Tracey Wainman
Encyclopedia
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 entry in the ladies event at that year's World Figure Skating Championships
instead of either of the two older skaters who had placed ahead of her in the national event. At that time she was being heavily promoted as a future champion by David Dore
, the head of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, as well as by Canadian television.
After winning the 1981 Canadian championship, Wainman began to struggle with the effects of a normal teenage growth spurt
; she grew six inches and put on weight as her figure developed. In 1982 she finished third at the Canadian Championships after a poor free skate, and the following year, she skated to a disastrous 7th place finish. At that point, she stopped skating entirely for a year. When she began to skate again in 1984, she essentially had to start from scratch and completely re-learn her technique. She won the 1986 Canadian Championships and competed at that year's World Championships, but when the CFSA passed her over for international competition assignments the following season—allegedly because they disapproved of her undisciplined off-ice behavior—she decided to retire from competitive skating.
Following her competitive career, Wainman skated professionally with shows including Holiday on Ice
and Ice Capades
, and was married to Slovak
skater Jozef Sabovčík
for a time. Her current off-ice partner is Grzegorz Filipowski
; they both coach at the same rink in Richmond Hill, Ontario
.
Today, Wainman is often cited as a cautionary example of a skater who burned out on the sport while still a child after being prematurely pushed into the spotlight. Wainman herself has pointed out that if she had been held back from competing at the World level as a child, when her skills were at their peak, she might never have had the opportunity to do so while older.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. She won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships
Canadian Figure Skating Championships
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has...
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 entry in the ladies event at that year's World Figure Skating 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...
instead of either of the two older skaters who had placed ahead of her in the national event. At that time she was being heavily promoted as a future champion by David Dore
David Dore
-Personal life:Dore was born in Toronto in 1940. After he was stricken with polio at the age of 12, he took up skating to strengthen his legs. He competed at the national level within Canada. He has two sons, Chris and Paul...
, the head of the Canadian Figure Skating Association, as well as by Canadian television.
After winning the 1981 Canadian championship, Wainman began to struggle with the effects of a normal teenage growth spurt
Puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
; she grew six inches and put on weight as her figure developed. In 1982 she finished third at the Canadian Championships after a poor free skate, and the following year, she skated to a disastrous 7th place finish. At that point, she stopped skating entirely for a year. When she began to skate again in 1984, she essentially had to start from scratch and completely re-learn her technique. She won the 1986 Canadian Championships and competed at that year's World Championships, but when the CFSA passed her over for international competition assignments the following season—allegedly because they disapproved of her undisciplined off-ice behavior—she decided to retire from competitive skating.
Following her competitive career, Wainman skated professionally with shows including Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice
Holiday on Ice is an ice show currently produced by Joop van den Ende's Stage Entertainment Group with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
and Ice Capades
Ice Capades
The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
, and was married to Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
skater Jozef Sabovčík
Jozef Sabovcík
Jozef Sabovčík is a Slovak figure skater who competed representing Czechoslovakia. He is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time European Champion .- Career :...
for a time. Her current off-ice partner is Grzegorz Filipowski
Grzegorz Filipowski
Grzegorz Filipowski is a former Polish figure skater. He is the 1985 European bronze medalist, the 1989 European silver medalist and the 1989 World bronze medalist....
; they both coach at the same rink in Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
.
Today, Wainman is often cited as a cautionary example of a skater who burned out on the sport while still a child after being prematurely pushed into the spotlight. Wainman herself has pointed out that if she had been held back from competing at the World level as a child, when her skills were at their peak, she might never have had the opportunity to do so while older.
Results
| Event | 1979-80 | 1980-81 | 1981-82 | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
14th | 10th | 9th | ||||
| Canadian Championships Canadian Figure Skating Championships The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has... |
3rd | 1st | 3rd | 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... |
2nd | ||||||
| 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... |
2nd | 1st | |||||
| Karl Schäfer Memorial Karl Schäfer Memorial The Karl Schäfer Memorial is an annual elite senior-level figure skating competition held in Vienna, Austria. Skaters compete in four disciplines: men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dance. The competition is named for figure skater Karl Schäfer. The competition is usually held in... |
3rd |