Maribel Yerxa Vinson-Owen was an American figure skater and coach. She competed in the disciplines of ladies' singles and pair skating. As a single skater, she was the 1932 Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time World medalist, the 1937 North American champion, and a nine-time U.S. national champion. As a pair skater, she was the 1935 North American champion and four-time national champion with George Hill. She also won two national titles with Thornton Coolidge. She was the first female sportswriter at The New York Times, and continued competing and winning medals while working as a full-time reporter.
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.
Richard Callaghan is an American former figure skating coach. He is best known as the long-time coach of Todd Eldredge, the 1996 World champion and a six-time U.S. national champion. He also coached Nicole Bobek to her national title, and Tara Lipinski to Olympic, World, and national titles.
Karen Wingyan Kwan is an American retired figure skater and choreographer. She is the older sister of Michelle Kwan.
John Luther Zimmerman IV is an American professional pair skater and coach. With skating partner Kyoko Ina, he is the 2002 World bronze medalist and a three-time U.S. national champion. They also competed at the 2002 Olympics. Zimmerman was suspended by the United States Center for SafeSport in March 2021 for a two-year period.
Sarah Abitbol is a French former competitive pair skater. With skating partner Stéphane Bernadis, she is the 2000 World bronze medalist, the 2000 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, a seven-time European medalist, and a ten-time French national champion.
Jill Marilynn Watson is an American retired pair skater and coach. With her partner Peter Oppegard, she 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.
Parkettes National Gymnastics Training Center, or Parkettes for short, is a gymnastics club located in Allentown, Pennsylvania that had its beginnings in the early 1960s with a middle school gymnastics program in Allentown that gradually grew into an intramural program and then into a facility that has produced several teams and individual gymnasts representing the United States, the Czech Republic, and Canada in international meets, including the Olympic Games. The husband and wife team Bill Strauss and Donna Strauss have served as the head coaches at Parkettes since its inception.
John Patrick Coughlin was an American pair skater. With Caydee Denney, he was the 2012 Four Continents silver medalist and 2012 U.S. national champion. With previous partner Caitlin Yankowskas, he was the 2011 U.S. champion. Coughlin died by suicide, one day after the United States Center for SafeSport announced Coughlin would face an interim temporary suspension over unspecified allegations.
Erik Larson is an American former competitive figure skater. He is the 1985 World Junior champion and won senior international medals at the Nebelhorn Trophy, Grand Prix International St. Gervais, and Skate Electric.
Larisa Yurievna Selezneva is a Russian former pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With her husband Oleg Makarov, she is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, 1985 World silver medalist, 1988 World bronze medalist, and two-time European champion. They were coached by Igor Moskvin.
Oleg Vitalyevich Makarov is a Russian former pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With his wife Larisa Selezneva, he is the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, 1985 World silver medalist, 1988 World bronze medalist, and two-time European Champion. They were coached by Igor Moskvin.
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.
Morgan Ciprès is a French former competitive pair skater. With partner Vanessa James, from the United States, he is the 2019 European Champion, the 2018 World bronze medalist, the 2017 European bronze medalist, the 2018 Grand Prix Final champion and a six-time French national champion. They have also won medals in Grand Prix and Challenger Series competitions. James and Ciprès represented France at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics.
Jessica Pfund is a retired Swiss-American pair skater who represents Switzerland. With skating partner Joshua Santillan, she is the 2015 Autumn Classic International bronze medalist and has competed at two Grand Prix events. They are the 2022 Swiss national champions. On May 3, 2023 the Disciplinary Chamber of Swiss Sport banned Jessica Pfund for four years for the presence and use of banned substances and ordered her to pay a fine.
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.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2017 under the auspices of the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. SafeSport is tasked with addressing the problem of sexual abuse of minors and athletes in Olympic sports in the United States. Its primary focus, as to which it has exclusive jurisdiction in the US, is to review allegations of sexual misconduct, and to impose sanctions up to lifetime banning of a person from involvement in all Olympic sports. The function of SafeSport also covers providing a public central database of sanctioned individuals across all sports. On a discretionary basis, SafeSport also reviews and acts on allegations other than those of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct, such as emotional abuse, bullying, and harassment. SafeSport collaborates with law enforcement on reported investigations.
