Themistocles Leftheris

Themistocles Nicholas "Themi" Leftheris (born December 20, 1982) is an American-South Korean pair skater. With former partner Naomi Nari Nam, he is the 2006 Skate America bronze medalist and 2007 U.S. national bronze medalist. With current partner Ji Min-ji, he is a two-time (2016, 2017) South Korean national champion.

Themistocles Leftheris
Nam and Leftheris in 2006.
Personal information
Full nameThemistocles Nicholas Leftheris
Alternative namesThemi Leftheris
Country represented South Korea
Former country(ies) represented United States
Born (1982-12-20) December 20, 1982
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
PartnerJi Min-ji
Former partnerSarah Jo Damron-Brown
Jacqueline Jimenez
Nicole Hartunian
Julian Burns
Naomi Nari Nam
Angelyn Nguyen
Lindsay Davis
CoachPeter Oppegard
Karen Kwan-Oppegard
ChoreographerPeter Oppegard
Skating clubLos Angeles FSC
ISU personal best scores
Combined total143.40
2016 CS Golden Spin
Short program48.92
2016 CS Golden Spin
Free skate94.48
2016 CS Golden Spin

Personal life

Leftheris was born on December 20, 1982, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.[1] He studied communications at Long Beach City College.[2]

Career

Early career

Leftheris started skating at age 12 and began pair skating at 15.[3] His first skating partner was Sarah Jo Damron-Brown.

With Jacqueline Jimenez, he became the 2001 U.S. novice silver medalist. They won a silver medal at the first event of the 2001–02 ISU Junior Grand Prix. They did not get a second event because the USFSA did not send skaters to any of the events following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Leftheris competed with Nicole Hartunian in the 2003-04 season. With partner Julian Burns, he placed 13th at the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Partnership with Nam
Nam & Leftheris at the 2006 Skate America.

Leftheris had a tryout with Naomi Nari Nam in April 2005, two weeks after she decided to switch to pair skating.[2][4][5] After winning both Regionals and Pacific Coast Sectionals, the pair placed 5th at the 2006 U.S. Championships.

In the 2006–07 season, Nam and Leftheris won the bronze medal at their Grand Prix assignment, 2006 Skate America. They won the bronze medal at the 2007 U.S. Championships behind Rena Inoue / John Baldwin and Brooke Castile / Benjamin Okolski. They ranked 6th at the 2007 Four Continents Championships.

On August 24, 2007, Nam underwent surgery to remove a bone spur and to repair torn cartilage in her right hip.[6][7] She was on crutches for eight weeks and returned to the ice on October 19.[6] As a result, Nam/Leftheris withdrew from their Grand Prix assignments, 2007 Skate America and 2007 Cup of China.[7] They placed 7th at the 2008 U.S. Championships. Nam announced her retirement from competitive skating on October 10, 2008, citing her recurrent hip injury.[8]

Nam/Leftheris were coached by Peter Oppegard and Karen Kwan-Oppegard at the EastWest Ice Palace in Artesia, California.[4]

Later career

Leftheris began competing with new partner Angelyn Nguyen in 2009. They won the bronze medal at the 2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Championships.[9] They withdrew from the U.S. Championships before the event began.

With Lindsay Davis, he finished 8th at the 2011 U.S. Championships.

In 2015, Leftheris teamed up with Ji Min-ji to compete for South Korea. The pair won the 2016 South Korean national title.

Programs

With Ji
Season Short program Free skating
2016–2017
[1]

With Nam
Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008
[10]
2006–2007
[11]

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Ji Min-ji for South Korea
International[12]
Event 2015–16 2016–17
World ChampionshipsWD
Four Continents Champ.14th
CS Golden Spin of Zagreb7th
CS Lombardia Trophy6th
National[12]
South Korean Champ.1st1st

With Nguyen and Davis for the United States
International[13]
Event 2009–10
(Nguyen)		 2010–11
(Davis)
Ice Challenge4th
National[13]
U.S. Championships8th
Pacific Coast Sectionals3rd

With Nam for the United States
Nam & Leftheris on the podium at the 2006 Skate America.
International[14]
Event 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
Four Continents Champ.6th
GP Cup of ChinaWD
GP Skate America3rdWD
National[10]
U.S. Championships5th3rd7th
Pacific Coast Sectionals1st
WD = Withdrew

With Damron-Brown, Jimenez, Hartunian, and Burns for the United States
International[15]
Event 1999–00
(Damron)		 2000–01
(Jimenez)		 2001–02
(Jimenez)		 2003–04
(Hartunian)		 2004–05
(Burns)
JGP Bulgaria2nd
National
U.S. Championships4th N2nd N6th J13th
Eastern Sectionals2nd J
Pacific Coast Sectionals2nd J2nd
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

References
  1. "Minji JI / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017.
  2. Mittan, Barry (January 21, 2007). "Long Road to Success for Nam and Leftheris". Skate Today.
  3. Mittan, Barry (January 23, 2002). "Jimenez and Leftheris Build Hope for the Future". Golden Skate.
  4. "Meet Naomi Nari Nam & Themistocles Leftheris". figureskatersonline.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. Duhaime, Jake (December 14, 2005). "Naomi Nari Nam Returns to U.S. Championships as a Pairs Skater". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Cunningham, Nicole (February 2008). "Naomi Nari Nam Undergoes Surgery, Hopes to Compete at Nationals". International Figure Skating. 14 (1). p. 58. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  7. "Interview with Naomi Nari Nam and Themistocles Leftheris". Golden Skate. October 8, 2007.
  8. Rutherford, Lynn (October 10, 2008). "Naomi Nari Nam retires from competition". IceNetwork.com.
  9. "2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships 11/17/2009 - 11/22/2009 Senior Pairs Final Results". U.S. Figure Skating. Nov 20, 2009. Retrieved Nov 20, 2009.
  10. "Naomi Nari Nam & Themistocles Leftheris". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "Naomi Nari NAM / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 30, 2007.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. "Competition Results: Minji JI / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union.
  13. "Competition Results: Lindsay DAVIS / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  14. "Competition Results: Naomi Nari NAM / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016.
  15. "Jacqueline JIMENEZ / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 2, 2003.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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