I’ve said this in other threads, but K/F are the most decorated US pair since the 1950s.
Actually
@moonvine, I did some historical fact-checking. K/F are right up there, but they aren't the most decorated U.S. pair, truthfully (which despite their World championship win, it would be hard for them to have amassed a huge amount of medals together over only two years). K/F are among three U.S. pairs partners who won pairs gold at Worlds, but their expected Olympic silver medal is a team medal. The first U.S. and North American pair to win Worlds in 1950*
(Karol & Peter Kennedy), also won individual Olympic silver, in 1952.
*In addition, the Kennedys won four World silver medals, the first in 1947! Plus, just in terms of hardware (and it's important to remember that earlier eras did not have as many competitions), much respect should be given to Tai & Randy who earned two World bronze medals, before winning gold at Worlds in 1979. T&R (brought together by coach, Mabel Fairbanks, and later coached by the legendary John Nicks) are five-time U.S. champions, and they also won two U.S. silver medals in pairs, along with placing 5th at the Olympics in 1976, among other achievements.
Another John Nicks team, Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, won numerous medals together
and with other partners (especially Todd, who won U.S. and World medals with Natasha Kuchiki). As well, Chris & Alex Knierim won a ton of figure skating medals during their career together, and Brandon, with his former partner, Haven Denney, were no slouches either, having won Junior Worlds; U.S. junior and senior medals, including a national championship and two senior national silver medals; also GP medals, and a senior B medal.
Interestingly, while digging into the stats research, I discovered that Todd Sand's father was Danish, which allowed Todd to begin his career representing Denmark, in singles! Todd competed at the European championships in 1982 and 1983. He was also Denmark's men's champion in 1982 and 1983, before he returned to the U.S., switched to pairs, and won a bronze medal in junior pairs at the U.S. national championships (1984), with Lori Blasko. Todd & Lori also won an international championship in Prague. Todd then paired with Natasha Kuchiki, and after the 1992 Olympics, he & Jenni told their mutual coach, John Nicks, that they wanted to skate together. They were also up front about breaking the news to their respective partners, which must have been difficult. I still remember when that happened way back when! Another tidbit that I personally remember: Todd & Jenni appeared on a cover of
Dance Magazine in either 1995 or 1996 -- they were celebrated as 'dance artists on ice!'
Learning some of the things I didn't know about Todd/Jenni's career reveals to me just how modest they are.
It could very well be that Todd & Jenni are the most decorated pairs team in U.S. history, in addition to being successful coaches, carrying on the legacy that former British champion, John Nicks, helped carve out for U.S. pairs. LOL! Todd and Jenni do not toot their own horns, unlike Bruno Marcotte, who rattled on about having trained a World championship team (during that awkward moment at the sp small medal ceremony and press conference in Montpelier).
There are other U.S. teams who placed high at the Olympics, and who won numerous Worlds, U.S., and international medals (including JoJo Starbuck & Ken Shelley, who were great mentors to Tai & Randy). I'll place an additional post about this in the U.S. pairs thread, with more details. It pays to do research, which I enjoy doing.
