Melissa Gregory
Encyclopedia
Melissa Gregory is an American ice dancer. With partner and husband Denis Petukhov
, she is the 2004–2007 U.S. silver medalist
.
to a Catholic
father, Joseph, and a Jewish mother, Dale. She has one older brother, Michael. She began skating at age seven. She competed in novice ladies' singles before deciding to concentrate on ice dance.
Gregory competed in junior ice dance with James Shuford until they split. She was without an ice dancing partner for nearly three years and told her coach that she would quit skating and go to college if she could not find one by September 1, 2000. She met Russian ice dancer Denis Petukhov
on an online skating partner search (he spoke little English and so had a friend write his messages for him) and he came to the United States on a tourist visa on August 31, 2000 to try skating with her and several other prospective partners. After skating with Gregory first, Petukhov canceled his other tryouts and never used his return plane ticket to Russia.
Gregory and Petukhov were married in Las Vegas, Nevada
on February 2, 2001. The next month they flew to Kirov, Russia
so that Petukhov's family could celebrate their marriage as well. Together, they have won four silver medals and two bronze medals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics
.
Gregory and Petukhov both suffered injuries in a fall during the warmup before the free dance at 2007 Skate Canada International
on November 4, 2007. Petukhov lost his footing while practicing a one-handed rotational lift and dropped Gregory onto the ice, injuring her ribs and hip and skidding into the boards himself, hurting his own knee and neck. Gregory was taken to a hospital following the fall but released that night. They were then forced to withdraw from competition for the rest of the season while they healed from their injuries.
Gregory and Petukhov did not return to competition, partially due to financial difficulties. In 2008, they moved to Connecticut and began coaching and choreographing for other skaters at the International Skating Center of Connecticut. They also launched their own YouTube
channel, OlympianUncut, focusing on a behind-the-scenes look at the skating world. Gregory and Petukhov are successful show skaters and also devote much of their time to Fever on Ice, a program they founded in 2009 that combines learn-to-skate sessions with academics and is targeted at middle school students in Connecticut. Fever on Ice was one of two "Rings of Gold" award winners for 2010, and Gregory was the first skater to receive the individual award for her contribution to the program.
but made a change in 2003 to Nikolai Morozov
and Shae-Lynn Bourne
. Following the 2005/2006 season, they switched again to Natalia Linichuk
and Gennadi Karpanosov at the University of Delaware
in Newark
. On September 7, 2007, they announced another coaching change, this time to Priscilla Hill
at The Pond Ice Arena, also in Newark
.
(with Shuford)
Denis Petukhov
Denis Petukhov is a Russian-American ice dancer. With partner and wife Melissa Gregory, he is the 2004-2007 U.S. silver medalist.-Biography:...
, she is the 2004–2007 U.S. silver medalist
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
.
Biography
Gregory was born in Highland Park, IllinoisHighland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
to a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
father, Joseph, and a Jewish mother, Dale. She has one older brother, Michael. She began skating at age seven. She competed in novice ladies' singles before deciding to concentrate on ice dance.
Gregory competed in junior ice dance with James Shuford until they split. She was without an ice dancing partner for nearly three years and told her coach that she would quit skating and go to college if she could not find one by September 1, 2000. She met Russian ice dancer Denis Petukhov
Denis Petukhov
Denis Petukhov is a Russian-American ice dancer. With partner and wife Melissa Gregory, he is the 2004-2007 U.S. silver medalist.-Biography:...
on an online skating partner search (he spoke little English and so had a friend write his messages for him) and he came to the United States on a tourist visa on August 31, 2000 to try skating with her and several other prospective partners. After skating with Gregory first, Petukhov canceled his other tryouts and never used his return plane ticket to Russia.
Gregory and Petukhov were married in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
on February 2, 2001. The next month they flew to Kirov, Russia
Kirov, Russia
Kirov or Kirova is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.Urban localities*Kirov, Kirov Oblast, a city and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast*Kirov, Kaluga Oblast, a town in Kaluga OblastRural localities...
so that Petukhov's family could celebrate their marriage as well. Together, they have won four silver medals and two bronze medals at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
.
