Figure Skaters That Have Competed In Other Sports

[CaroLiza_fan]

Recently, I was trying to find out if the Cyprus Championships were held in the 2025-26 Season, so that I could post about them before the Competition Forum was archived. I didn't have any joy, but while looking, I found a Facebook page from a few years ago that belonged to a skater that I hadn't come across before:

• Christiana CHRISTOU (CYP)

At that time, she was coaching at the rink in Nicosia (the one with the big concrete pillar in the middle of the ice). But when I then looked at her own profile, I discovered that throughout the time she was coaching figure skating, she was also competing in bodybuilding competitions. And I thought "that is very different to figure skating! I wonder if anybody else has competed in both".

So, I did a few Google searches, and the AI Overview came up with some figure skaters that also competed in bodybuilding:

• Nikou AHMADI (AUS)
• Adele MORRISON (AUS)
• Peyton DUTCHER (CAN)
• Antonia MANDER (GBR)

I have to admit, I am not familiar with any of them. But looking them up, one of them stood out. Adele MORRISON, who was the 2014-15 Australian Senior Ice Dance Champion with Shane SPEDEN.

Eventually it did come up with somebody who rang a bell:

• Elaine JURUN (USA)

Elaine was competing at the ISU Adult Competition in Oberstdorf that I watched a few weeks ago, winning both Masters Elite Pairs competitions with Alec SCHMITT. (She also does Singles skating, but didn't compete in it at this edition). She actually competed in both figure skating and bodybuilding at the same time, but retired from bodybuilding last year.

Just as an aside, the AI also told me that Gregor WEISS (USA), the father of 1993-94 Junior Men's World Champion Michael WEISS (USA), switched from artistic gymnastics to bodybuilding.

Although not bodybuilding, those Google searches also came up with:

• Janyce OKAMOTO (USA), who switched from Ladies Singles skating to Weightlifting

This started wondering me about other sports. And two very famous examples immediately came to mind:

• Elise CHRISTIE (GBR), who switched from Ladies Singles skating to Short Track Speed Skating
• Tonya HARDING (USA), who switched from Ladies Singles skating to Boxing

And then I remembered that two of my kids also switched to other sports:

• Andrea LOIZIDOU (CYP) switched from Ladies Singles skating to Alpine Skiing
• Yelizaveta PARSHYNA (CYP) switched from Ladies Singles skating to Windsurfing

A few months ago, Andrea competed in the Women's Slalom at the 2026 Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo, although she crashed out of the first run. So, I suppose you could say that she is the first figure skater from Cyprus to compete in the Olympics.

So, can anybody else think of any other figure skaters who have competed in other sports?

By the way, I was waiting until things went a bit quiet on here to start this thread. However, today I read the post that @TallyT's put up in the dreams thread yesterday, and thought that that would be a nice tie-in for this discussion.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Mathman]

I think that way, way back in th day, this was quite common. Karl Schafer (two-time Olympic gold medalist) also competed at the 1932 summer Olympics in swimming (breaststroke).

Sonja Henie was an accomplished skier. tennis player, swimmer and equestrian before settling on figure skating.

Eduard Englemann, Jr. (an engineer who, with his father, pioneered indoor ice skating rinks), won three European championships in figure skating and also three national championships in cycling .

File:E engelmann.jpg - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[elektra blue]

Matteo Guarise was a roller skater

 

[TallyT]

By the way, I was waiting until things went a bit quiet on here to start this thread. However, today I read the post that @TallyT's put up in the dreams thread yesterday, and thought that that would be a nice tie-in for this discussion.

CaroLiza_fan

I aim to serve....

 

[TontoK]

This doesn't quite fit the topic, but it's close, and it's been something I'm wondering about. Long story...

My wife and I have been watching Castle Impossible on HBO. It's a show where a young American couple are renovating a French chateau she inherited from her grandfather - highly recommended for a lighthearted at-home date night, my fellow Romeos. ANYWAY, in one episode, she found an Olympic medal in an outbuilding. Turns out one of her ancestors was a figure skater who was somehow drafted into hockey and represented France as an official (I think that's what the show determined). And he got a medal for that.

So, my question is this: Do officials or coaching staff of winning teams get medals? Or did they at one time? They found an old photograph of the gentleman skating, but he looked to me to be in a figure skating pose. They staged it with the medal in a bridal suite. A quick google search reveals that France has never won a hockey medal nor a men's figure skating medal until Candeloro.

