Became the first African American to ever win an Olympic medal in figure skating in 1988, winning a bronze in the singles event. She won both the 1986 U.S. national title and the 1986 World Championships. She was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000.
Her mother introduced her to figure skating at the age of 5 and she would compete in her first figure skating competition at age 9, finishing in first place.
She performed for Stars on Ice and won the 1988 World Professional Championships. She later would the title in 1989 and 1991.
She came from a highly educated family, with both parents computer professionals and her brother an astrophysicist. Her second marriage to Chris Bequette produced a son named Christopher Jules. She later became engaged to fiance Jamie Looney.
She placed second behind Jill Trenary at the U.S. Nationals in 1987.