, and his legacy will live on in the sport through his signature Thomas Flair move on the pommel horse and the Thomas Salto on floor exercise. Kurt Thomas, shown at the 1979 world championships in Fort Worth, died Friday, according to his family. [8] The feat would later be tied by Simone Biles in 2018. Thomas family said that Thomas had a stroke May 24 after the basilar artery in his brain stem tore, the Chicago Tribune reported. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [5][6], Thomas first competed as a member of the U.S.Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Thomas Olympic teammate Bart Conner told the International Gymnast Media that he was devastated: Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend. Therefore, some knowledge of the cerebral circulatory system is important in understanding how perturbations in blood flow to the brain can affect the entire body. [8], In 1996, Thomas married Rebecca Jones, a dancer who choreographs gymnastic routines. Everyone so much cherished . Last spring, Ledecky said that if the 200m free and 1500m free dont overlap on the 2024 Olympic schedule the finals were in the same session in Tokyo she would be more enticed to re-add the 200m free to her program. Kurt Thomas Obituary: In the loving memory of Kurt Thomas, we are saddened to inform you that Kurt Thomas, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Thomas was a star gymnast at Indiana State and his popularity on campus was only rivaled by that of Larry Bird, who was leading the mens basketball team to the NCAA Tournament finals. Thomas was known for his daring and innovative moves in what came to be called the Thomas Flair on the pommel horse and the Thomas Salto in the floor exercise. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. This arrangement creates redundancy for collateral circulation in the cerebral circulation. There is a mortality rate of more than 85% and survivors are often left with significant neurologic deficits. Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife, Beckie Thomas told International Gymnast Magazine. The Miami native passed away on Friday 5 June, following a stroke, caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem. Thomas considered pursuing professional basketball and football, but his interest in gymnastics was piqued at age 14 after watching the team from Miami-Dade Junior College practice. He died on June 5, 2020. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Amendments to H.Res.175 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Recognizing the rise of cardiovascular disease as the world's leading cause of preventable death and disability and as the global public health crisis of this generation and supporting the recognition of February 2023 as "American Heart Month". Kurt Thomas Death: In the loving memory of Kurt Thomas, we are saddened to inform you that Kurt Thomas, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. All of us in the gymnastics family are sadden ,shocked and devastated by the passing of our own, Love to the family RIP Kurt Thomas pic.twitter.com/muhQ8MUJJc, Nadia Comaneci (@nadiacomaneci10) June 6, 2020. The first American to win a world championship in mens gymnastics, he captured many medals but missed out on his best chance to take Olympic gold. The most common causes are atherosclerosis or thromboembolism. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. However, her husband Kurt Thomas was 64 years old. And though was a favorite at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, he didnt get a chance to compete: The American team boycotted the Games in retaliation for the Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan. Stolz broke the record of youngest gold medalist that was held by Dutchwoman Femke Kok, who took team sprint gold in 2020 at age 19, according to Speedskatingstats.com. His popularity on campus at the time ranked second only to future basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Thomas. In 1978, he became the first American male gymnast to win a gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (world championships). Thomas led the ISU men's gymnastics team to the 1977 National Championship. Cause of Death Kurt became a commentator, acted in a film, and opened his own gymnastics school, according to Screencrush. The Texas Death Records Search links below open in a new window and take you to third party websites that provide access to TX public records. [3] Despite his advanced age for a gymnast, he was able to make it to the 1992 United States Men's Gymnastics Olympic Trials, but his performance there fell short of what was needed to make the team. George Ritter Obituary Death: George Ritter Accident | George RitterCause Of Death, John Mullinax Obituary Death: John MullinaxCause Of Death. he always brought light to every room entered. [7], Last edited on 1 September 2022, at 14:46, "Kurt Thomas, first U.S. man to win a world gymnastics title, dies at 64", "Kurt Thomas, Trailblazing Champion Gymnast, Dies at 64", "Kurt Thomas Dies: First American To Win Gymnastics Gold And Actor Was 64", ":: USA Gymnastics:: Nissen Emery Award::", "Kurt Thomas - Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame - GoSycamores.comOfficial Web Site of Indiana State Athletics", "Kurt Thomas, first US man to win world gym title, dies at 64", "Indiana State's Kurt Thomas, gymnast denied 1980 glory, dies", "Simone Biles has two new signature moves that will be named after her following world championships performance", "Gymkata proves that tiny gymnasts make tough heroes", "Former ISU, Olympic athlete Kurt Thomas named to MVC Hall of Fame", List of competitive results at Gymn Forum, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kurt_Thomas_(gymnast)&oldid=1107913678, This page was last edited on 1 September 2022, at 14:46. [17] He was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1990, the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2010. Thomas took part in professional gymnastics shows and worked as a TV commentator at gymnastics events later in the 1980s, when the Olympics were still limited to amateurs. Thomas had a stroke May 24, caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem. Kurt Bilteaux Thomas (March 29, 1956 June 5, 2020) was an American Olympic gymnast and part-time actor. