He went on to become a sought-after star once he retired from the sport. Thomas, who appeared regularly on late-night talk shows in the 1970s, was the first breakthrough American male star in a sport whose spotlight gravitates heavily toward women. 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. Thomas attempted a comeback at 36 years of age and made the national team, making him the oldest gymnast ever to make the USA National Team. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Los Angeles, After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? That led to the Thomas flair being adopted as a technique on the pommel horse, Vault reported. Texas Death Records Search. He also debuted the Thomas salto on floor. Thomas was survived by Kurt Travis, a child from his first marriage, as well as his wife and their two children, Kassidy and Hunter Thomas. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. [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. However, her husband Kurt Thomas was 64 years old. Gross tubs? 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. Kurt Thomas was the first American male gymnast to win gold at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. In all, he won a total of eight world medals, three of which were gold at both the 1978 and 1979 world championships. Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Best coffee city in the world? The report was obtained by 9NEWS and The Denver Post. Her 200m free time was the second-fastest of her career among meets for this early in a year. A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humor, diligent and caring. That time would have won last years world championships trials and placed fourth at worlds. Thomas was the top amateur gymnast in 1979 and was later inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Legal Statement. He was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003. "I am completely devastated to hear this, said Bart Conner, an Olympic teammate. In 2003, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. Honor A.P. He died on June 5 at the age of 64. Cranial nerve weakness including dysarthria (the speech muscles are damaged, paralyzed, or weakened), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dysphonia (poor voice quality), and facial muscle weakness. Thomas suffered a stroke on May 24, which was caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem. Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife, his wife told the International Gymnast Media. 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. Opens in a new tab or window, Visit us on Twitter. Rebecca Jones married her husband Kurt Thomas in 1996. But at 14 he watched the MiamiDade Junior College gymnastics team at a practice and was impressed. Kurt became a commentator, acted in a film, and opened his own gymnastics school, according to Screencrush. He was 64 years old. Prior to his death, Thomas suffered a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem, which caused him to have a severe stroke on May 24. And will be dearly missed by family, friends, and everyone. Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife.. The music icon was found dead at his Seattle home on April 5, 1994 -- 27 years ago. He was 64. Love to the family., All of us in the gymnastics family are sadden ,shocked and devastated by the passing of our ownLove to the family RIP Kurt Thomas pic.twitter.com/muhQ8MUJJc. [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. Thomas was successful in the Junior Olympic program and he received a scholarship at Indiana State University, where he earned 13 All-American honors, International Gymnast Media reported. Ledecky has not announced publicly whether she hopes to race the 200m free at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dallas County Death Records are documents relating to an individual's death in Dallas County, Texas. Wife Kurt Thomas was married to his wife Rebecca Jones in 1996. By John Newby - June 7, 2020 05:12 pm EDT. A presentation of a bouquet of flowers is a special way of showing youre thinking of them and their loss, as the bright colors reflect the personality of the passed loved one. All rights reserved. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home on April 8, 1994, after dying from a gunshot wound to the head on April 5. Yesterday I lost my universe, my best friend, and my soul mate of twenty-four years. I am completely devastated to hear this, said Olympic teammate Bart Conner. He became the first American in 46 years to win a gold medal at a World Championships when he captured the floor exercise title in 1978. Several of the cranial nerves also receive blood supply from the posterior circulation. At the 1978 world championships in Strasbourg, France, Thomas became the first American to win a world championship gold medal with his floor exercise routine. In addition to his wife, Rebecca (Jones) Thomas, his survivors include their children, Hunter and Kassidy, as well as a son, Kurt, from a previous marriage. [1] In 1979, he won six medals at the world championship, setting the record for most medals won at a single world championship by an American gymnast, a feat matched only by Simone Biles in 2018. or redistributed. Thomas suffered a stroke in late May and died June 5, the website reported. 