Figure Skaters That Have Competed In Other Sports | Page 2 | Golden Skate

Figure Skaters That Have Competed In Other Sports

4everchan said:
Many figure skaters have competed in hockey.

Most recently and at a rather high level : Kiki. (Kieran Thrasher)

I also think, like @elektra blue that roller skating is a completely different sport. I am not sure why @CaroLiza_fan thinks otherwise. Have you tried just skating in those different boots ? The feeling is so weird going from one to the other. Sure, they are cousins but they are not twins :) Talking about twins... Don't we wish that Matteo had many twins ? :)
Click to expand...
we all know by now our @CaroLiza_fan has...peculiar ideas :ROFLMAO: on many subjects too
 
TARA LIPINSKI (she was already mentioned by @CaroLiza_fan) - At the age of three she began roller skating, and became a national champion in her group when she was nine years old... (Wikipedia)
Tara competing on roller skates - https://youtu.be/KBwBTfxd5ds?is=8askAi6-a9nejpCw .

NATHAN CHEN - To improve his coordination and strength and supplement his skating, Chen's mother enrolled him in gymnastics and ballet classes. He trained with Ballet West Academy for more than six years and competed at state level in gymnastics, placing first in the all-around at the Utah Boys' State Gymnastics Championships in St. George in 2008. As a child, Chen also trained as a pianist and won local competitions in his age group and later learned to play guitar as an extracurricular activity... (wikipedia).
Nathan's fluff with piano play included - https://youtu.be/Lsifjthletw?is=3gLeZJbni8cUTBpx

JOHNNY WEIR - Weir was raised in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, winning several equestrian competitions before switching to figure skating at the age of 12... (wikipedia)

Here are skaters with another sport, but Internet doesn't offer information about competitions:

SASHA COHEN - Sasha Cohen started out as a child practicing gymnastics, but began figure skating when she was seven... (https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/sasha-cohen )

ILIA MALININ - Growing up in Virginia, Malinin picked up soccer and gymnastics in his childhood... (https://time.com/7359977/ilia-malinin-olympics-2026-figure-skating-inteview/ ).

NATALIA MIKHAILOVA (I am not sure, whether people remember her, she was ice dancer, Junior World Silver medalist in 2006) - Mikhailova also practised ballroom dancing before focusing on skating. (https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004860.htm )

IF we include ballet and musical instruments. Usually people attending ballet or musical schools are attending competitions as well...(musical instrument is definitely not sport, but it takes no less time to master it).

ZACHARY LAGHA - The Canadian ice dancer has played the piano at concerts and competitions since he was five years old, including on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City, USA... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

JUULIA TURKKILA - At the age of six, Turkkila began ballet training at the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, an intensive program that shaped her foundational skills in dance and expression. By age eight, her training intensified to five days a week, including participation in productions, which provided a strong base for her later athletic pursuits. (https://grokipedia.com/page/Juulia_Turkkila )
Juulia was doing ballet until 2007 - she was 13 years old. She was dancing little Klara in Nutcracker in Finish Opera House.

EMANUEL SANDHU - He studied at Canada's renowned National Ballet School for 10 years... (https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/emanuel-sandhu/ )

LUCINDA RUH - She was initially more focused on ballet than skating and at age seven received a scholarship to the Royal Ballet of London. She also practiced the piano and cello... (Wikipedia)

PETR GUMENNIK - plays the piano. He was attending musical school, playing solo or in a duet, concerting in Germany for example... ( https://matchtv.ru/figure-skating/m...helanii_mog_stat_pianistom__figurist_Gumennik ).
At recent show of Alexey Mishin's birthday celebration this year he played and skated to Moonlight Sonata - https://youtu.be/kUvfBhZUpNY?is=kItUsqWU0XsPYFJe .

SARAH HUGHES - played the violin in her school orchestra... (https://www.isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/sarah-hughes/ )

MADELINE SCHIZAS - “I have a good ear for music, and I'm able to count really well,” said Canada’s four-time national champion Madeline Schizas, who was a piano player for 12 years... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

KIMMY REPOND - Switzerland’s Kimmy Repond started playing the piano around the same time as she started skating. While she loved both activities, she had to choose between them when she turned 12, as juggling the two became too hectic... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

DANIEL & KATERINA MRAZEK's siblings are playing the piano (I don't know on what level).