Gregory and Petukhov both suffered injuries in a fall during the warmup before the free dance at 2007 Skate Canada International
2007 Skate Canada International
The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition. It is part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating...
on November 4, 2007. Petukhov lost his footing while practicing a one-handed rotational lift and dropped Gregory onto the ice, injuring her ribs and hip and skidding into the boards himself, hurting his own knee and neck. Gregory was taken to a hospital following the fall but released that night. They were then forced to withdraw from competition for the rest of the season while they healed from their injuries.
Gregory and Petukhov did not return to competition, partially due to financial difficulties. In 2008, they moved to Connecticut and began coaching and choreographing for other skaters at the International Skating Center of Connecticut. They also launched their own YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel, OlympianUncut, focusing on a behind-the-scenes look at the skating world. Gregory and Petukhov are successful show skaters and also devote much of their time to Fever on Ice, a program they founded in 2009 that combines learn-to-skate sessions with academics and is targeted at middle school students in Connecticut. Fever on Ice was one of two "Rings of Gold" award winners for 2010, and Gregory was the first skater to receive the individual award for her contribution to the program.
Coaching changes
Gregory and Petukhov were originally coached by Oleg Epstein and Sandra HessSandra Hess
Sandra Hess is an actress best known for her role as Sonya Blade in the film Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.-Biography:Hess began modeling and working on television commercials when she was 15...
but made a change in 2003 to Nikolai Morozov
Nikolai Morozov (figure skater)
Nikolai Alexandrovich Morozov is a Russian former competitive ice dancer, who works as a coach and a choreographer.- Personal life :Morozov was briefly married to his ice dancing partner Tatiana Navka. He later married French ice dancer Caroline Douarin with whom he has a daughter, Annabelle...
and Shae-Lynn Bourne
Shae-Lynn Bourne
Shae-Lynn Bourne, MSC is a Canadian ice dancer. She and partner Victor Kraatz became the first North American ice dancing world champions in 2003. They competed at three Winter Olympic Games, placing 10th at the 1994 Winter Olympics, 4th at the 1998 Winter Olympics, and 4th at the 2002 Winter...
. Following the 2005/2006 season, they switched again to Natalia Linichuk
Natalia Linichuk
- External links :*** - Navigation :...
and Gennadi Karpanosov at the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
in Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
. On September 7, 2007, they announced another coaching change, this time to Priscilla Hill
Priscilla Hill
Priscilla Hill is an American retired competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach. She was a two-time medalist at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and competed twice at the World Figure Skating Championships...
at The Pond Ice Arena, also in Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
.
Competitive highlights
(with Petukhov)| Event | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games 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... |
14th | ||||||
| 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... |
12th | 11th | 9th | 10th | |||
| Four Continents Championships | 6th | 4th | 2nd | ||||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | |
| Grand Prix Final Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. It is the culmination of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Skaters compete in men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
6th | ||||||
| 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... |
8th | 3rd | WD | ||||
| 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... |
5th | 5th | 2nd | ||||
| Cup of Russia Cup of Russia The Cup of Russia 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. It was held as the Rostelecom Cup in 2009 after... |
4th | ||||||
| Trophée Eric Bompard Trophée Eric Bompard The Trophée Eric Bompard is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The Trophée Eric Bompard was formerly known as the Trophée Lalique... |
4th | ||||||
| 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.... |
4th | 3rd | |||||
| Cup of China Cup of China The Cup of China is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The location changes yearly. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.The Cup of China is... |
4th | ||||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy Nebelhorn Trophy The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany. The competition is named after the Nebelhorn, a nearby mountain.... |
2nd |
- WD = Withdrew
(with Shuford)
| Event | 1995–1996 | 1996–1997 | 1997–1998 | 1998–1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
10th | |||
| U.S. Championships | 8th J. | 4th J. | 1st J. | |
| Junior Grand Prix, China 1998-1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 1998–1999 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the second season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level skaters... |
2nd |
- J = Junior level