While reading the Sasha thread about going to Torino, it got me to wondering who has been known for having the longest eligible career. Michelle has been eligible for quite a bit but am sure there would be others that have been eligible longer. Anyone know?
Grushina and Goncharov and Laetitia Hubert come to mind, the latter having competed in an eye-popping 4Olympics! As far as G&G are concerned, I remember their names being around since forever, can't remember how far back I recall hearing them mentioned for the first time.
Sarah
Don't know.
Let's see, for ladies only, just off the top of my head:
Sonja Henie 4 Olys +/- 13 years.
Latitia Hubert 4 Olys +/- 10 years
Elena Liashenko 3 Olys +/- 11 years
Irina Slutskya 2 Olys +/- 10 years
Rena Inoue first appears in 1990-1991 season in pairs, and she is still skating, this coming season would be her 15th! I went to check Rodnina and the Protopovovs, but Rena popped up where I didn't expect her. A lot of the dancers have been around a long time. I am going to check Navka.
I would think Todd Eldredge would have had to set some kind of record in this area.
I wonder how long Dimetriev skated eligible?
Todd Eldredge competed in International Seniors from 1990 until 2002.
He was in 3 Olympics ('92, '98, '02) and finished 10th, 4th and 6th.
He was in 8 Worlds and collected 6 World medals: one gold ('96), 3 silvers ('95, '97, '98) and two bronze ('91, '01)
He was a 6-time US Champion ('90, '91, '95, '97, '98, '02)
The Pair's award for the longest eligible career goes to.....drumroll please.... Lloyd Eisler. Had an eligible career from 1980 to 1994. (With 3 different partners including Isabel)
4 Olympics: 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1994.
As for Ice Dance, I wouldn't be suprised if out of the current competitiors-Navka has had the longest career. She first appeared(IIRC) at Skate America-or something like that in 1991. And has been skating ever since.
Singles: Todd Eldgridge maybe?
Actually Rena is beating Eisler! I know she has had 2 partners. But has she had more. Does anyone know?
And if you count John's singles career, he has been around a long time, too. He first becomes visible as the Men's Jr. Worlds bronze medallist in 1990. And of course, he too is still skating.
Last edited by dorispulaski; 05-11-2004 at 02:06 PM.
Both Albena Denkova and Marie-France Dubreil competed in the 89 Jr Worlds (with different partners), which I think might give them a bit of an edge over Tatiana Navka, who best as I can recall didn't really come along until about 90 or 91; adding to that, Albena is 2 years older than Tatiana and Marie-France is 1 year older.
I remember Rena from 1992 Olympics. However, I don't know if she has been skating and competing in all the years in between.
I also thought of Rodnina, and Sonja Heine.
but G&G took time off right? when they had Darya I think.
If we count Junior years then I think the years of the ones mentioned could be longer.
Pairs-since that is my favorite discipline)
Note-I just counted eliglible skating-both junior/senior level.
Rena Innoue: 1990-Present
Does anyone know when John Baldwin started pairs?
Lloyd Eisler: 1980-1994
Gordeeva & Grinkov: 1982-1990 (1991-1993 Pros) 1994
Artur Dmitriev: 1987-1992, (1992-1993 Pros) 1994-1998
Irina Rodnina: 1968-1980
Other Skaters that have been around a long time....
Jamie Sale
Julia Obertas
Todd Sand-at least from 1991
Jenni Meno
Kyoko Ina
I believe John Baldwin started pairs in -- let me calculate -- sometime in 2001, when he paired up with Rena. He didn't want to do it up until then and had to have his arm twisted from what I understand.
wasn't rena a singles skater in 1992? anyhoo =P
sergei ponomarenko (if we count jr worlds) has been around since 1978...making that a 14 year run...from 78 to 92 (2 partners)
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