World Professional Figure Skating Championships
Encyclopedia
The World Professional Figure Skating Championships, often referred to as Landover, was an elite made-for-TV figure skating
competition. It was created by Dick Button
, a 2-time Olympic gold medalist, through his production company Candid Productions. It usually took place in December. For most of its existence, it was an unsanctioned professional event, meaning that skaters who participated lost their eligibility to compete in the Winter Olympic Games
and other "amateur" skating events controlled by the International Skating Union
.
. Skaters competed in three disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, and pair skating
. However the competition was not held again until 1980. It was held again from 1980 to 1982 as a two-team competition. In 1983 individual competition once again resumed alongside continued team competition. 1983 also marked the first year in which ice dancing
was contested. Team competition was discontinued in 1986. The last professional championship was held in 2000.
The professional championships were held in Landover, Maryland every year until 1997, when it moved to the MCI Center
in Washington, D.C.
Beginning in 1990, the championship started taking the name of its sponsor. Thus the 1990 competition was called the "NutraSweet
World Professional Championships". Other sponsors have included Durasoft Colors, Equal
, Metabolife
, and Hallmark
.
In 1998, the competition was sanctioned by the International Skating Union
(ISU) as an "international open" or pro-am event. Because the ISU restricts the use of the title "Championships" to refer to ISU Championship events, that year the event was formally known simply as the "Equal Sweetener World Pro".
In 1999, Button's Candid Productions was acquired by SFX, which was in turn acquired by Clear Channel Communications
a year later. At the same time, public interest in professional skating competitions was declining, more elite skaters were choosing to retain their competition eligibility by participating only in sanctioned events, and networks were shifting towards a time-buy model which made skating events less lucrative for producers. All of these factors contributed to the competition's demise after the 2000 event.
In 2001, a successor pro competition produced by IMG under the name "Hallmark Skater's Championship" was held on the usual December date at the MCI Center
. In 2002 the IMG-produced event was held again under that name, this time in Columbus, Ohio
, as a sanctioned pro-am competition. This competition is also no longer being held.
, Spain
was also known the "World Professional Figure Skating Championships"; its official name in Spanish was Campeonatos del Mundo de Patinaje Artístico Professional sobre Hielo. The forerunner of this event was an open professional championship for show skaters dating back to at least the 1930's that was held in England
, initially under the auspices of the National Ice Skating Association of Great Britain, and later organized by the Imperial Professional Skaters Association. The event moved to Jaca with the sponsorship of the International Professional Skaters Union. During the 1980s it was quite a prestigious event with wide television coverage in Europe. Past winners of this event include Denise Biellmann
, Robert Wagenhoffer
, Gary Beacom
, Scott Williams
, Pierre Panayi, and Lorna Brown
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
competition. It was created by Dick Button
Dick Button
Richard Totten "Dick" Button is an American former figure skater and a well-known long-time skating television analyst. He is a two-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion...
, a 2-time Olympic gold medalist, through his production company Candid Productions. It usually took place in December. For most of its existence, it was an unsanctioned professional event, meaning that skaters who participated lost their eligibility to compete in the Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
and other "amateur" skating events controlled by the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
.
History
The first professional championship was held in 1973 in Landover, MarylandLandover, Maryland
Landover is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, within the census-designated place of Greater Landover. The Prince Georges County Sports and Learning Complex is in Landover...
. Skaters competed in three disciplines: men's singles, ladies' singles, and pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
. However the competition was not held again until 1980. It was held again from 1980 to 1982 as a two-team competition. In 1983 individual competition once again resumed alongside continued team competition. 1983 also marked the first year in which ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
was contested. Team competition was discontinued in 1986. The last professional championship was held in 2000.
The professional championships were held in Landover, Maryland every year until 1997, when it moved to the MCI Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Beginning in 1990, the championship started taking the name of its sponsor. Thus the 1990 competition was called the "NutraSweet
NutraSweet
The NutraSweet Company makes and sells NutraSweet, their trademarked brand name for the artificial sweetener aspartame, and Neotame.Aspartame was accidentally discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter, a chemist with a master's degree working under Dr. Kurt Rorig, PhD, in charge of new drug research...
