Kurt Thomas

American gymnast who became the first American male to win a World Championship gold medal in gymnastics, winning floor exercise in 1978.

Born in Miami, Florida, on March 29, 1956, Kurt Thomas grew up in a middle-class family and discovered gymnastics relatively late compared to most elite competitors. He began training seriously as a teenager at Miami-Dade Community College before transferring to Indiana State University, where he developed under coach Roger Councilman. His late start in elite-level training made his subsequent achievements all the more remarkable in a sport typically dominated by athletes who begin intensive training in childhood. Thomas reached his competitive peak in the late 1970s, becoming the first American male gymnast to win a World Championship gold medal when he claimed the floor exercise title at the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France. He followed this breakthrough with another world title in the same event in 1979, establishing himself as the world's premier male gymnast. His performances helped elevate American men's gymnastics to unprecedented international prominence and inspired a generation of future competitors. The gymnast's most enduring contribution to the sport is the Thomas Flair, a signature move he developed that involves a circular hip rotation performed on both pommel horse and floor exercise. This technically demanding element became a staple of elite gymnastics routines worldwide and remains part of the sport's Code of Points, ensuring his name is permanently embedded in gymnastics vocabulary. Beyond his signature move, Thomas won multiple national championships and consistently ranked among the world's top all-around competitors. Thomas's career was significantly impacted by the United States boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, which denied him the opportunity to compete for Olympic medals during his competitive prime. After retiring from competition, he remained connected to gymnastics and popular culture, notably starring in the 1985 martial arts film "Gymkata." His pioneering achievements opened doors for future American male gymnasts and established a foundation for the sport's growth in the United States. Thomas died from a stroke on June 5, 2020, at age 64.

Known for exceptional floor exercise routines and innovative pommel horse work

Pioneered American men's gymnastics success and created the Thomas Flair pommel horse move

• World Champion 1978,1979
• US National Champion multiple
• Named Thomas Flair (element)