Kurt Thomas, whose flair and style elevated male gymnastics, died on Friday at age 64. He had suffered a stroke May 24.
He was a trailblazer among American men in a sport where women received most of the attention, and in which China, France, Japan and the Soviet Union dominated men’s international competition. He was the first male athlete in 46 years to win a world championship medal, on the floor exercise at the 1978 worlds in Strasbourg, France. He remained a strong contender at the 1979 worlds in Fort Worth, Texas.
With his combination of skill and physical strength, the diminutive but explosive Thomas raised expectations that he might be one of the first male Olympians to capture wide public admiration. He was a major star on the gymnastics circuit in the late 1970s, appearing on television shows like Dick Cavett’s and offering instruction to young gymnasts. He was all over the headlines in major newspapers and magazines. His fans, including the New York Times, compared him to the likes of Thorpe, Owens, and Ali, while his coaches hailed him as the Baryshnikov or Balanchine of male gymnastics.
At Indiana State University, he was a five-time N.C.A.A. champion in the parallel bars and all-around, and a three-time national champion on the pommel horse, horizontal bar and all-around. His 13-year Sycamores career earned him the James E. Sullivan award as the nation’s top amateur athlete in 1979. He was also an inductee into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Thomas was a favorite for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, even though it would have been difficult to challenge the Soviets on home soil. He won six international medals in the run-up to the games, including a gold on the floor at the 1978 world championships and an all-around title at the 1979 American Cup.
The 1980 Olympics in Moscow ended with the Soviet boycott in retaliation for the invasion of Afghanistan, so Thomas missed his chance to prove himself in what was perhaps his greatest sport. He did make a comeback later in his career, taking part in professional gymnastics shows and working as a commentator at gymnastics events, but he was never able to regain his Olympic glory.
The Thomas Foundation seeks to increase awareness of the power of young people to make a difference in their communities and beyond by promoting youth leadership, citizenship and education through the sport of gymnastics. To this end, it raises funds to provide a minimum of one training scholarship per year for a deserving student at the Kurt Thomas Training Center in Frisco, Texas. To support the mission of the foundation, click here.
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