Gymnast Kurt Thomas, the first American male athlete to win the world gym title, dies at 64 from a stroke

  • Kurt Thomas, the first American male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died at age 64 
  • His family says Thomas passed away on Friday after he had suffered a stroke on May 24, caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem
  • Thomas, who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, won the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France, for the first US men's title
  • Thomas, who also captured the American Cup three times, lost a chance for Olympic gold when the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games

By Ralph R. Ortega For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: | Updated:

Kurt Thomas, the first US male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died. He was 64.

Thomas´ family said he died Friday, after having suffered a stroke May 24 that was caused by a tear of the basilar artery in the brain stem.

'Yesterday, I lost my universe, my best friend and my soulmate of 24 years. Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife,' Beckie Thomas told International Gymnast Magazine. The couple had two children, Kassidy and Hunter Thomas. Thomas also was the father of singer Kurt Travis, his son from a previous marriage. 

After competing in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Thomas won the floor exercise in the 1978 World Championships in Strasbourg, France, for the first US men's title. 

Kurt Thomas, the first US male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died at age 64, his family says. He is pictured during the historic title win at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Strasbourg, France

Kurt Thomas, the first US male gymnast to win a world championship gold medal, has died at age 64, his family says. He is pictured during the historic title win at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Strasbourg, France

Thomas is pictured performing during the Men's Pommel horse event at the 1978 World Championships

Thomas is pictured performing during the Men's Pommel horse event at the 1978 World Championships

Thomas is pictured with his wife of 24 years Becky before his passing. She said in an interview with International Gymnast Magazine that she 'will be forever honored to be his wife'

Thomas is pictured with his wife of 24 years Becky before his passing. She said in an interview with International Gymnast Magazine that she 'will be forever honored to be his wife'

Thomas poses with his wife Becky in a family photo with their two children, Kassidy and Hunter

Thomas poses with his wife Becky in a family photo with their two children, Kassidy and Hunter

Thomas also was the father of singer Kurt Travis (pictured), his son from a previous marriage

Thomas also was the father of singer Kurt Travis (pictured), his son from a previous marriage

In the 1979 Worlds Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, he successfully defended the floor exercise title and won the horizontal bar while adding silver in the all-around, pommel horse and parallel bars.

Thomas, who also captured the American Cup three times, lost a chance for Olympic gold when the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

'In my mind and my heart, I knew I was the best at that time,' Thomas told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 1989.

Thomas brought a mixture of athleticism and showmanship the elite US men´s program lacked. 

He starred at Indiana State and led the Sycamores to an NCAA team title in 1977. His popularity on campus at the time ranked second only to future basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird.  

Thomas won the AAU´s 1979 James E. Sullivan Award as the nation's top amateur and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2003.

'Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend,' two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner, 62, posted on Twitter. 

Thomas (left) is pictured with rival Bart Conner from an image posted on Twitter. Both had become friends, says Conner in a tribute to Thomas on Twitter

Thomas (left) is pictured with rival Bart Conner from an image posted on Twitter. Both had become friends, says Conner in a tribute to Thomas on Twitter

'Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend,' two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner, 62, posted on Twitter

'Kurt was a fierce rival, who went on to become a cherished friend,' two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner, 62, posted on Twitter

'Proud to have been your teammate. 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.'

Thomas stepped away from competition after 1980 and would go on to star in the 1985 movie 'Gymkata'. He also worked as a television commentator. 

He attempted a comeback in 1989, pointing toward the 1992 Olympics. He made it all the way to the Olympic Trials at age 36 but fell short of earning one of the six Olympic spots. 

Thomas with his medals in 1977 before going on to win the World Championships a year later

Thomas with his medals in 1977 before going on to win the World Championships a year later

Thomas claims victory after winning the men's title at the World Championships in 1978

Thomas claims victory after winning the men's title at the World Championships in 1978

He poured his life into coaching after retirement. He and Beckie owned and ran Kurt Thomas Gymnastics in Frisco, Texas.

American men had struggled to break through internationally before Thomas' arrival. 

He was an innovator on pommel horse - where the 'Thomas Flair' was entered into the Code of Points - and the floor exercise, where his 'Thomas Salto' dismount was considered so dangerous it was eventually banned from competition.

Thomas, who appeared regularly on late night talk shows in the 1970s, was the first breakthrough American male star in a sport where the spotlight gravitates heavily toward women.

'All of us in the gymnastics family are sadden, shocked and devastated by the passing of our own,' Nadia Comaneci, 58, tweeted. 'Love to the family.'

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Elena Comăneci also made a tribute to Thomas online

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Elena Comăneci also made a tribute to Thomas online

Most watched News videos

Comments 103

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.