World Professional Championships". Other sponsors have included Durasoft Colors, Equal
Equal (sweetener)
Equal is a brand of artificial sweetener containing aspartame, dextrose and maltodextrin. It is marketed as a tabletop sweetener by Merisant, a global corporation which also owns the well-known NutraSweet brand and which has headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, Switzerland, Mexico, and Australia...
, Metabolife
Metabolife
Metabolife International, Inc., is an multi-level marketing company based in San Diego, California which manufactures dietary supplements. Metabolife's best-selling product, an ephedra-based supplement called Metabolife 356, once generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales...
, and Hallmark
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
.
In 1998, the competition was sanctioned by the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
(ISU) as an "international open" or pro-am event. Because the ISU restricts the use of the title "Championships" to refer to ISU Championship events, that year the event was formally known simply as the "Equal Sweetener World Pro".
In 1999, Button's Candid Productions was acquired by SFX, which was in turn acquired by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
a year later. At the same time, public interest in professional skating competitions was declining, more elite skaters were choosing to retain their competition eligibility by participating only in sanctioned events, and networks were shifting towards a time-buy model which made skating events less lucrative for producers. All of these factors contributed to the competition's demise after the 2000 event.
In 2001, a successor pro competition produced by IMG under the name "Hallmark Skater's Championship" was held on the usual December date at the MCI Center
Verizon Center
Verizon Center is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, D.C., USA, named after telecommunications sponsor Verizon Communications, and has been nicknamed the "Phone Booth" because of its association with telecommunications companies...
. In 2002 the IMG-produced event was held again under that name, this time in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, as a sanctioned pro-am competition. This competition is also no longer being held.
Professional champions
| Year | Team | Ladies' singles | Men's singles | Pair skating | Ice dancing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | |
Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Nowicki is an American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.-Amateur career:Lynn began to skate almost as soon as she could walk and took part in her first exhibition performance at the age of four in a group number at Chicago Stadium... |
Ronnie Robertson | Belousova Ludmila Belousova Ludmila Yevgenyevna Belousova is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With her partner Oleg Protopopov, she is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Belousova started skating relatively late, at age 16. She met Protopopov in 1954 and they began... & Protopopov Oleg Protopopov Oleg Alekseyevich Protopopov is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With his partner Ludmila Belousova, he is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Protopopov started skating relatively late, at age 15... |
|
| 1980 | See | |
|
|
|
| 1981 | "All Stars" | |
|
|
|
| 1982 | "Pro Stars" | |
|
|
|
| 1983 | See | Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Janet Lynn Nowicki is an American figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist.-Amateur career:Lynn began to skate almost as soon as she could walk and took part in her first exhibition performance at the age of four in a group number at Chicago Stadium... |
Charles Tickner Charles Tickner Charles Tickner is an American figure skater who won the gold medal at the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships, skating to music from Georges Bizet's Carmen and Jules Massenet's Le Cid for his long program. He also won the bronze medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics and the 1980 World... |
Belousova Ludmila Belousova Ludmila Yevgenyevna Belousova is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With her partner Oleg Protopopov, she is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Belousova started skating relatively late, at age 16. She met Protopopov in 1954 and they began... & Protopopov Oleg Protopopov Oleg Alekseyevich Protopopov is a Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With his partner Ludmila Belousova, he is a two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion .- Career :Protopopov started skating relatively late, at age 15... |
Wighton Lorna Wighton Lorna Wighton was a Canadian ice dancer. With partner John Dowding, she won three gold medals at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at the 1980 Winter Olympics.-Results:... & Dowding John Dowding John Dowding was a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Lorna Wighton, he won three gold medals at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at the 1980 Winter Olympics.-Results:... |
