Thomas Empathizes With Kwan

As an orthopedic doctor and mother of a 4-year-old son, Debi Thomas doesn’t have time to keep track of figure skating’s daily doings.

But Thomas, a two-time U.S. figure skating champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, knows how nervous the competitors are during this week’s championships at Staples Center. She especially empathized with five-time national champion Michelle Kwan and the questioning Kwan has faced since dropping longtime coach Frank Carroll.

“She’s going through a lot,” Thomas said. “It’s hard at this stage of the game because everyone has an opinion and a lot to say about your decisions. In reality, when you have to go out there and perform, you’re the only one out there. No one can do it from the sidelines. You need to mentally pull it together ...

“I still think Michelle Kwan is the best skater in the world. But a lot can happen. You can slip up, you can skate a perfect performance and still not win.”

Thomas recently completed her first orthopedic year at Martin Luther King-Charles Drew University Medical Center. She’s also a spokeswoman for Campbell’s Soup, which Thursday announced a program that will help fund trips to the Salt Lake City Games for parents of Olympians.

The SOUPer Parents Program will give $1,000 to the parents of athletes in each Winter Olympic sport.

A panel featuring Thomas, 1984 gold medal skier Phil Mahre, five-time gold medal speedskater Eric Heiden and Carole Yamaguchi, mother of 1992 Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, will pick the most dedicated parents. The winner will receive $10,000.

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Beatrisa Liang of Granada Hills and Amber Corwin of Hermosa Beach were seventh and eighth, respectively, after the women’s short program.

“I’m really happy with the way I skated,” said Liang, 13. “I went all out for everything and did the best I could.”

Corwin, 23, said she appreciated the support of friends and family so close to home. “I was hoping to get in the top three, so I’m a little bit disappointed,” she said. “But I felt like I skated well ... I feel like I have some goals I haven’t reached that I think I still can. If I didn’t feel like I was improving and could still skate well, I wouldn’t keep doing it.”

Ye Bin Mok of Los Angeles was 15th.

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The no-flowers policy at this year’s championships got an emphatic thumbs-down from Sarah Hughes. The ban on tossing floral tributes was instituted this year because of security concerns and because organizers fear the staples fastening the cellophane-wrapped bouquets might fall onto the ice and injure a skater.

“It’s sort of like missing something without it,” she said.

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Hughes’ sister, Emily, 12, is competing in the junior women’s event. Emily Hughes, however, is last entering today’s long program. Their father, John, has been trying to follow both daughters’ progress.

“He kind of says, ‘Who needs me more?”’ Sarah said. “But really, I’d probably rather he be with her. It’s her first time here and everything.”