US STAR GYMNAST DIES

[olympic]

World Champion Gymnast Kurt Thomas Passes Away After Suffering Stroke | International Gymnast Magazine Online

Kurt Thomas, the winner of the first World Championship gold medal in the history of U.S. gymnastics, passed away on June 5th, after tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem…

www.intlgymnast.com

Kurt Thomas passed away.

He was the first US man to win a gold medal at the World Championships.

RIP

 

[Aceon6]

64 years old. Way too young.

 

[clairecloutier]

I remember watching him when I was a kid. He was one of the first gymnasts whom I was aware of.

 

[skatingfan5]

Yes, 64 is much too young. I remember watching him competing back in the 70s. May he Rest In Peace.

 

[Garden Kitty]

I remember watching him when I was a kid. He was one of the first gymnasts whom I was aware of.

Same here. So sorry for his family. From the tributes on twitter, it sounds like he was also respected by many of the younger gymnasts he influenced.

 

[once_upon]

Oh, 64 is too young.

 

[olympic]

It was in the 78 and 79 timeframe that I got interested in gymnastics, even before FS, so I have very clear memories of him. Moves on the FX and Pommel Horse named after him. His Salto on the FX was amazing ?

 

[genevieve]

Just watched a few of his routines. God, gynmastics were so much prettier then. RIP.

 

[bardtoob]

Kurt Thomas was exceptionally gifted. I am sorry to hear about his passing away.

While his attempt to make the 1992 Olympic Team was unsuccessful, he showed he was still capable of performing eye catching gymnastics at age 37-38.

AA 1991 US Championships Kurt Thomas FX

www.youtube.com

 

[HeatherC]

I saw this news on Twitter earlier tonight and it made me so sad. He was such a gorgeous gymnast and a great guy. He will be missed for sure. Sending lots of love and prayers to his loved ones. RIP

 

[FiveRinger]

I don't remember him competing in the 70s, but I do remember him trying to make a comeback attempt in 1992 and I really respected that. I watch videos of the past and it was lovely, so much more fun to watch. He was so innovative. RIP.

 

[skateboy]

Loved Kurt Thomas. RIP.

 

[annie720]

Kurt was my first male gymnast crush. So sad. RIP.

 

[overedge]

I remember him mostly for this, which is so bad it's good. He did a lot of really interesting things in his career. RIP.

Gymkata - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Spiralgraph]

Oh I'm really sad to hear the news of his death. I remember him very well and his Thomas Flair move. May he RIP.

 

[barbk]

Sadness. I saw Kurt Thomas (and Bart Connor) at practice at UCLA before a competition in the late 70's. He was an amazing gymnast.

RIP.

 

[olympic]

Sadness. I saw Kurt Thomas (and Bart Connor) at practice at UCLA before a competition in the late 70's. He was an amazing gymnast.

RIP.

I just remember in that time frame how quickly Thomas and Connor elevated US men's gymnastics. AT 1979 Worlds, He won the silver only behind Alexander Ditiatin and Connor was 5th. They broke thru to the podium as a team to Bronze and there was a feeling that the US was going to do well at Moscow (then again, Thomas wasn't named to the team IIRC?)

 

[Erin]

I just remember in that time frame how quickly Thomas and Connor elevated US men's gymnastics. AT 1979 Worlds, He won the silver only behind Alexander Ditiatin and Connor was 5th. They broke thru to the podium as a team to Bronze and there was a feeling that the US was going to do well at Moscow (then again, Thomas wasn't named to the team IIRC?)

After the boycott was announced, Thomas turned pro and didn’t participate in Olympic Trials, which were held after it was clear there was no way the US was going. That was back in the days of strict amateurism and Thomas surely needed the money given the expenses of participating in gymnastics. If the US were not boycotting, he absolutely would have competed in Olympic Trials and been named to the team, barring injury of course.

Such sad news during an already tough year. Kathy Johnson Clarke and Bart Conner, among others, have posted touching tributes on Twitter.

 

[Lynn226]

I found this video of banned gymnastics skills in YouTube. The Thomas Salto is included.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[aftershocks]

^^ Wow, those were some exciting moves. I recall seeing some of them back-in-the-day. Taken as a whole, looking back, I suppose these moves were banned as being too risky and/or unpredictable?

I'm so sorry to hear about Kurt Thomas' passing. That's very sad happening so suddenly as it did. My condolences to his family and friends.

More on basilar artery, though obviously none of this is necessarily related to Thomas' basilar artery injury which led to his stroke:

Causes and Treatment of Basilar Artery Stroke

Learn about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of basilar artery stroke, and how you can reduce your risk factors.

www.verywellhealth.com

 

[paskatefan]

I was not familiar with him, but this is so sad, too young to be gone. May he rest in peace. ?

 

[Rob]

So awful, I remember him well.

 

[pollyanna]

Kurt was my first male gymnast crush. So sad. RIP.

Mine too. He was so talented and exciting to watch. RIP. Condolences to his family.

 

[Simone411]

This is such sad news. I remember watching with my mom when he won Worlds in 1978. Rip, Kurt. ??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2E6SgDWqI