DANIJIL SZEMKO - The Hungarian ice dancer plays the guitar and harmonica in an underground band that performs in bars, clubs and cafes... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

ERIK RADFORD - began skating and playing piano at the age of eight. As his figure-skating career started taking off, he continued to practise piano and maintain a close connection to his musical side by embracing the pieces to which he would skate... (https://www.cbc.ca/music/olympic-ch...-perfect-piece-of-music-to-skate-to-1.5788230 )
Erik is composer as well - his Storm live - https://youtu.be/_CRnazpB7dM?is=NB1Op-vT9hwvBp0v .
 
sisinka said:
NATALIA MIKHAILOVA (I am not sure, whether people remember her, she was ice dancer, Junior World Silver medalist in 2006) - Mikhailova also practised ballroom dancing before focusing on skating. (https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004860.htm )
Click to expand...

Oh, I definitely remember Natalia! One of my skating crushes. :love:

Not sure about her taste in men, though. :laugh: But Zhulin is a VERY lucky guy!

Anyway, what a comprehensive post! :bow: :clap: :points:

I found out so many things that I didn't previously know.

sisinka said:
IF we include ballet and musical instruments. Usually people attending ballet or musical schools are attending competitions as well...(musical instrument is definitely not sport, but it takes no less time to master it).
Click to expand...

So true!

German Ice Dancer Michail Savitskiy is another one that plays the piano, and has done competitions. Although I don't think it is from a competition, here he is playing some Beethoven:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEsxKPEU-2A

There are videos of him playing other pieces on the same channel. (I assume it belongs to his Dad).

I had previously seen a photo of Michail playing in a concert at Larnaca Castle in Cyprus many years ago, but I hadn't actually found any videos of him playing until today.

The less said about his rapping, though, the better... :slink:

Israeli Ladies Singles skaters Liza and Katya Gervits also play the piano, and have done lots of competitions. Their mother, Lubov Yanpolsky, is a piano teacher (and Adult skater!)

Here they are playing some Verdi when they were toddlers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8RhP4i80hA

And now a couple of videos of them playing in a competition when they were a bit older:

Liza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjMQ6k0Z1_U
Katya - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9LfFMuZQCw

Anyway, thank you for bringing this thread back on topic so well.

:thank:

CaroLiza_fan
 
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Charlie White played violin in high school.
Charlie had some bet with the sportscaster that if he & Meryl won, he would play the violin on tv. He had not played in 3 years.

Here Charlie pays up

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youtu.be youtu.be

Haven Denney & Brandon Frazier started out as pairs roller skaters
Haven was the 2003 US Roller Skating silver medalist in pairs
 
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Tabitha Yim is a former US elite and NCAA gymnast. Her situation is the opposite of others mentioned here. She did both gymnastics and figure skating for a few years (made it up to Novice in skating) but then chose to focus on gymnastics. She made it onto the 2001 World Gymnastics Team for the US after being 2nd at 2001 gymnastics nationals. She was 4th at the 2004 gymnastics Olympic Trials but the next day she tore her Achilles and wasn't chosen for the 2004 Olympics. After that she went and competed on the Stanford gymnastics team. She plays the flute too. She coaches the Stanford gymnastics team now.

Tabitha is from Southern California and trained in skating with a young Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu, as well as Sasha Cohen. She did homeschooling with Naomi Nari Nam.

Here's a 2016 interview of Tabitha with Dave and Jenny where she explains doing both. From the beginning through 12:40 is the skating part.
 
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CaroLiza_fan said:
Mmmm. This will probably be a controversial statement, but I don't think of roller skating as being a different sport. I think of roller skating as being the summer version of ice skating. Which is why I have often thought that it would make more sense to have one governing body that looks after figure skating and artistic roller skating; and a separate governing body that looks after speed skating and inline speed skating. Rather than what we currently have: one governing body that looks after figure skating and speed skating; and a separate governing body that looks after artistic roller skating and inline speed skating (as well as all other roller sports).

But, getting back on topic, Matteo wasn't the only one that competed on wheels as well as blades. Here are some more:

  • Anushka GLÄSER (DEU)
  • Marika ZANFORLIN / Federico DEGLI ESPOSTI (ITA)
  • Caydee DENNEY (USA)
  • Haven DENNEY / Brandon FRAZIER (USA)
  • Tara LIPINSKI (USA)

Although it wasn't in competition, during the pandemic, I saw videos of one of my kids, Maria-Nelly AFXENTIOU (CYP), doing her programmes on roller skates while the ice rink was closed.

