A Focus On The Future

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