Felicia Zhang

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Felicia Zhang
Cropped Felicia zhang 2010 trophee eric bompard.png
Felicia Zhang at the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard
Born (1993-09-22) September 22, 1993 (age 30)
Riverdale, New York
Hometown Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Height1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
Country United States
Began skating2000
RetiredJuly 16, 2014

Felicia Zhang (born September 22, 1993) is an American former pair skater. With Nathan Bartholomay, she is a two-time U.S. national medalist (silver in 2014, bronze in 2013) and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Contents

Personal life

Felicia Zhang was born in New York City and grew up in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey. Her mother, a doctor's receptionist, and father, a computer information technology worker, are both from Beijing, China. [1] After graduating in 2011 from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, she began studying at the University of South Florida, majoring in psychology. [1]

Career

Early years and single skating

Zhang started skating at the age of seven after attending a skating birthday party. In singles, Zhang won the novice bronze medal at the 2008 U.S. Championships, and placed sixth on the junior level at the 2010 U.S. Championships. [2]

Partnership with Toth

Zhang teamed up with Taylor Toth in 2009. [3] They won the junior gold medal at the 2010 U.S. Championships. They finished 9th at the 2010 World Junior Championships.

Zhang/Toth moved up to the senior level for the 2010–11 season and competed in the Grand Prix at Skate America, where they finished 7th, and Trophée Eric Bompard, where they finished 5th. They withdrew from the 2011 U.S. Championships due to Zhang's rib injuries. [4] On March 10, 2011, Zhang and Toth announced they had parted ways. [4] During their partnership, they were coached by Jeff DiGregorio in Newark, Delaware. [5]

Partnership with Bartholomay

Zhang teamed up with Nathan Bartholomay by May 2011. [6] They are coached by Jim Peterson and Lyndon Johnston at the Ice and Sports Complex in Ellenton, Florida. [7] In their first season, they were eighth at the U.S. Championships.

Zhang/Bartholomay won bronze at the 2013 U.S. Championships and were assigned to the 2013 Four Continents Championships where they placed fourth.

In the 2013–14 season, Zhang/Bartholomay received two Grand Prix assignments, the 2013 Skate America and 2013 Cup of China, finishing 7th and 6th. After winning the silver medal at the 2014 U.S. Championships, ahead of Caydee Denney / John Coughlin, they were named in the U.S. team to the Olympics and listed as first alternates for the World Championships. Zhang/Bartholomay finished 12th at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. [8] They were called up to replace the injured Denney/Coughlin at the 2014 World Championships. [9] They announced the end of their partnership on July 16, 2014. [10]

Programs

With Bartholomay

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2013–2014
[11]
2012–2013
[12]
  • One Hand, One Heart
    (from West Side Story)
    by Leonard Bernstein
2011–2012
[13]

With Toth

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2010–2011
[5] [14]
2009–2010
[14]

Single skating

Season Short program Free skating
2009–2011
[15]
2008–2009

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Pair skating with Bartholomay

International [16]
Event 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
Winter Olympics 12th
World Champ. 14th
Four Continents Champ. 4th
GP Cup of China 6th
GP Skate America 7th
U.S. Classic 4th7th
National [13]
U.S. Championships 8th3rd2nd

Pair skating with Toth

Zhang/Toth at the 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard Felicia Zhang Taylor Toth 2010 Trophee Eric Bompard FP.JPG
Zhang/Toth at the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard
International [17]
Event 2009–10 2010–11
GP Skate America 7th
GP Trophée Eric Bompard 5th
Nebelhorn Trophy 7th
International: Junior [17]
World Junior Championships 9th
JGP Germany 11th
JGP Poland 6th
National [14]
U.S. Championships 1st JWD
J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

Single skating

International [18]
Event 09–10 10–11
JGP Germany 7th
National
U.S. Championships 6th JWD
WD = Withdrew
J = Junior

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References

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  2. Bibb, Scottie (March 10, 2011). "FIGURE SKATING: Pairs Team Felicia Zhang And Taylor Toth End Partnership". U.S. Figure Skating . teamusa.org. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011.
  3. Mittan, Barry (December 27, 2009). "Former Singles Gold Medalists Team Up for Pairs". Skate Today.
  4. 1 2 "Pairs Team Felicia Zhang and Taylor Toth End Partnership". U.S. Figure Skating . March 10, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
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  6. Rutherford, Lynn (July 15, 2011). "Denney, Coughlin fly high in Liberty debut". icenetwork. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012.
  7. Rutherford, Lynn (March 23, 2012). "Toth 'super excited' about teaming up with Baga; Pairs news from Florida". IceNetwork.com . Archived from the original on March 29, 2012.
  8. "Felicia ZHANG". Sochi2014.com. Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014.
  9. "Ankle injury knocks Denney, Coughlin out of worlds". U.S. Figure Skating . IceNetwork. March 20, 2014. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014.
  10. "Felicia Zhang and Nathan Bartholomay End Partnership". U.S. Figure Skating. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014.
  11. "Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014.
  12. "Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013.
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    "Earlier versions". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
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  16. "Competition Results: Felicia ZHANG / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Competition Results: Felicia ZHANG / Taylor TOTH". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
  18. "Competition Results: Felicia ZHANG". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.