Melissa Gregory

Melissa Gregory (born May 22, 1981) is a former American 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.

Melissa Gregory
Melissa Gregory at the 2006 Skate America
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1981-05-22) May 22, 1981
ResidenceHartford, Connecticut
Height1.64 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in)
PartnerDenis Petukhov
Former partnerJames Shuford
Former coachShae-Lynn Bourne, Sandy Hess, Priscilla Hill, Natalia Linichuk, Gennadi Karpanosov, Nikolai Morozov
Skating clubSC of New York
ISU personal best scores
Combined total183.97
2005 4CC
Comp. dance38.02
2005 4CC
Original dance55.61
2006 Skate America
Free dance92.74
2003 Skate America

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 also coach at various rinks in Connecticut.[19]

Programs

(with Petukhov)

Season Original dance Free dance Exhibition
2007–08
[20]
  • Lord of the Dance
    (Irish Jig)
2006–07
[21][8]
  • Adam and Eve
    by Yoav Goren
    (Preliator and Sarabande)
2005–06
[22][8]
2004–05
[23]
  • Charleston: Chicago
  • Slow foxtrot: Razzle Dazzle
    from Chicago
  • Charleston: Chicago
  • Shine on You Crazy Diamond
    by Pink Floyd
  • Money
    by Pink Floyd
  • Sandstorm
2003–04
[24][8]
  • Toccata Fugue
  • Air on a G String
2002–03
[25][3]
  • Polka
    by Andre Kiew
  • Snow
    by Craig Armstrong

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Petukhov
Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov compete their free dance at the 2004 Four Continents Championships in Hamilton, Ontario.
International[26]
Event 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08
Olympics14th
Worlds12th11th9th10th
Four Continents6th4th2nd
GP Final6th
GP Bompard4th
GP Cup of China4th
GP Cup of Russia4th
GP NHK Trophy4th3rd
GP Skate America5th5th2nd
GP Skate Canada8th3rdWD
Nebelhorn Trophy2nd
National[8]
U.S. Champ.3rd3rd2nd2nd2nd2nd
WD = Withdrew

With Shuford
International[27]
Event 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99
World Junior Champ.10th
JGP China2nd
National
U.S. Championships8th J4th J1st J
J = Junior level

See also

References
  1. "Denis Petukhov Becomes a United States Citizen". U.S. Figure Skating. February 23, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  2. "Gregory & Petukhov Combine Holiday Traditions". Ice Network. December 19, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  3. Mittan, Barry (November 25, 2002). "Internet Leads to Skaters' Love Match". Golden Skate. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006.
  4. "Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov". About.com: Marriage. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  5. Petukhov, Denis. "Meet Our Son". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  6. Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (November 25, 2014). "The Inside Edge: Ge enjoying surprising success". IceNetwork.com.
  7. Mittan, Barry (March 26, 2008). "We'll Be Back Say Dancers". SkateToday.
  8. "Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. Skating Magazine, January 2006: "Team Destiny: Gregory, Petukhov Cherishing Life On, Off Ice"
  10. "Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov". ice-dance.com. July 2002. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  11. "Figure Skating: Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov". WNBC. January 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  12. "Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov Switch Coaches". US Figure Skating Official Site. April 24, 2003. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  13. "Ice Dancers Gregory and Petukhov Announce Coaching Change". US Figure Skating Official Site. May 31, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  14. "Gregory and Petukhov Change Coaches". US Figure Skating Official Site. September 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  15. "Melissa Gregory Expected to Make Full Recovery after Fall during Warm-up at Skate Canada". US Figure Skating Official Site. November 5, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  16. "Ice Dancing Team Gregory and Petukhov Withdraw from 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships". U.S. Figure Skating Official Site. January 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  17. "Gregory, Petukhov Hit the Road with Camera". icenetwork.com. January 1, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  18. "Gregory, Petukhov hit the ice with Proud Nation". Icenetwork. March 28, 2011.
  19. Elfman, Lois (December 22, 2016). "Gregory, Petukhov building new family traditions". IceNetwork.com.
  20. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 25, 2006.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. "Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 9, 2003.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. "Competition Results: Melissa GREGORY / Denis PETUKHOV". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  27. "Melissa GREGORY / James SHUFORD". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
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