Melissa Gregory

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Melissa Gregory (born May 22, 1981) is an American former ice dancer. With partner and husband Denis Petukhov, she is the 2005 Four Continents silver medalist, a 2006 United States Olympic team member, and a four-time (2004–07) U.S. national silver medalist.

Personal life

Gregory was born in Highland Park, Illinois. Her father Joseph is Catholic and her mother Dale is Jewish.[1][2] She has an older brother Michael.

Gregory and Petukhov met in August 2000, when he came to the United States in search of an ice dancing partner, with a list of several persons he planned to meet. Gregory was also seeking a partner then, prepared to give up skating if she could not find one. The couple found that they skated well together and began a new partnership.

They were married in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 2, 2001.[2][3] The next month they flew to Kirov, Russia so that Petukhov's family could also celebrate their marriage.[4] The couple's son, Daxton Dale Petukhov, was born on November 21, 2014.[5][6] They welcomed their 2nd son Lennox William Petukhov on June 14, 2017. Petukhov became a naturalized US citizen in 2005.

Career

Gregory began skating at age eight. She competed in novice ladies' singles before deciding to concentrate on ice dance.[7]

Gregory was US junior ice dance champion in 1998 with James Shuford.[8] After being without an ice dancing partner for nearly three years, she told her coach that she would quit skating and go to college if she could not find one by September 1, 2000.[9] She met Russian ice dancer Denis Petukhov through on an online skating-partner search.[10] He spoke little English and so had a friend write his messages for him. He arrived in 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.[11]

Gregory and Petukhov were originally coached by Oleg Epstein and Sandy Hess. In 2003 they changed to Nikolai Morozov and Shae-Lynn Bourne.[12] Following the 2005–06 season, they switched again to Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karpanosov[13] 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.[14]

Gregory and Petukhov won four silver medals and two bronze medals at the U.S. Championships and competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.[8]

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. He skidded into the boards, hurting his knee and neck. Gregory was taken to a hospital following the fall but was released that night.[15] They were forced to withdraw from competition for the rest of the season in order to heal from their injuries.[16]

Gregory and Petukhov did not return to competition. In 2008, they moved to Connecticut and began coaching and choreographing for other skaters. They also founded a nonprofit organization Proud Nation Inc. They also launched their own YouTube channel, OlympianUncut, focusing on a behind-the-scenes look at the skating world.[17]

Gregory and Petukhov are successful professional show skaters. They devote much of their time to EduSkating Fever on Ice, a program they founded in 2009 that combines learn-to-skate sessions with academics; it is intended for middle-school students in Connecticut. EduSkating 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.[18] In 2014 EduSkating was designated as an official Community Olympic Development Program of The US Olympic Committee.

In 2016, Gregory and Petukhov opened a seasonal, outdoor, luxury ice rink near The World Trade Center in New York City. It is named The Rink at Brookfield Place with Gregory & Petukhov. They primarily coach in Newington, Connecticut, where their students include: Noemi Maria Tali / Noah Lafornara and Hana Maria Aboian / Daniil Veselukhin.[19][20][21]

Programs

(with Petukhov)

Season Original dance Free dance Exhibition
2007–08
[22]
  • Lord of the Dance
    (Irish Jig) Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Proud Nation
    by Yoav Goren Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2006–07
[23][8]
  • Adam and Eve
    by Yoav Goren
    (Preliator and Sarabande)     Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2005–06
[24][8]
  • Cha Cha:Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Que Color
  • Rhumba:Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Beautiful Maria of My Soul
    by the Mambo Kings Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mambo
  • Romeo and Juliet
    by Prokofiev Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Art of War
    by Vanessa-Mae Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2004–05
[25]
  • Charleston:Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Chicago
  • Slow foxtrot:Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Razzle Dazzle
    from Chicago Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Charleston:Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Chicago
  • Shine on You Crazy Diamond
  • Money
    by Pink Floyd Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Sandstorm
2003–04
[26][8]
  • Toccata Fugue
  • Air on a G String
  • God Bless America
    by Celine Dion Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
2002–03
[27][3]
  • Polka
    by Andre Kiew Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Snow
    by Craig Armstrong Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Petukhov

File:Gregory petukhov.jpg
Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov compete their free dance at the 2004 Four Continents Championships in Hamilton, Ontario.
International[28]
Event <templatestyles src="Template:Tooltip/styles.css" />01–02Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08
Olympics 14th
Worlds 12th 11th 9th 10th
Four Continents 6th 4th 2nd
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Final 6th
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Bompard 4th
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Cup of China 4th
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Cup of Russia 4th
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". NHK Trophy 4th 3rd
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Skate America 5th 5th 2nd
GPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Skate Canada 8th 3rd WD
Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd
National[8]
U.S. Champ. 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd
WD = Withdrew

With Shuford

International[29]
Event 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
World Junior Champ. 10th
JGPScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". China 2nd
National
U.S. Championships 8th J 4th J 1st J
J = Junior level

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS050223
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  8. ↑ a b c d e f Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS-MGDP
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  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named idint
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WNBC0601
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS030424
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS060531
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS070907
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USFS071105
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  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IN090101
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  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0708
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0607
  24. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0506
  25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0405
  26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0304
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-0203
  28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-MGDP
  29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ISU-MGJS
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