A Focus On the Future

As the Games draw near, preparations for them fill Debi Thomas's waking hours. Follow the U.S. women's figure skating champion through a typical day

6:50 AM: BEFORE AN EARLY TRAINING SESSION AT A RINK IN BOULDER, COLO., THOMAS APPLIES MAKEUP FOR THAT WIDE-AWAKE LOOK, BUT SHE FADES BEFORE LACING UP HER SKATES. IF YOU REMEMBER THE PERIODIC TABLE, HER LICENSE PLATE WILL TELL YOU WHY SHE'S ENDURING ALL THIS

9:10 AM: COACH ALEX McGOWAN KEEPS A SHARP EYE ON THOMAS AS SHE WORKS ON HER SCHOOL FIGURES (RIGHT AND BELOW). THEN SHE DONS A SAFETY HARNESS AND, AS McGOWAN PULLS UPWARD, TRIES A TRIPLE JUMP

12:15 PM: "I LOVE TO COMPETE, BUT I DON'T LIKE TO TRAIN," SAYS THOMAS, WHO SPENDS AS MANY AS SEVEN HOURS A DAY AT PRACTICE. AFTER A VERY ROCKY RUN-THROUGH OF HER OLYMPIC LONG PROGRAM, SHE SHOUTS, "YUCK!"

7:30 P.M.: THOMAS, A STANFORD STUDENT ON LEAVE WHO IS STAYING WITH THE LEE FAMILY WHILE IN BOULDER, SENDS SOME PIZZA DOUGH SPINNING, TO THE ADMIRATION OF MATT LEE(CENTER) AND HER BOYFRIEND, BRIAN VANDENHOGEN

NINETEEN PHOTOS

BRIAN LANKER

FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS