Jozef Sabovcík
Encyclopedia
Jozef Sabovčík (born 4 December 1963 in Bratislava
, Czechoslovakia) is a Slovak
figure skater who competed representing Czechoslovakia
. He is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist
and two-time European Champion (1985 and 1986)
.
and in 1982 he also won bronze at Skate America
. At the 1983 European Championships
he won the silver medal.
In 1984, Sabovčík captured the Olympic bronze
medal behind Scott Hamilton
and Brian Orser
.
Sabovčík became a two-time European champion with wins in 1985
and 1986
. He also won 1985 Skate Canada International
and Skate America
. His coach was Agnesa Búřilová.
He landed a quad
toe loop
at the 1986 European Championships
. It was approved at the time as the first quad in competition but a few weeks later ruled invalid because of a touchdown with his free foot.
Despite a knee injury, he had to compete at the 1986 World Championships
because his federation did not believe he was really injured. He said, "It was the hardest 4½ minutes of my skating career, knowing that I had to finish, but could hardly walk, let alone skate." He retired from competition in 1986.
Sabovčík was known for his jumping ability and later turned it into a lucrative professional career. He is known for an excellent tuck Axel. "Sometimes there is beauty in simplicity and I think an open Axel is very beautiful. A tuck Axel is basically the same thing, but it has a little more edge to it, which is great for me, because I can use it with my rock numbers. If you noticed in my slower, quieter programs I always do an open Axel as it's better suited for that kind of music." He was disappointed by the loss of compulsory figures
, saying, "In my opinion, the quality of skating itself (not jumping) has gone down. Figures taught how to use edges, like Robin Cousins
and Brian Boitano
still do, that with a couple of pushes they can get across the whole rink, you don't see that with the new skaters."
He still performs professionally and is known by the nickname "Jumping Joe". Sabovčík sported a long flowing blond mullet
haircut and is known for performing to heavy metal and other rock music.
, with whom he has a son named Blade. His second marriage is to Jennifer Verili, with whom he has a son named Jozef Jaden, born in 2003.
He knows five languages: Slovak, Czech, English, Russian and German. He has dual Slovak and Canadian citizenship but resides in the U.S.
* Sub-national level
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Czechoslovakia) is a Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
figure skater who competed representing Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist
Figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Donald H. GilchristAssistant Referee:* Tjasa AndréeJudges: Vladimir Amsel Gerhard Frey Monique Georgelin Ida Tateoka Ingrid Linke Björn Elwin Tatiana Danilenko Oskar Urban Margaret Berezowski Tsukasa Kimura -Ladies:Katarina Witt became the first lady to repeat as...
and two-time European Champion (1985 and 1986)
European Figure Skating Championships
The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion...
.
Career
Sabovčík began skating when he was six years old. He was a six-time national champion of Czechoslovakia. He won the bronze medal at 1981 Skate Canada InternationalSkate Canada International
The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...
and in 1982 he also won bronze at Skate America
Skate America
Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly...
. At the 1983 European Championships
1983 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1983 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1982-1983 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
he won the silver medal.
In 1984, Sabovčík captured the Olympic bronze
Figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Donald H. GilchristAssistant Referee:* Tjasa AndréeJudges: Vladimir Amsel Gerhard Frey Monique Georgelin Ida Tateoka Ingrid Linke Björn Elwin Tatiana Danilenko Oskar Urban Margaret Berezowski Tsukasa Kimura -Ladies:Katarina Witt became the first lady to repeat as...
medal behind Scott Hamilton
Scott Hamilton (figure skater)
Scott Scovell Hamilton is an American figure skater and Olympic gold medalist. He won four consecutive U.S. championships , four consecutive World Championships and a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics....
and Brian Orser
Brian Orser
Brian Ernest Orser, OC is a Canadian retired competitive and professional figure skater. He is the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1987 World champion and the 1981-1988 Canadian national champion....
.