| 1984 | See | Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:... |
Scott Hamilton Scott Hamilton (figure skater) Scott Scovell Hamilton is an American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. He won four consecutive U.S. championships , four consecutive World Championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:... & Dean Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill... |
| 1985 | See | Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:... |
Robin Cousins Robin Cousins Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own... |
Babilonia and Gardner Randy Gardner (figure skater) Randy Gardner is an American pair skater. With partner Tai Babilonia, he was the 1979 World Champion and the 1976-1980 U.S. national champion.-Career:... |
Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:... & Dean Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill... |
| 1986 | |
Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:... |
Scott Hamilton Scott Hamilton (figure skater) Scott Scovell Hamilton is an American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. He won four consecutive U.S. championships , four consecutive World Championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Fox & Dalley Richard Dalley Richard Dalley was an American ice dancer. Nicknamed "Beanie", he is from the Detroit, Michigan area. He competed in ice dance with Carol Fox at the 1984 Winter Olympics. The dance team is probably the most decorated team never to have won the US Championships.... |
| 1987 | |
Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Hamill Dorothy Stuart Hamill is an American figure skater. She is the 1976 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles and 1976 World Champion.-Early life:... |
Robin Cousins Robin Cousins Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Fox & Dalley Richard Dalley Richard Dalley was an American ice dancer. Nicknamed "Beanie", he is from the Detroit, Michigan area. He competed in ice dance with Carol Fox at the 1984 Winter Olympics. The dance team is probably the most decorated team never to have won the US Championships.... |
| 1988 | |
Debi Thomas Debi Thomas Debra Janine "Debi" Thomas M.D. is an American figure skater and physician. She is the 1986 World champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, having taken part in the Battle of the Carmens at those games.-Personal life:... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Blumberg Judy Blumberg Judith Ann "Judy" Blumberg is an American former ice dancer.Blumberg was born in Santa Monica, California. She and Michael Seibert won the 1981-1985 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the 1983-1985 World bronze medalist. They placed 7th at the 1980 Winter Olympics and 4th at the 1984 Olympics... & Seibert |
| 1989 | |
Debi Thomas Debi Thomas Debra Janine "Debi" Thomas M.D. is an American figure skater and physician. She is the 1986 World champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, having taken part in the Battle of the Carmens at those games.-Personal life:... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Wilson Tracy Wilson Tracy Wilson, CM is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Rob McCall, she won the Canadian national championship from 1982–1988, were three-time World bronze medalists, and were the 1988 Olympic bronze medalists.... & McCall Robert McCall (figure skater) Robert "Rob" McCall, CM was a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Tracy Wilson, he was the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist.-Biography:... |
| 1990 | |
Denise Biellmann Denise Biellmann Denise Biellmann is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion. She won the Swiss Championships three times.-Amateur career:... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:... & Dean Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill... |
| 1991 | |
Debi Thomas Debi Thomas Debra Janine "Debi" Thomas M.D. is an American figure skater and physician. She is the 1986 World champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, having taken part in the Battle of the Carmens at those games.-Personal life:... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Gordeeva Ekaterina Gordeeva Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating... & Grinkov Sergei Grinkov Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov was a Russian pair skater. Together with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva, he was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.-Biography:... |
Bestemianova Natalia Bestemianova Natalia Filimonovna Bestemianova is a Russian ice dancer who represented the Soviet Union in her competitive career... & Bukin Andrei Bukin -External links:* * -Navigation:... |
| 1992 | |