 

[bartlebooth]

Before Candeloro, Alain Calmat won silver in figure skating in 1964 and, according to Wikipedia, was later a judge in competitions.

 

[ladyjane]

I don't actually remember a (famous) Figure skater who did another sport, but there was once a female long track speed skater (I think in the 90s) who had done Figure Skating before making the switch. She used to do spins on long track skates after winning medals. That's quite an achievement. I recall everbody looking forward to those moments. I think she came from Japan, but I am not sure.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I think that way, way back in th day, this was quite common.

To be honest, I'm not actually surprised to read that. Whereas athletes tend to specialise in just one sport nowadays, there did seem to be more playing the field (so to speak) in the past.

Karl Schafer (two-time Olympic gold medalist) also competed at the 1932 summer Olympics in swimming (breaststroke).

So he liked the water wet as well as solid.

Sonja Henie was an accomplished skier. tennis player, swimmer and equestrian before settling on figure skating.

She did what???!!!

Is there no end to her talents?!

I have been looking at something on eBay for a long time, and I have finally decided to buy it. And one of the other items that the seller has up is to do with Sonja Henie. I had been dithering over whether to buy it as well, but I think now that I will.

Eduard Englemann, Jr. (an engineer who, with his father, pioneered indoor ice skating rinks), won three European championships in figure skating and also three national championships in cycling .

File:E engelmann.jpg - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Why did you have to link specifically to that photo? Now I cannot stop trying to imagine trying to ride a penny farthing on ice...

Thank you as ever for all your historical references. It was very interesting reading.



CaroLiza_fan

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Matteo Guarise was a roller skater

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

 

[AlexBreeze]

Some athletes who have achieved success in other sports were figure skaters.
Such as:
Swimmer Summer McIntosh (CAN) (Brooke's sister) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_McIntosh
Cyclist Alina Lysenko (RUS) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Lysenko
Speed skater Alexandra Sayutina (RUS)

Olympic champion Nikolai Panin also competed at Olympics in shooting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Panin

Russian junior skater Roman Khamzin also competes in swimming.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DD4gHHjIeib/

Russian ice dancer Andrei Ezhlov previously played football for FC Lokomotiv Moscow.

Also I think there are many who competed in both FS and AG in novices/juniors such as Nathan Chen.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Some athletes who have achieved success in other sports were figure skaters.
Such as:
Swimmer Summer McIntosh (CAN) (Brooke's sister) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_McIntosh
Cyclist Alina Lysenko (RUS) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alina_Lysenko
Speer skater Alexandra Sayutina (RUS)

Olympic champion Nikolai Panin also competed at Olympics in shooting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Panin

Russian junior skater Roman Khamzin also competes in swimming.

Russian ice dancer Andrei Ezhlov previously played football for FC Lokomotiv Moscow.

Also I think there are many who competed in both FS and AG in novices/juniors such as Nathan Chen.

And we have more skaters who like their water wet as well as solid!

I can't remember if she actually did competitions, but one of my now-retired kids, Giorgia Isabella SECHI (CYP), was a keen swimmer.

Now that you mention them, I did hear before about Summer McIntosh and Nikolai Panin before. But I had forgotten.

But I didn't know about the others you mention. Very interesting.

I just read an interview where Sayutina talks about what prompted her to switch, and my goodness! I was a massive Pogorilaya fan, so I am so sorry to hear that the coaches took their frustration with Anna's issues out on the other skaters in the team. That was not right.

Since you mention somebody who is now a cyclist, I'll just throw in something. A few months ago, I was watching a quiz show and there was a question asking what sport Primož ROGLIČ (SVN) competes in. And I instantly said "ski jumping", because that is were I know him from. Of course, the contestant said "cycling", and was told they were correct. But it started me wondering if they would have accepted ski jumping as an answer.

Anyway, thank you so much for all that information.



CaroLiza_fan

 

[dorispulaski]

Surya Bonaly was an accomplished gymnast.

Surya Bonaly - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

She "won a silver medal for the trampoline in team tumbling at the 1986 Tumbling World Championships when she was 12 years old."



French skater Vanessa Gusmeroli was a competitive water skier.

Vanessa Gusméroli - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"Gusmeroli won the junior European title in water skiing. She was awarded the silver medal at the 2003 European Water Ski Championships."

 

[TontoK]

Before Candeloro, Alain Calmat won silver in figure skating in 1964 and, according to Wikipedia, was later a judge in competitions.

