If you trust your nerve as well as your skill, you're capable of a lot more than you can imagine. Debi Thomas More Quotes by Debi Thomas More Quotes From Debi Thomas I tell people I'm too stupid to know what's impossible. I have ridiculously large dreams, and half the time they come true. Debi Thomas goal stupid dream My mother introduced me to many different things, and figure skating was one of them. I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice. Debi Thomas skating ice mother What makes you really come together under pressure is determination and focus and toughness. Debi Thomas determination success sports You can accomplish anything with pure persistence and drive. Debi Thomas persistence pure accomplish Just because you didn't start out perfect doesn't mean you can't have an excellent result in the end. Debi Thomas perseverance success sports Figure skating was a pretty individual sport. I've grown up a lot since those days and enjoy being part of a team now. Being a doctor is about working with nurses, therapists, anesthesiologists, and I've learned more about team play being a doctor than when I was in sports. Debi Thomas doctors team sports My advice is that going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal are great goals, but the real goal should be to be the best that you can be. Debi Thomas motivation softball sports What was most important to me at the Olympics was going out there and performing my best. When I messed up the first jump combination, which was my big move, it hit me that I messed up the program of my life. Debi Thomas athlete motivational moving I begged my mom to let me start skating. Debi Thomas skating my-mom mom I watch a lot of professional skating, and I am really looking forward to going to nationals. Debi Thomas skating looking-forward watches Probably the '86 nationals. That was my first real national title and first real statement I ever made in figure skating, and my life changed after I returned. Debi Thomas titles life-changing real I just thought that it was magical having to glide across the ice. Debi Thomas ice I am not really sure how I got interested in medicine. Debi Thomas medicine I got a bronze medal and I can't complain about that, the only African-American to get a medal in the Winter Olympics. Debi Thomas athlete winter motivational My skating is a very emotional thing that comes from the heart, never doing it for the medal. Debi Thomas skating emotional heart So I went for engineering, specifically product design, which I enjoyed. Debi Thomas engineering enjoyed design Right now I am doing my residency in orthopedic research. Debi Thomas orthopedics right-now research I've got this thing with skating and school - to see how much I can accomplish. Debi Thomas skating accomplish school I wanted to be a doctor since I was five. Debi Thomas five doctors wanted I want people to know when I'm taking care of them I'll give it all that I've got. Debi Thomas care giving people