Kristi Yamaguchi Kristi Yamaguchi Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Gordeeva Ekaterina Gordeeva Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating... & Grinkov Sergei Grinkov Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov was a Russian pair skater. Together with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva, he was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.-Biography:... |
Annenko Natalia Annenko Natalia Valeryevna Annenko is a Russian ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. She won the 1982 World Junior Figure Skating Championships with partner Vadim Karkachev. She later went on to compete with Genrikh Sretenski. With Sretenski, she is the 1988 European silver medalist and... & Sretenski Genrich Sretenski Genrikh Genrikhovich Sretenski is a Russian ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Natalia Annenko, Sretenski is the 1988 European silver medalist and three-time European bronze medalist. They placed fourth at the 1988 Winter Olympics... |
| 1993 | |
Midori Ito Midori Ito is a former Japanese figure skater. She is the 1989 World Champion and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist. She is the first woman to land a triple/triple jump combination and a triple axel in competition. She is also the first woman to land seven triple jumps in a free program, which she did at the... |
Paul Wylie Paul Wylie Paul Stanton Wylie is an American figure skater and 1992 Olympic silver medalist.-Biography:Born in Dallas, Texas, Wylie began skating at the age of three. At age eleven, his family moved to Denver, Colorado, where he began to train with Carlo Fassi... |
Underhill Barbara Underhill Barbara Ann Underhill is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Paul Martini, she is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... & Martini Paul Martini Paul Lloyd Martini is a Canadian pair skater. With partner Barbara Underhill, he is the 1979-1983 Canadian national champion, the 1984 World champion, and the 1978 World Junior champion... |
Annenko Natalia Annenko Natalia Valeryevna Annenko is a Russian ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. She won the 1982 World Junior Figure Skating Championships with partner Vadim Karkachev. She later went on to compete with Genrikh Sretenski. With Sretenski, she is the 1988 European silver medalist and... & Sretenski Genrich Sretenski Genrikh Genrikhovich Sretenski is a Russian ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union. With partner Natalia Annenko, Sretenski is the 1988 European silver medalist and three-time European bronze medalist. They placed fourth at the 1988 Winter Olympics... |
| 1994 | |
Kristi Yamaguchi Kristi Yamaguchi Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two... |
Brian Boitano Brian Boitano Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season... |
Gordeeva Ekaterina Gordeeva Ekaterina "Katia" Alexandrovna Gordeeva is a Russian figure skater. Together with her late partner and husband Sergei Grinkov, she was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion in pair skating... & Grinkov Sergei Grinkov Sergei Mikhailovich Grinkov was a Russian pair skater. Together with partner Ekaterina Gordeeva, he was the 1988 and 1994 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.-Biography:... |
Usova Maya Usova Maya Valentinovna Usova , born 22 May 1964 in Gorky is a Russian ice dancer. With Alexander Zhulin, she is the 1993 World champion, 1994 Olympic silver medalist, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist.- Career :... & Zhulin Alexander Zhulin Alexander Viacheslavovich Zhulin is a retired Russian ice dancer who represented the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. With Maya Usova, he is the 1993 World champion, 1994 Olympic silver medalist, and 1992 Olympic bronze medalist.... |
| 1995 | |
Yuka Sato Yuka Sato is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion, the 1990 World Junior Champion and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Personal life:... |
Kurt Browning Kurt Browning Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:... |
Kovarikova Radka Kovaríková Radka Kovaříková is a Czech pair skater. She skates with partner René Novotný. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... & Novotny René Novotný René Novotný is a Czech pair skater. He skates with partner Radka Kovaříková. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... |
Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:... & Dean Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill... |
| 1996 | |
Kristi Yamaguchi Kristi Yamaguchi Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two... |
Kurt Browning Kurt Browning Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:... |
Bechke Elena Bechke Elena Yurievna Bechke is a Russian pair skater. She competed for the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Unified Team. With partner Denis Petrov, she is the 1992 Olympic silver medalist, the 1989 World bronze medalist, and the 1991 & 1992 European silver medalist.- Career... & Petrov Denis Petrov Denis Alekseyevich Petrov is a Russian pair skater who competed for the Soviet Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Unified Team... |