Oh how did I miss that? Thank you for the correction.

The photograph of the skater in the show pre-dated 1964, so it wouldn't have had anything to do with that competition.

But still, my apologies to Alain Calmat for overlooking him.

 

[4everchan]

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 ?

 

[bartlebooth]

Oh how did I miss that? Thank you for the correction.

The photograph of the skater in the show pre-dated 1964, so it wouldn't have had anything to do with that competition.

But still, my apologies to Alain Calmat for overlooking him.

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

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

I also think, like @elektra blue that roller skating is a completely different sport. I am not sure why @CaroLiza_fan thinks otherwise.

I think otherwise because I'm odd!

Have you tried just skating in those different boots ?

My only experience of skating, be it on ice or solid ground, is one single lap of an ice rink when I was 15, clinging to the boards for dear life. And I vowed never again.

But, as the years have gone on, I have often thought I would like to try again. But that rink is closed now, and our other rink is too far away to justify it.

The feeling is so weird going from one to the other.

I would believe that!

Sure, they are cousins but they are not twins

But, I look at the way that the IBU runs both the summer and winter versions of biathlon, and the FIS runs both the summer and winter versions of the other ski sports, and think that it would be beneficial if skating sports were run the same way.

At the end of the day, there is more in common between what the human does in figure skating and artistic roller skating (particularly inline artistic roller skating) than there is between what the human does in figure skating and speed skating. And I feel that figure skating and artistic roller skating could develop better if they were run together with similar requirements for the programmes. And the same goes for speed skating and inline speed skating. And ice hockey and roller hockey.

(That said, I do feel that the FIS should be broken up into separate 3 governing bodies: one for Alpine Skiing / Snowboarding; one for Nordic Skiing / Snowboarding; and one for Freestyle Skiing / Snowboarding. And for the Nordic Skiing / Snowboarding body to also take over responsibility for biathlon. It is not good having one governing body looking after so many and so vastly differing sports).

Talking about twins... Don't we wish that Matteo had many twins ?

Not me. If it was his wife, though...

CaroLiza_fan

 

[4everchan]

I think otherwise because I'm odd!



My only experience of skating, be it on ice or solid ground, is one single lap of an ice rink when I was 15, clinging to the boards for dear life. And I vowed never again.

But, as the years have gone on, I have often thought I would like to try again. But that rink is closed now, and our other rink is too far away to justify it.



I would believe that!



But, I look at the way that the IBU runs both the summer and winter versions of biathlon, and the FIS runs both the summer and winter versions of the other ski sports, and think that it would be beneficial if skating sports were run the same way.

At the end of the day, there is more in common between what the human does in figure skating and artistic roller skating (particularly inline artistic roller skating) than there is between what the human does in figure skating and speed skating. And I feel that figure skating and artistic roller skating could develop better if they were run together with similar requirements for the programmes. And the same goes for speed skating and inline speed skating. And ice hockey and roller hockey.

(That said, I do feel that the FIS should be broken up into separate 3 governing bodies: one for Alpine Skiing / Snowboarding; one for Nordic Skiing / Snowboarding; and one for Freestyle Skiing / Snowboarding. And for the Nordic Skiing / Snowboarding body to also take over responsibility for biathlon. It is not good having one governing body looking after so many and so vastly differing sports).



Not me. If it was his wife, though...

CaroLiza_fan

So I guess there should be only ONE kind of motorized engines event. Only one. Because they all do the same

 

[labgoat]

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

Perfect name for a hockey player - although isn't it Thrasher not Trasher...

one other question which is the active team - I have both listed in my directory
Ava CHEUNG / Stephen Parc Qu LEE
Elena PELTIER / Stephen Parc Qu LEE

 

[4everchan]

Perfect name for a hockey player - although isn't it Thrasher not Trasher...

one other question which is the active team - I have both listed in my directory
Ava CHEUNG / Stephen Parc Qu LEE
Elena PELTIER / Stephen Parc Qu LEE

typo... correcting it. thanks

I think it's the latter.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

So I guess there should be only ONE kind of motorized engines event. Only one. Because they all do the same

OK. You got me there.

I do agree with having bike racing and car racing run separately, because the humans do different things in each.

Like with the FIS, I also feel that the FIM and the FIA are each looking after too many sports. But ironically given what I was saying above about skate sports, I would break each of them into a body for tarmac racing, and a body for off-road racing!

CaroLiza_fan