Val Joe "Rudy" Galindo is an American former competitive figure skater who competed in both single skating and pair skating. As a single skater, he is the 1996 U.S. national champion, 1987 World Junior Champion, and 1996 World Bronze medalist. As a pairs skater, he competed with Kristi Yamaguchi and was the 1988 World Junior Champion and the 1989 and 1990 U.S. National Champion. He is the first openly gay skating champion in the United States, though US, World and Olympic champion Brian Boitano came out long after his career was over.
Petra Burka is a Canadian former competitive figure skater and now coach. She won the 1964 Olympic bronze medal in women's figure skating and the 1965 World championship in the sport.
Naomi Nari Nam is an American former competitive figure skater who competed in both single skating and pair skating. As a single skater, she was the 1999 U.S. national silver medalist. As a pair skater, she was the 2006 Skate America bronze medalist and 2007 U.S. national bronze medalist with Themistocles Leftheris.
Kathryn "Katie" Orscher is an American figure skater who competed as a single skater and pair skater. With partner Garrett Lucash, she is the 2005 U.S. national champion and 2005 Four Continents bronze medalist.
Jenni N. Meno is an American former competitive pair skater. With her husband Todd Sand, she is the 1998 World silver medalist, a two-time World bronze medalist, and a three-time U.S. national champion (1994–96).
Todd Sand is an American pair skater. With his wife Jenni Meno, he is the 1998 World silver medalist, a two-time World bronze medalist, and a three-time U.S. national champion (1994–96). With his previous partner Natasha Kuchiki, he is the 1991 World bronze medalist.
Rena Inoue is a Japanese-born American retired pair skater. With partner John Baldwin, she is the 2004 and 2006 U.S. National Champion. Inoue previously competed for Japan as both a single skater and pair skater. Inoue and Baldwin are the first skaters to perform a throw triple Axel in competition.
John Baldwin, Jr. is an American retired figure skater. With partner Rena Inoue, he is a two-time U.S. national champion. Inoue and Baldwin are the first skaters to perform a throw triple Axel in competition.
Tracy Wilson, is a Canadian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Rob McCall, she won the Canadian national championship seven times (1982–1988), is a three-time World bronze medallist, and the 1988 Olympic bronze medallist.
Caitlin A. "Kitty" Carruthers is a former American pair skater. With her adoptive brother, Peter Carruthers, she won a 1984 Olympic Silver medal, a 1982 World Bronze medal, and had been a four-time (1981-1984) United States National champion.
Peter Allen Oppegard is an American retired pair skater and coach. With his partner Jill Watson, he is the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist and a three-time U.S. national champion.
Themistocles Nicholas "Themi" Leftheris is an American-South Korean pair skater. With partner Naomi Nari Nam, he is the 2006 Skate America bronze medalist and 2007 U.S. national bronze medalist. With partner Ji Min-ji, he is a two-time South Korean national champion.
Tiffany Vise is an American retired pair skater. Between 2003 and 2009, she competed with partner Derek Trent. On November 17, 2007, Vise and Trent landed the first clean throw quadruple salchow jump in international competition. They officially became the first team to perform that element in international competition.
Ronald Ludington was an American figure skating coach and pair skater. With Nancy Rouillard Ludington, he was the 1960 Olympic bronze medalist, 1959 World bronze medalist, and a four-time U.S. national champion.
Country changing is a phenomenon in the figure skating world in which skaters change the country they represent in competition. There are many different reasons why competitors switch countries, but it mostly comes down to maximizing the possibility of being able to compete at the World Figure Skating Championships and the Winter Olympic Games. A skater who cannot do that representing their home country often looks for another one. Because spots to Worlds and the Olympics are allotted by country, not by skater, a skater can hope to transfer to a new country and have a better chance of becoming national champion, being sent to Worlds, and qualifying for a spot in the Olympics.
Pair skating was contested during the figure skating events at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Gillian Margaret Wachsman is an American former pair skater. With Todd Waggoner, she is the 1985 NHK Trophy champion, 1985 Skate America bronze medalist, and 1986 U.S. national champion. The pair competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics, placing fifth, and at three World Championships, placing as high as fourth.
Todd Eric Waggoner is an American former pair skater. With Gillian Wachsman, he is the 1985 NHK Trophy champion, 1985 Skate America bronze medalist, and 1986 U.S. national champion. The pair competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics, placing fifth, and at three World Championships, placing as high as fourth.
Burt Jude Lancon was an American pair skater. Competing with partner Maria DiDomenico, he won the silver medal at the 1982 United States Figure Skating Championships. The following year, he teamed up with Jill Watson. The couple was two-time bronze medalists at the U.S. Championships and finished sixth at the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. Burt went on to compete as a professional. After winning the US Open Pair Championship title, He also won the US Professional Championships in 1987. He went on to compete at the World Professional Championships where he and his partner won 1st place. In 1997 Burt Lancon and Cindy Landry (Canada) Competed on the USA Network in "Improv Ice." Burt and Cindy won second place. He also was in the background of episode 25 of "The Office", Michael's Birthday, as a temporary replacement of Oscar.
The 1985 U.S. Figure Skating Championships was held in early 1985 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. Medals were awarded in four colors: gold (first), silver (second), bronze (third), and pewter (fourth) in four disciplines – men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing – across three levels: senior, junior, and novice.