Torvill Jayne Torvill Jayne Torvill, OBE is a British ice dancer. With Christopher Dean, she won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Early life:... & Dean Christopher Dean Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill... |
| 1997 | |
Kristi Yamaguchi Kristi Yamaguchi Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two... |
Kurt Browning Kurt Browning Kurt Browning, CM is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.-Life and career:... |
Kovarikova Radka Kovaríková Radka Kovaříková is a Czech pair skater. She skates with partner René Novotný. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... & Novotny René Novotný René Novotný is a Czech pair skater. He skates with partner Radka Kovaříková. They are the 1995 World champions. They were coached by Irina Rodnina. After winning their World title, they married and turned pro... |
Roca Renee Roca Renée Roca is an American ice dancer and choreographer. She is a three-time U.S. national champion with different partners. Competing with partner Donald Adair, she is the 1986 U.S. national champion. She later teamed up with Russian skater Gorsha Sur, with whom she is the 1993 and 1995 U.S... & Sur Gorsha Sur Georgi 'Gorsha' Sur is a former ice dancer who represented the United States and the Soviet Union. With Svetlana Liapina for the Soviet Union, he is a two-time World Junior medalist. With Renée Roca for the U.S., he is a two-time U.S... |
| 1998 | |
Michelle Kwan Michelle Kwan Michelle Wingshan Kwan is an American figure skater. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, a five-time World champion and a nine-time U.S... |
Alexei Yagudin Alexei Yagudin Alexei Konstantinovich Yagudin is a former Russian figure skater. His major achievements in his six years of eligible sports career include:*2002 Olympic Champion*Four-time World Champion... |
Kazakova Oksana Kazakova Oksana Borisovna Kazakova is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1998 Olympic champion and 1996 European Champion.-Biography:Kazakova began skating at age 4.... & Dmitriev Artur Dmitriev Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994... |
Usova Maya Usova Maya Valentinovna Usova , born 22 May 1964 in Gorky is a Russian ice dancer. With Alexander Zhulin, she is the 1993 World champion, 1994 Olympic silver medalist, 1992 Olympic bronze medalist.- Career :... & Platov Evgeny Platov Evgeny Arkadievich Platov is a Russian former ice dancer. He is best known for his partnership with Oksana Grishuk from 1989–1998... |
| 1999 | |
Tara Lipinski Tara Lipinski Tara Kristen Lipinski is an American figure skater. At the age of 15, she won the Ladies' Singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Lipinski remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She is also the 1997 World... |
Alexei Urmanov Alexei Urmanov Alexei Yevgenyevich Urmanov is a Russian figure skater, who currently works as a coach. He is the 1994 Olympic champion and an Honoured Masters of Sports of the Russian Federation.- Career :... |
Leonova Elena Leonova Elena Leonova is a former Soviet pair skater. She is a two-time World Junior champion with partner Gennadi Krasnitski. After ending her ISU competitive career, she toured with a show produced by Tatiana Tarasova and teamed up with Andrei Khvalko. They competed at the World Professional... & Khvalko |
Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,... & Swallow Jerod Swallow Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.... |
| 2000 | |
Yuka Sato Yuka Sato is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion, the 1990 World Junior Champion and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Personal life:... |
Philippe Candeloro Philippe Candeloro Philippe Candeloro is a French figure skater who medalled at the 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympics.-Early years:Philippe Candeloro was born in Courbevoie, in France, the youngest of four children... |
Leonova Elena Leonova Elena Leonova is a former Soviet pair skater. She is a two-time World Junior champion with partner Gennadi Krasnitski. After ending her ISU competitive career, she toured with a show produced by Tatiana Tarasova and teamed up with Andrei Khvalko. They competed at the World Professional... & Khvalko |
Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan Elizabeth Punsalan or Swallow is an American ice dancer. With her partner and husband Jerod Swallow, she is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.- Career :Early in her career, Punsalan competed with Christopher Rettstatt,... & Swallow Jerod Swallow Jerod Swallow is an American ice dancer. With his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan, he is a five-time U.S. national champion, two-time Skate America champion, and competed twice in the Winter Olympics.... |