Come to think of it, I remember seeing videos of her whole club (Amathusia) doing training sessions on roller skates at the Molos seafront park in Limassol during the pandemic.

CaroLiza_fan
Click to expand...
Those who tried roller skates to go on skating during CoViD quarantines, said that it was really different.
French brothers Joshua and Xan... Rols (I didn't invent it!) haven't competed very much internationally in Figure Skating but they've long been staples at National level, with usually participation at the Championnat de France Elite (French Senior National Championship) and Masters, and in Roller Figure Skating competitions too, their hometown Toulouse been known for their strong Roller culture; and Xan Rols even getting a Roller World Silver Medal where his older brother was fourth:
actu.fr

Mondial de roller artistique : les deux premières médailles françaises

Le championnat du monde de roller artistique et danse sur roulettes se déroule jusqu'au 13 octobre, au Vendéspace, à Mouilleron-le-Captif.
actu.fr actu.fr

Here's Xan Rols Free Skate last season at the Warsaw Cup (Challenger):

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com


Here's Joshua Rols Long Program:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com


bartlebooth said:
Calmat became a surgeon and a politician after skating, so he did quite well for himself. No hockey, though.
Back on topic, Kevin Aymoz was French national champion in baton twirling
Click to expand...
Thank you for remembering them! Alain Calmat has been a Youth and Sports Minister and for a long time a Representative and the Mayor of a Paris suburban town, and is still a member of the Sports Academy and chairs the Medical part of the French Olympic Committee.

Kevin Aymoz was 2016 N2 France Champion in Twirling Baton, I don't know Twirling Baton but I'd say that N2 is for National 2, usually in France it means the second league? Here's his copmetition:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
sisinka said:
TARA LIPINSKI (she was already mentioned by @CaroLiza_fan) - At the age of three she began roller skating, and became a national champion in her group when she was nine years old... (Wikipedia)
Tara competing on roller skates - https://youtu.be/KBwBTfxd5ds?is=8askAi6-a9nejpCw .

NATHAN CHEN - To improve his coordination and strength and supplement his skating, Chen's mother enrolled him in gymnastics and ballet classes. He trained with Ballet West Academy for more than six years and competed at state level in gymnastics, placing first in the all-around at the Utah Boys' State Gymnastics Championships in St. George in 2008. As a child, Chen also trained as a pianist and won local competitions in his age group and later learned to play guitar as an extracurricular activity... (wikipedia).
Nathan's fluff with piano play included - https://youtu.be/Lsifjthletw?is=3gLeZJbni8cUTBpx

JOHNNY WEIR - Weir was raised in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, winning several equestrian competitions before switching to figure skating at the age of 12... (wikipedia)

Here are skaters with another sport, but Internet doesn't offer information about competitions:

SASHA COHEN - Sasha Cohen started out as a child practicing gymnastics, but began figure skating when she was seven... (https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/sasha-cohen )

ILIA MALININ - Growing up in Virginia, Malinin picked up soccer and gymnastics in his childhood... (https://time.com/7359977/ilia-malinin-olympics-2026-figure-skating-inteview/ ).

NATALIA MIKHAILOVA (I am not sure, whether people remember her, she was ice dancer, Junior World Silver medalist in 2006) - Mikhailova also practised ballroom dancing before focusing on skating. (https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004860.htm )

IF we include ballet and musical instruments. Usually people attending ballet or musical schools are attending competitions as well...(musical instrument is definitely not sport, but it takes no less time to master it).

ZACHARY LAGHA - The Canadian ice dancer has played the piano at concerts and competitions since he was five years old, including on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City, USA... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

JUULIA TURKKILA - At the age of six, Turkkila began ballet training at the Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, an intensive program that shaped her foundational skills in dance and expression. By age eight, her training intensified to five days a week, including participation in productions, which provided a strong base for her later athletic pursuits. (https://grokipedia.com/page/Juulia_Turkkila )
Juulia was doing ballet until 2007 - she was 13 years old. She was dancing little Klara in Nutcracker in Finish Opera House.

