Who has had the longest eligible career? | Golden Skate

Who has had the longest eligible career?

Grgranny

Grgranny

Da' Spellin' Homegirl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
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?:confused:
 
Grushina and Goncharov and Laetitia Hubert come to mind, the latter having competed in an eye-popping 4 :eek: Olympics! 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.
 
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.
 
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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)
 
Michelle Kwan has been at US Senior Nats 12 times, 93-2004 and I think Tonia Kwaitkowski went to US Senior Nats 12 times, 87-98.

3axel
 
rena inoue

Rena Inoue have 10 Japanese National medals.

1987-88 Gold at Pairs Junior with Tomoaki Koyama
1989-90 Gold at Pairs Junior with Tomoaki Koyama
1990-91 Gold at Pairs Senior with Tomoaki Koyama, Gold at Ladies Junior
1991-92 Gold at Pairs Senior with Tomoaki Koyama, Silver at Ladies Junior (Gold was Kumiko Koiwai)
1992-93 Gold at Ladies Junior
1993-94 Silver at Ladies Senior (Gold was Yuka Sato), Silver at Ladies Junior (Gold was Hanae Yokoya)
1997-98 Bronze at Ladies Senior (Gold was Arakawa, Silver was Suguri)
 
Stojko's career was similar to Eldredge's. They both debuted at Worlds in 1990 and last competed at 2002 Olympics. Eldredge had been on the junior scene earlier (first Junior Worlds 1986, won 1988) and had been to senior fall events since 88 or 89 while Stojko was still doing juniors internationally.

Todd Sand first competed at Worlds in 1981 representing Denmark in singles. He last competed in pairs for the US in 1998.
 
Ivan Dinev has been around since 1992 (30th at his first Worlds) and he is only 25 years old. After his strong FP at Worlds this year he will probably continue skating for a while, I guess his options to do something else except maybe coaching, are limited.
 
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