| 2001 | |
Yuka Sato Yuka Sato is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion, the 1990 World Junior Champion and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Personal life:... |
Ilia Kulik Ilia Kulik Ilia Alexandrovich Kulik is a Russian figure skater. He is the 1998 Olympic Champion, the 1995 European Champion, the 1997–1998 Grand Prix Final champion, and the 1995 World Junior champion.- Career :... |
Kazakova Oksana Kazakova Oksana Borisovna Kazakova is a retired Russian pair skater. With partner Artur Dmitriev, she is the 1998 Olympic champion and 1996 European Champion.-Biography:Kazakova began skating at age 4.... & Dmitriev Artur Dmitriev Artur Valeryevich Dmitriev is a Ukrainian-born Russian pair skater who competed internationally for the Soviet Union, the Unified Team, and Russia. He is a two-time Olympic Champion with Natalia Mishkutenok and Oksana Kazakova in 1992 and 1998 respectively, and also won Olympic silver in 1994... |
Krylova Anjelika Krylova Anjelika Alexeevna Krylova is a Russian retired ice dancer. With partner Oleg Ovsyannikov, she is the 1998 Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion. She currently works as a coach and choreographer in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.... & Ovsyannikov Oleg Ovsyannikov Oleg Vladimirovich Ovsyannikov is a Russian ice dancer. With partner Anjelika Krylova, he is the 1998 Olympic silver medalist and two-time World champion.- Career :... |
| 2002 | |
Yuka Sato Yuka Sato is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 1994 World Champion, the 1990 World Junior Champion and the 1993 & 1994 Japanese national champion. She placed 7th at the 1992 Winter Olympics and 5th at the 1994 Winter Olympics.-Personal life:... |
Alexei Yagudin Alexei Yagudin Alexei Konstantinovich Yagudin is a former Russian figure skater. His major achievements in his six years of eligible sports career include:*2002 Olympic Champion*Four-time World Champion... |
Salé Jamie Salé Jamie Rae Salé is a Canadian pair skater. With partner David Pelletier, she is a 2002 Olympic Champion and the 2001 World Champion. Salé & Pelletier's Olympic gold medal was shared with the Russian pair Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze after the 2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating... & Pelletier David Pelletier David Jacques Pelletier is a Canadian pairs figure skater. With his partner Jamie Salé, he was the co-gold medal winner at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games... |
Anissina Marina Anissina Marina Vyacheslavovna Anissina is a French-Russian ice dancer. With partner Gwendal Peizerat, she is the 2002 Olympic champion.- Career :... & Peizerat Gwendal Peizerat Gwendal Peizerat is a French ice dancer. With Marina Anissina, he is the 2002 Olympic champion, the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist, the 2000 World Champion, and a six-time French National Champion.-Biography:... |
Jaca competition
Confusingly, another professional skating competition held for many years in JacaJaca
Jaca is a city of northeastern Spain near the border with France, in the midst of the Pyrenees in the province of Huesca...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
was also known the "World Professional Figure Skating Championships"; its official name in Spanish was Campeonatos del Mundo de Patinaje Artístico Professional sobre Hielo. The forerunner of this event was an open professional championship for show skaters dating back to at least the 1930's that was held in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, initially under the auspices of the National Ice Skating Association of Great Britain, and later organized by the Imperial Professional Skaters Association. The event moved to Jaca with the sponsorship of the International Professional Skaters Union. During the 1980s it was quite a prestigious event with wide television coverage in Europe. Past winners of this event include Denise Biellmann
Denise Biellmann
Denise Biellmann is a Swiss professional figure skater. She is the 1981 European and World Champion. She won the Swiss Championships three times.-Amateur career:...
, Robert Wagenhoffer
Robert Wagenhoffer
Robert A. Wagenhoffer was an American figure skater. He won the bronze medal at the 1981 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and a silver the following year before turning pro in 1982. He also competed in pairs with Vicki Heasley and won a silver medal at Nationals in 1979.-Results:mens...
, Gary Beacom
Gary Beacom
Gary Beacom is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and author. He is the 1983 and 1984 Canadian silver medalist and finished 11th at the 1984 Winter Olympics....
, Scott Williams
Scott Williams (figure skater)
Scott Williams is a former American figure skater. Williams was the 1982 World Junior Champion and a three-time medalist at the U.S. National Championships from 1985 to 1987...
, Pierre Panayi, and Lorna Brown