Sabovčík became a two-time European champion with wins in 1985
1985 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1985 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1984-1985 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
and 1986
1986 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1986 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1985-1986 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
. He also won 1985 Skate Canada International
Skate Canada International
The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's...
and Skate America
Skate America
Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly...
. His coach was Agnesa Búřilová.
He landed a quad
Quad (figure skating)
A quad, or "quadruple", is a figure skating jump with four or more, but fewer than five, revolutions. Most quadruple jumps have exactly four revolutions; the quadruple Axel has 4½ revolutions, although no figure skater to date has completed this jump, either in practice, or, more importantly, in...
toe loop
Toe loop jump
The toe loop is one of the simplest jumps in figure skating. It is usually the second jump learned after the salchow. It is a toe pick-assisted jump that takes off and lands on the same backward outside edge. - Toe loop technique :...
at the 1986 European Championships
1986 European Figure Skating Championships
The 1986 European Figure Skating Championships were the European Figure Skating Championships of the 1985-1986 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from European ISU Member Nations competed for the title of European Champion...
. It was approved at the time as the first quad in competition but a few weeks later ruled invalid because of a touchdown with his free foot.
Despite a knee injury, he had to compete at the 1986 World Championships
1986 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
because his federation did not believe he was really injured. He said, "It was the hardest 4½ minutes of my skating career, knowing that I had to finish, but could hardly walk, let alone skate." He retired from competition in 1986.
Sabovčík was known for his jumping ability and later turned it into a lucrative professional career. He is known for an excellent tuck Axel. "Sometimes there is beauty in simplicity and I think an open Axel is very beautiful. A tuck Axel is basically the same thing, but it has a little more edge to it, which is great for me, because I can use it with my rock numbers. If you noticed in my slower, quieter programs I always do an open Axel as it's better suited for that kind of music." He was disappointed by the loss of compulsory figures
Compulsory figures
Compulsory figures or school figures were formerly an aspect of the sport of figure skating, from which the sport derives its name. Carving specific patterns or figures into the ice was the original focus of the sport. The patterns of compulsory figures all derive from the basic figure eight...
, saying, "In my opinion, the quality of skating itself (not jumping) has gone down. Figures taught how to use edges, like Robin Cousins
Robin Cousins
Robert "Robin" Cousins is a British retired competitive figure skater. He is the 1980 Olympic Champion, the 1980 European champion, a three-time World medalist and four-time British national champion. He later starred in ice shows and also produced his own...
and Brian Boitano
Brian Boitano
Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season...
still do, that with a couple of pushes they can get across the whole rink, you don't see that with the new skaters."
He still performs professionally and is known by the nickname "Jumping Joe". Sabovčík sported a long flowing blond mullet
Mullet (haircut)
The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back. . The mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s...
haircut and is known for performing to heavy metal and other rock music.
Personal life
Sabovčík's first marriage was to Canadian champion Tracey WainmanTracey Wainman
Tracey Wainman is a Canadian figure skater. She won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in 1981 and 1986.Wainman first came to international prominence at the age of 12 in 1980, when she placed third at the Canadian Championships and was controversially selected to compete as Canada's sole...
, with whom he has a son named Blade. His second marriage is to Jennifer Verili, with whom he has a son named Jozef Jaden, born in 2003.
He knows five languages: Slovak, Czech, English, Russian and German. He has dual Slovak and Canadian citizenship but resides in the U.S.
Results
| Event | 1978-79 | 1979-80 | 1980-81 | 1981-82 | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
3rd | |||||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
19th | 16th | 12th | 16th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 6th |
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
17th | 9th | 5th | 8th | 2nd | 4th | 1st | 1st |
| Czechoslovakian Championships Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championships The Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championships were a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Czechoslovakia prior to the dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| Slovak Championships Slovak Figure Skating Championships The Slovak Figure Skating Championships are the figure skating national championships held annually to crown the national champions of Slovakia. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing across the levels of senior , junior, and novice... * |
1st | |||||||
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
3rd | 1st | ||||||
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
3rd | 1st | ||||||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
WD | 4th | WD |