EMANUEL SANDHU - He studied at Canada's renowned National Ballet School for 10 years... (https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/emanuel-sandhu/ )

LUCINDA RUH - She was initially more focused on ballet than skating and at age seven received a scholarship to the Royal Ballet of London. She also practiced the piano and cello... (Wikipedia)

PETR GUMENNIK - plays the piano. He was attending musical school, playing solo or in a duet, concerting in Germany for example... ( https://matchtv.ru/figure-skating/m...helanii_mog_stat_pianistom__figurist_Gumennik ).
At recent show of Alexey Mishin's birthday celebration this year he played and skated to Moonlight Sonata - https://youtu.be/kUvfBhZUpNY?is=kItUsqWU0XsPYFJe .

SARAH HUGHES - played the violin in her school orchestra... (https://www.isu-skating.com/figure-skating/skaters/sarah-hughes/ )

MADELINE SCHIZAS - “I have a good ear for music, and I'm able to count really well,” said Canada’s four-time national champion Madeline Schizas, who was a piano player for 12 years... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

KIMMY REPOND - Switzerland’s Kimmy Repond started playing the piano around the same time as she started skating. While she loved both activities, she had to choose between them when she turned 12, as juggling the two became too hectic... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

DANIEL & KATERINA MRAZEK's siblings are playing the piano (I don't know on what level).

DANIJIL SZEMKO - The Hungarian ice dancer plays the guitar and harmonica in an underground band that performs in bars, clubs and cafes... (https://www.olympics.com/en/news/mu...-figure-skaters-piano-guitar-drums-interviews )

ERIK RADFORD - began skating and playing piano at the age of eight. As his figure-skating career started taking off, he continued to practise piano and maintain a close connection to his musical side by embracing the pieces to which he would skate... (https://www.cbc.ca/music/olympic-ch...-perfect-piece-of-music-to-skate-to-1.5788230 )
Erik is composer as well - his Storm live - https://youtu.be/_CRnazpB7dM?is=NB1Op-vT9hwvBp0v .
Click to expand...
If we are to include Arts, Elizabet Tursynbaeva is said to be a Professional level Violinist but I find no more about it. She also integrated MGIMO which isn't a small thing!
 
DizzyFrenchie said:
If we are to include Arts, Elizabet Tursynbaeva is said to be a Professional level Violinist but I find no more about it. She also integrated MGIMO which isn't a small thing!
Click to expand...
I doubt that's accurate.

What happens is that often, kids who are talented in such fields are often able to excel at everything. It's been a subject of studies... multi-talented individuals. But to be a top-notch figure skating, a professional musician, any kind of world level athletes or artist, you gotta focus on one thing. It's just impossible to do both in way to reach the top. It's a question of time, discipline and logistics, simply put.

I read her bio. It said she studied in a music school in Moscow. So I am guessing that she was very talented and reached a top level before she moved to Canada as a teenager. Unless she was a child prodigy, and even then, I doubt she would be considered at the same level as the violinists who were pretty much at her level at her age and continued their training.

For instance, Zach Lagha is very humble about his own musical achievements now. He could have been a pianist but at his age, he is truly a very good amateur pianist. He downplayed the Carnegie Hall deal in a recent interview I read (with some Russian journalist.. it was posted on here). Zach didn't choose music as his major at Concordia University. He chose dance. He is very aware that he wouldn't be able to do both.
Could he have been a great pianist ? Certainly. Very talented individual. However, he chose figure skating.

This is what irks me about such threads. What purpose does it serve ? Does it help glorifying figure skaters because they were doing so many other things ? Well, most kids nowadays do so many other things :) I am fine with that part, but I believe it isn't fair to the kids who have chosen to dedicate their lives to music or any other discipline, have reached a much higher level, and then, hear that a figure skater who plays the violin or the piano at a high level but still at an amateur level, getting so much praise. Of course, there may be exceptional cases where someone pursued both. These can be interesting but they are rare. Right now, we are getting a list of pretty much everyone who played a musical instrument..... which is like so many kids nowadays :)

I mentioned Kieran Thrasher earlier. He was a very high level hockey player. However, he was about to make a choice. He couldn't do both.
His choice was made easier for him as he wasn't drafted to go further as a hockey player. For the purpose of this thread, he competed in both sports. Is he a hockey player ? Not in the sense that Sydney Crosby is.
 
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