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.. [4][9] He was seen as a favorite to win a gold medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow; however, the games were boycotted by the United States government in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Thomas died nearly two weeks after suffering bleeding from his basilar artery, which led to a severe stroke. Proud to have been your teammate! [1] [13] Thomas also starred in the syndicated TV series True Confessions and worked as a commentator for ABC Sports[14] and ESPN. Thomas followed up his breakthrough at the 1978 championships by winning five world championship individual medals in 1979, including gold in the floor exercise once more and in the horizontal bar, at Fort Worth. Most records in speed skating are set in thin air at higher elevations Calgary or Salt Lake City. Yesterday, I lost my universe, my best friend and my soulmate of 24 years. He made it all the way to the Olympic trials at age 36 but fell short of earning one of the six Olympic spots. USA WOMEN'S HOCKEY STAR CHANGES TUNE ON COLIN KAEPERNICK PROTEST: 'IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE FLAG'. The anterior and posterior cerebral circulations are interconnected via bilateral posterior communicating arteries, which form part of the Circle of Willis. Ledecky swept her four races 400m, 800m and 1500m frees, plus the 4x200m free relay. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. The vertebral arteries leave the Circle of Willis and combine to form the basilar artery, which then divides into the posterior cerebral arteries. [3] He was a five-time NCAA champion at ISU,[4] winning the parallel bars and all-around in 1977, and parallel bars, horizontal bar and the all-around in 1979. Kurt Thomas, the first U.S. male gymnast to win a gold medal at the world championships,died of complications from a stroke, his family said Friday. Classic dogma stated that the "sine qua non" of PCS was the presence of "crossed deficits." Thomas also had a child, singer Kurt Travis, from a previous marriage. 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. Thomass wife, Rebecca, who owned and operated a gymnastics center with her husband in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas, confirmed the death, telling International Gymnast magazine that he had a stroke on May 24. Thomas had a son from a previous marriage, Kurt Travis. [1][10] The Thomas flair on pommel horse, and then also performed on floor, was developed over years by several pommel horse specialists. Sending hugs to his wife Beckie, his children, Hunter, Kassidy and Kurt as well as the entire gymnastics community, who lost a true pioneer today. describe three of these syndromes: "Top-of-the-basilar" syndrome involves occlusion in the rostral part of the basilar artery, resulting in ischemia affecting the upper brainstem and the thalamus. Opens in a new tab or window, Visit us on TikTok. He competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal before winning gold at the worlds in 1977. This syndrome is indicative of an imminent basilar artery branch occlusion with infarction of the supplied region. Sacrifices and dramatic adjustments will be required. They later met at three more meets in late 2022. Kok won the won the womens 500m. By Associated Press. RIP @3XGold pic.twitter.com/xKAYknen94. He was 64. Oluwaseun et al. 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. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends. Cause of Death Kurt became a commentator, acted in a film, and opened his own gymnastics school, according to Screencrush. He earned another six medals at the 1979 World Championships, a U.S. record for medals at a single worlds that Simone Bilestied in 2018. Thomas died nearly two weeks after suffering bleeding from his basilar artery, which led to a severe stroke. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. [7] He subsequently became the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan Award for the best amateur athlete in the United States. 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. 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. champion, winning the parallel bars and all-around in 1977, and parallel bars, horizontal bar and the all-around in 1979. Wiki, Biography, Age, Family, Cause of Death, Shooting, Investigation Report, Net Worth. Kurt Thomas, Trailblazing Champion Gymnast, Dies at 64, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/sports/kurt-thomas-dead.html, Kurt Thomas in 1979 with the medals he won at the Gymnastics World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. In my mind and my heart, I knew I was the best at that time, Thomas told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 1989. His father worked as the manager of a meat company and died when Thomas was 7 years old. Kurt Thomas Obituary - Death: Gymnast Kurt Thomas Obituary | Kurt Thomas Cause Of Death Kurt Thomas Obituary: In the loving memory of Kurt Thomas, we are saddened to inform you that Kurt Thomas, a. He poured his life into coaching after retirement. Thomas suffered a stroke in late May and died June 5, the website reported. High blood pressure and aneurysms are examples of conditions that can cause hemorrhagic stroke. Kurt Thomas Cause of Death. The cause of death was not reported. Rebecca Joness age is unknown. In 1979, he won the James E. Sullivan Award. Although the brain comprises only 2% of the total body mass, it uses nearly 50% of the body's glucose. All rights reserved. Ledecky had won all of her domestic freestyle long course finals of 200 meters or longer after a January 2014 defeat to 2012 Olympic champion Allison Schmitt. 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. he always brought light to every room entered. He starred in the 1985 movie "Gymkata.". He attempted a comeback in 1989, pointing toward the 1992 Olympics. 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. 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". These kinds of things are tremendous.. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This period can last from days to weeks. He was 64. [15] They had two children, Hunter and Kassidy. [8], In 1996, Thomas married Rebecca Jones, a dancer who choreographs gymnastic routines. These patients cannot move or talk, but consciousness is evident because of vertical eye movement, which is an oculomotor nerve function. 