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a major cause of serious disability in adults. by [7], Three 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), and the Thomas on High Bar. Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets Player and Beloved Coach, Dies at 74, Simone Biles Cried When She Learned About Olympics Postponement But Says It Was 'Right Decision, Olympian Katie Ledecky Says 'Go for the Gold' After She's Named Best Female Athlete at 2022 ESPY Awards, Sports Legend Jim Thorpe Restored as Sole Winner of 1912 Olympic Gold Medals: 'Long Past Time', Russian Swimmer Under Investigation, Loses Speedo Sponsorship After Attending Vladimir Putin Rally, This Week in Black History: Rosa Parks, Hank Aarons and More Noteworthy Black Icons to Celebrate. The previous month in New York City, before a packed house and an estimated 35 million television viewers, Thomas won allaround honors at the American Cup games in Madison Square Garden for the second year in a row despite a sore thumb, which he had injured in his final collegiate home meet the week before. Though our words can do little, we hope our thoughts and prayers will encourage you this period and always as you mourn, the passing soul. Posterior Circulation and Basilar Strokes. This is why the death will surely leave a huge gap. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [15], Thomas was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003. Kurt Thomas was a former Olympic gymnast known for being the first American male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, according to Yahoo Sports. He also competed at the 1975 Pan American Games, as well as the 1976 Olympics. Kurt Thomas Cause of Death. Here's. Summer McIntosh, a 16-year-old Canadian, snapped aKatie Ledeckywinning streak of nine years on Friday. Several of the cranial nerves also receive blood supply from the posterior circulation. Thomas stood at a height of5 feet 5 inches. Although the brain comprises only 2% of the total body mass, it uses nearly 50% of the body's glucose. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. Regardez le Salaire Mensuel de Jeff Fenholt Cause Of Death en temps rel. The three-time world champion leaves a rich legacy in the sport with three world championship gold medals and two moves named after him. He was the James E. Sullivan award winner in 1979, as well as the 1979 Nissen Award (the "Heisman" of men's gymnastics) awardee. Please join us to mourn the passing of Kurt Thomas. Cause of death Details of the circumstance surrounding our beloved, Kurt Thomassdeath is not public yet, we will share more as we learn. Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend. But he never won an Olympic medal. Your email address will not be published. Eric Heiden, a fellow Wisconsin native, was the only male skater younger than Stolzs current age to win the other global championships events the world allround and world sprint, both in 1977 at age 18, according to Speedskatingstats.com. He was 64 years old. Part 2 missing from the write up. I always joke that in the second half of my career, maybe Ill do it [focus on the 400m IM].. Thats because the original gold medalist Dutch team was disqualified, reportedly because one of its skaters ankles was not covered. Basilar artery infarct or occlusion results from the obliteration of blood supply to the posterior circulation or vertebrobasilar system of arteries to the brain. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Symptoms of PCS depend upon the location of the infarct/hemorrhage and can vary greatly. Clinical manifestations include behavioral changes, hallucinations, somnolence, visual changes, and oculomotor disturbances. he always brought light to every room entered. In general, there are two forms of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. His father, who managed a meat company, died when he was 7, and he and his siblings were raised by their mother, Ellie, a secretary. Rebecca Joness age is unknown. Oluwaseun et al. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He starred in the 1985 movie "Gymkata.". Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife, his wife told the International Gymnast Media. Thomas was well-known for bringing a certain flair to his routines and especially his pommel horse and floor exercise routines. [1] Thomas was favored to win a medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics but was unable to compete due to the USA boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games. I went to the Olympics, and Im an Olympian.. His work in retirement included coaching. June 6, 2020 8:39 PM PT. Kurt Bilteaux Thomas was born in Miami on March 29, 1956. Or, perhaps he was pushed. Thomas received the Sullivan Award as the nations leading amateur athlete in 1979 and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003. Michele R. Berman, MD, and Mark S. Boguski, MD, PhD, are a wife and husband team of physicians who have trained and taught at some of the top medical schools in the country, including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Washington University in St. Louis. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Katie Ledeckys nine-year domestic win streak snapped by Summer McIntosh, Alpine skiing TV, live stream schedule for 2022-23 World Cup season, Summer McIntosh breaks world junior record at Pro Series swim meet, American Jordan Stolz becomes youngest world champion in speed skating history, his 2003 International Gymnastics Hall of Fame induction speech. The cause of death was not reported. who also captured the American Cup three times, lost a chance for Olympic gold when the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games. All rights reserved. He poured his life into coaching after retirement. McIntosh broke her own world junior record to top Ledecky in the 200m freestyle at a Pro Series swim meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife, wife Beckie Thomas told the outlet. The haul included floor exercise and high bar titles, plus a silver medal in the all-around in Fort Worth, Texas. If one part of the circle becomes blocked or narrowed (stenotic), or one of the arteries supplying the circle is blocked or narrowed, blood flow from the other blood vessels can often preserve the cerebral perfusion well enough to avoid the symptoms of ischemia. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Unfortunately, the prognosis for patients with PCS is not good. Michele R. Berman, MD, and Mark S. Boguski, MD, PhD, Share on Facebook. These patients cannot move or talk, but consciousness is evident because of vertical eye movement, which is an oculomotor nerve function. Kurt Thomas, the first USA male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died aged 64. I am completely devastated to hear this, said Olympic teammate Bart Conner. She is expected to keep the 400m, 800m and 1500m frees. Yesterday, I lost my universe, my best friend and my soulmate of 24 years. He was 64. Thomas starred at Indiana State, winning five NCAA titles and leading the Sycamores to the 1977 team crown. High blood pressure and aneurysms are examples of conditions that can cause hemorrhagic stroke. Please if you have any form of concern, suggestions, or query as regards this publication, kindly contact us. I was singing the national anthem, and at the end of it I closed my eyes, and I dropped my head and I remembered that moment, and I can still remember that moment to this day, Thomas said in his 2003 International Gymnastics Hall of Fame induction speech. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Cause of Death, Shooting, Investigation Report, Net Worth. Conner, who won the gold medal on the parallel bars at the 1979 world championships and at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, wrote on Twitter that Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend.. Proud to have been your teammate. The following are recognitions shared on Social. He was 64 years old. Thomas played on a newly formed gymnastics team at his high school and won a scholarship to Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Thomas' family told the International Gymnastic Magazine that he died on Friday. Stolzs time was three hundredths shy of the fastest time in history at or around sea level (also set at the Thialf) and two hundredths off his American record, which was set at altitude in Calgary in December. Who is Kurt Thomas? So he was seen out in public 48hrs after being reported missing, alive and well. USA WOMEN'S HOCKEY STAR CHANGES TUNE ON COLIN KAEPERNICK PROTEST: 'IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE FLAG'. My heart is breaking for his wife Beckie, his children, Hunter, Kassidy, and Kurt as well as the entire gymnastics community, who lost a true pioneer today., document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()), Who is Kurt Thomas? Love to the family.. He was 64. Opens in a new tab or window, Visit us on YouTube. Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend, two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner posted on Twitter. In my mind and my heart, I knew I was the best at that time, Thomas told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 1989. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. He was also a three-time (1978-79-80) American Cup Champion. He was born on March 29, 1956, in Miami, Florida, United States. Thomas came back for a 1992 Olympic bid, becoming the oldest gymnast in history to make the U.S. national team at age 36, but was not chosen for the Barcelona Games. Thomas won the AAUs 1979 James E. Sullivan Award as the nations top amateur and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003. Locked-in syndrome involves occlusion at the proximal and middle part of the basilar artery, sparing the tegmentum of the pons. At the 1978 world championships in Strasbourg, France, Kurt used his signature skill, a dismount called the Thomas Salto," on the floor exercise to win the first world championship gold medal for the U.S. mens gymnastics program. Ice Skating Stars of the '90s and '00s: Where Are They Now? Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! While competing in the 1979 worlds, he won an additional six medals. In retirement he worked as a TV analyst and gymnastics coach in his home town of Texas. The first (and largest) is the brachiocephalic trunk, the second, the left carotid artery, and the third, the left subclavian artery. Stolz is a medal contender in the 1000m on Saturday and the 1500m on Sunday, having won two World Cup races at each distance this season. Thomaswas previously married to Leanne Hartsgrove. The Salto involved a dangerous backward move in a tucked position. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. My heart is breaking for his wife Beckie, his children, Hunter, Kassidy and Kurt as well as the entire gymnastics community, who lost a true pioneer today., Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci tweeted: All of us in the gymnastics family are saddened, shocked and devastated by the passing of our own. I wanted to be a doctor and then a policeman, and then a pro basketball player or football, he told The New York Times in 1979. Gao Tingyu of China, last years Olympic champion, took this season off but is expected to return ahead of the 2026 Winter Games, according to Xinhua News Agency in September. His Thomas Salto dismount on the floor exercise was eventually banned from competition. Stolz is also younger than any male Olympic gold medalist in the sport. Opens in a new tab or window, Visit us on Instagram. Kurt Thomas, the U.S.' first world champion in gymnastics and an Olympian, died Friday at age 64 after previously suffering a stroke, his family said. The answer is yes in this moment. And that is one of the greatest moments of my life.. This means ipsilateral (same side) cranial nerve deficits with contralateral (opposite side) extremity deficits. Details of death: Died of a stroke. Kurt and Beckie, who wed in 1996, operated the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in Frisco, Texas, which has hosted USAG-sanctioned Kurt Thomas International Invitational gymnastics meet annually since 2003. It focuses on Kurt McFall, a 17-year old found dead on a beach in San Francisco Bay, CA. Opens in a new tab or window, suffering bleeding from his basilar artery, Abnormal oculomotor signs such as nystagmus (repetitive, uncontrolled eye movements), Limb weakness (unilateral, hemiparesis, or quadriparesis), Blurry vision and/or visual field deficits. During that nine-year run, Ledecky did lose freestyle races outside of the U.S. (including at the Olympics and world championships) and in short-course (non-Olympic-sized) pools. The beloved singer, who suffered from heroin addiction and mental illness, was discovered by electrician Gary Smith, who had arrived to install a security system.