Figure Skating Coaches Quiz | Sports

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As a competitive skater, he represented Italy and won Europeans twice in the early 50's. In the 60's, he became one of most successful singles coaches, preparing the 1968 and 1976 ladies Olympic champions and the 1976 and 1980 men's Olympic champions. Who was this iconic coach?

Answer: Fassi

Carlo Fassi (1929-97) was perhaps the most famous figure skating coach of the 20th century. He moved to the U.S. following the 1961 plane crash that killed most of the U.S. elite figure skaters and coaches. Having set up a school first in Denver, and then in Lake Arrowhead, he proceeded to prepare some of the most recognized skaters America has ever produced.

2. This coach was her country's 5-time singles ladies' champion under the last name "Bratus". She was also a National pairs champion in 1969. Who is this coach, who has guided at least three pairs to Olympic honors?

Answer: Moskvina

Tamara Moskvina, born Bratus, was USSR's national ladies' champion 5 times during the 60's. She switched to skating pairs with Mishin shortly after marrying Igor Moskvin. As a coach, she has pioneered a style that combined innovative moves with strength and flexibility.

Her Olympic champion include 1984's winners Valova and Vasiliev, 1992's Mishkitenok and Dmitriev, 1998's Kazakova and Dmitriev, and 2002's Berezhnaya and Sikhuralidze.

3. As a competitive skater, this coach worked with Don Laws. He coached Todd Eldredge for many years. Who is this coach, who also led the 1998 Olympic ladies champion to her prize?

Answer: Callaghan

As an eligible skater, Callaghan's best finish was 5th place at Nationals. As a coach, he became famous for a rather athletic style. His reputation was somewhat tarred in 1999, when he was accused of sexual misconduct by a student (the charges were never substantiated).

4. As an eligible skater, this singles California-based coach worked with Vinson-Owen. He has coached several Olympians, including Michelle Kwan. Who is this coach, whose close associate is Ken Congemi?

Answer: Carroll

Frank Carroll has one of the most impressive figure skating schools in the United States. His former students include Fratianne, Bowman, Kwan, Chin, Goebel, and Kirk.

5. She has worked with Olympic Champions in all four disciplines. She is easily recognized by the fur coat she wears in the Kiss and Cry. Who is this famous coach, who prepared the 1976 and 1980 pair champions, 1988, 1992, and 1998 dance champions, 1998 and 2002 singles man champions, and has worked with the 1994 dance champions and 2006 ladies champion?

Answer: Tarasova

Tarasova comes from a coaching family, and her father was a Hall of Fame hockey coach. She started her coaching career by preparing Rodnina and Ulanov for their two Olympic victories. She has arguably achieved her full artistic potential as a choreographer when working with dance teams such as Moiseeva and Minenkov and especially the 1988 Olympic champions Bestemianova and Bukin.

She became a household name the world over after guiding Yagudin to his spectacular 2002 Olympic medal.

6. This Russian singles coach based in St. Petersburg has trained at least 3 Olympic champions in single men skating (1994, 2002, 2006). In his competitive career, he was the 1969 National champion in pair skating. Who is this coach?

Answer: Mishin

Alexei Mishin was a competitive pair skater with Tamara Moskvina. Throughout much of the 70's and 80's, Mishin concentrated on the theory of figure skating, authoring several books. In the 90's, he emerged as the top world singles coach, guiding Urmanov in 1994 and Plushenko in 2006 to their Olympic victories.

He also coached Yagudin, though the latter won his Olympic gold under the tutelage of Tatiana Tarasova.

7. As a competitive skater, this ice dancing coach was a World Junior champion with his partner Gladkova. After defecting to the U.S., he started coaching out of Detroit, starting his coaching fame by leading Punsalan and Swallow to five U.S. Titles. By 2006, he coached many of the top ice dancing American teams, as well as many Canadian ones. Who is this coach of the 2006 Olympic silver medalists?

Answer: Shpilband

The success of Igor Shpilband as a coach is quite amazing. His students include Belbin and Agosto, Wing and Lowe, Davis and White, Silverstein and O'Meara, Virtue and Moire, and many others. Shpilband works closely with choreographer Marina Zueva.

8. Who is a Lyon-based ice dancing coach, made famous by coaching the 2002 Olympic dance champions?

Answer: Boucher-Zazoui

Boucher-Zazoui has built an impressive figure skating school in Lyon. After guiding Anissina and Peizerat to their Olympic victory, she became quite popular. Her elite teams include Delobel and Schoenfelder, Dubreuil and Lauzon, and many others.

9. Partnered with Navka, he was 16th at the 1998 Olympics. He started his coaching career as Tarasova's assistant. Who is this coach, who has guided Bourne and Kraatz to World gold, and Arakawa to Olympic gold?

Answer: Morozov

Morozov became a popular choreographer after creating the "Winter" program for Yagudin. In the following season, skaters such as Kwan, Cohen, Lambiel, and many others incorporated Morozov's footwork into their programs. In 2006, Morozov coaches with wife Shae-Lynn Bourne out of Connecticut.

10. In his competitive career, he won one bronze and one silver Olympic medals. Who is this coach who guided his wife to her 2006 Olympic gold?

Answer: Zhulin

Zhulin had a successful competitive career with partner and sometimes wife Maya Usova. He became infamous for having an affair with Olympic gold medalist Oksana (Pasha) Gritschuk. He married Tatiana Navka, and coached her and Roman Kostomarov to their Olympic gold, a goal he never achieved himself.

Source: Author Ptichka

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Figure Skating Coaches Trivia Quiz

We always hear about figure skaters. However, behind most great skaters stand great coaches. This quiz is about them.

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