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. Eighty minutes later, she won the 400m individual medley, an event she doesnt swim at championship meets, in 4:36.04, the second-fastest time of her life. Perhaps Kurt died after stumbling over the edge. He was the James E. Sullivan award winner in 1979, as well as the 1979 Nissen Award (the "Heisman" of men's gymnastics) awardee. You can directly shop your flowers on Amazon. Kurt Thomas Death - Obituary: Kurt Thomas Wife | Kurt Thomas Cause Of Death Kurt Thomas Death: In the loving memory of Kurt Thomas, we are saddened to. Patients with successful recanalization after thrombolysis or angioplasty have a lower mortality rate of 33% to 50%, versus 74% to 100% in patients without thrombectomy or failed reperfusion. he always brought light to every room entered. But Ledecky did swim the 200m free at Julys national championships, posting a time that would have won the world title by 42 hundredths of a second. 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. Kurt Thomas, shown at the 1979 world championships in Fort Worth, died Friday, according to his family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Jordan Stolz, an 18-year-old speed skater from Wisconsin, became the youngest gold medalist in world single distances championships history on Friday. In October, McIntosh edged Ledecky in a 400m free in a Toronto short-course pool (25 meters, rather than Olympic-size 50-meter pools) by eight hundredths of a second. Kurt Thomas, Trailblazing Champion Gymnast, Dies at 64 The first American to win a world championship in men's gymnastics, he captured many medals but missed out on his best chance to take. He also became the youngest man to win a World Cup race. But he never won an Olympic medal. He died on June 5, 2020. Stolz is also younger than any male Olympic gold medalist in the sport. He had a stroke May 24, caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem. After stepping away from gymnastics, he worked as a TV analyst for ABC Sports during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Thomas family said he died Friday. Kurt Thomas, who became the first US athlete to win a gymnastics gold medal at the world championships, died Friday. Please if you have any form of concern, suggestions, or query as regards this publication, kindly contact us. 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. https://t.co/Mm425oG1Bk, tim daggett (@timdaggettnbc) June 7, 2020. "Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend. He was 64. 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. He died on June 5, 2020. Children The couple had one child Kurt Travis. He was a multiple N.C.A.A. And will be dearly missed by family, friends, and everyone. Kurt Bilteaux Thomas was born in Miami on March 29, 1956. June 6, 2020 8:39 PM PT. Three days earlier, a 27-year old Kurt Cobain committed suicide b. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Approximately 20%-25% of all acute strokes occur in the posterior circulation. These achievements saw him become the first gymnast to receive the James E. Sullivan Award for the best amateur athlete in the US that year. George Ritter Obituary Death: George Ritter Accident | George RitterCause Of Death, John Mullinax Obituary Death: John MullinaxCause Of Death. Opens in a new tab or window, Share on LinkedIn. [3], Thomas earned All-America honors 13 times in his career. She is expected to keep the 400m, 800m and 1500m frees. Later, the Olympic schedule was released with the 200m and 1500m finals separated by two days. Kurt Thomas Gymnast (born Kurt Bilteaux Thomas) was an American Olympic gymnast. After the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics, he retired from the sport. Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend.". Thomas brought a mixture of athleticism and showmanship the elite U.S. mens program lacked. [3][16] Thomas and his wife ran the Kurt Thomas Gymnastics Training Center in Frisco, Texas. Gold Medalist Oksana Masters Says It's Been 'Difficult' to Compete in Winter Paralympics amid War in Ukraine, Breakfast of Champions! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, She has not publicly commented on her long-term 200m free plan in recent months, but she has plenty of time to deliberate. Up to 50% of patients with thrombotic stroke have a period of waxing and waning symptoms in the form of transient ischemic attacks prior to occlusion of the blood vessel. Illustration 115835826 VectorMine - Dreamstime.com. Patients with PCS commonly have more than one symptom at a time and may present with groups of signs and symptoms recognized as distinct clinical syndromes. This is why the death will surely leave a huge gap. Kurt Thomas, who became the first American to win a world championship event in mens gymnastics when he captured gold in the floor exercise at Strasbourg, France, in 1978, died on Friday. 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. Kurt Thomas, the first U.S. male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died. 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. *. He 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. It focuses on Kurt McFall, a 17-year old found dead on a beach in San Francisco Bay, CA. 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. Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Cause of Death, Instagram, Net Worth 20052022 MedPage Today, LLC, a Ziff Davis company. 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. Thomas was awarded a scholarship to study at Indiana State University (ISU). Granted, none of the Tokyo Olympic medalists were in the world championships final. Opens in a new tab or window, Visit us on YouTube. Kurt Thomas, the first U.S. male gymnast to win a gold medal at the world championships, died of complications from a stroke, his family said Friday. Ledecky won the 400m free by eight hundredths over McIntosh to extend a decade-long win streak in freestyle races of 400 meters or longer in U.S. pools. Proud to have been your teammate. American gymnastic legend Kurt Thomas passed away June 5 at the age of 64.