News Archive 2009-2012
Jeremy medals at Trophee Eric Bompard
November 17, 2012 — Jeremy Abbott beat his season’s best with 146.45 points in the free skate to take the silver medal at Trophee Eric Bompard with 227.63 overall.
In his free skate to Les Misérables, Jeremy landed his opening triple Lutz nd went on toward his quad. Even though he could not land a single one in practice, he was fearless in his program, landing it although it was later downgraded. His nailed his first triple Axel but singled second. He rebounded to land his next three triples.
“It was not my best program,” Jeremy said, “But at the end, I realized that my back and legs were all right. All the work we did paid off. I missed some of my spins and that cost me victory, but altogether I love this program so much that I was happy to skate it the way I did.”
Jeremy received the best components score of the field, more than five points above Florent Amodio’s, his nearest challenger (82.7 for Abbott to 77.52 for Amodio).
Jeremy won the short program with 81.18 points. He landed a triple flip-triple toe combination and a triple Lutz and finished with a triple Axel.
“It’s been a bit of a struggle with my back,” Abbott explained afterward. “After Skate America, I took a one week rest. Then, we started working again on a low pace the second week and we have been pushing the training only last week.
“I have not landed a quad since Seattle, basically, so we decided to skate clean and build the confidence for the future. I needed it after Hilton Honors Skate America”.
Jeremy finishes fifth at Skate America
October 20 , 2012 — Jeremy Abbott finished fifth at Skate America in Kent, Wash., with 211.35 points. He was third in the short program and fifth in the free skate.
Before the short program, Jeremy had warned that his quad toe, re-tooled to be done on a curve, was still a work in progress. He was right. A fall on the jump was the only blemish in his short, which scored 77.71 points.
After landing a solid triple Lutz in his free program, he fell on his quad and the second of his triple Axels, and reduced several other jumps to doubles. Jeremy placed eighth in the free, putting him fifth overall.
“We really kind of retooled the way I train on ice and off ice, physically and mentally, and there was a disconnect somewhere and we have to reevaluate again,” said Abbott, who trains under Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen in Detroit. “That was the hardest long program I’ve ever done, physically. About halfway through, my body just shut down. It was all I could do to stay on my feet and keep going through the program without giving up.”
Jeremy finishes eighth at World Championships
March 30, 2012 — Three-time U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott finished eighth overall at the World Championships in Nice, France, scoring 226.19. He was ninth in the short program (74.85) but took eighth in the free skate (151.34), pulling up to eighth overall.
Skating to “Exogenesis Symphony” by Muse for the free skate, Jeremy landed his opening quad, triple Axel-double toe and triple flip, but had more difficulty with his second triple Axel. He also singled his triple loop.
“I’m exhausted,” he said coming off the ice. “I knew that I would have to fight and I did. I’m going away from this championship with my head high, because I really fought. This is the first season I really believed I could be on a world podium, and I still believe it.”
In the short program, he fell on the triple toe of his combination and doubled his planned triple Lutz.
Jeremy wins third U.S. Championship
January 29, 2012 — Jeremy Abbott captured his third U.S. Championship Sunday in San Jose, Calif., by nearly 33 points. His final score of 273.58 was the highest ever recorded at the national competition.
“I skate to give a performance like that and so I felt really good,” Abbott said. “I was really nervous when I started, I was shaking a little bit. But from the second I set for the quad I was like, ‘I’m going to do this.’ I just really took it into my hands and made sure that I did what I needed to do.”
Jeremy, 2009 and 2010 U.S. Champion, was first in the short program (90.23) and the free skate (183.35). He was the only man to successfully perform a quad in San Jose, opening his free with a quad toe.
He will compete next at the 2012 Four Continents Championship, Feb. 7-12, in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the World Championships, March 26-April 1, in Nice, France.
Jeremy takes fifth at 2011 Grand Prix Final
December 11, 2011 — Skating in his third Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, Canada, Jeremy Abbott finished fifth with 238.82 points. He was second in the short program (82.66) and fifth in the free skate (156.16).
He finishes the Grand Prix season with a gold medal from Cup of China and a bronze medal from Rostelecom Cup. Next, Jeremy will compete at the 2012 U.S. Championships, Jan. 22-29, in San Jose, Calif.
Jeremy finishes third at Rostelecom Cup
November 27, 2011 — Behind a personal best short program, Jeremy Abbott won the bronze medal at Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia, his second event on the 2011 Grand Prix series. He scored 229.08 points overall.
In his first place short program, he landed a triple flip-triple toe, triple Axel and a triple Lutz for 83.54. Jeremy fell twice in his fifth place free skate, which scored 145.54.
Combined with his gold medal performance at Cup of China, Jeremy’s bronze medal in Russia qualifies him for his third Grand Prix Final.
Jeremy golden at Cup of China
November 6, 2011 — While he finished third in both the short program and the free skate, Jeremy Abbott was crowned the Cup of China Champion. He scored 228.49 points to claim the top spot on the podium of his season opening event in Shanghai, China.
His short program, which earned him 79.32 points, was highlighted by a triple flip-triple toe combination and solo triple Axel. Jeremy’s free skate scored 149.17.
Jeremy appoints an official Japanese fan club
August 29, 2011 — Jeremy Abbott has appointed Jeremy’s Japanesefans as his official Japanese fan club. Fans in Japan can visit Jeremy’s Japanesefans for more information on Jeremy.
Jeremy to compete in Grand Prix events in China, Russia
June 27, 2011 — Jeremy Abbott has been assigned to compete in two events on the Grand Prix circuit for the 2011 season, the Cup of China and Rostelecom Cup. He made his debut on the series in 2007, taking three gold medals since, including the 2008 Grand Prix Final title. Abbott was second at NHK Trophy and third at Cup of Russia in 2010.
He will make his season debut Nov. 4-6 in Shanghai, China, then skate Nov. 25-27 in Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia.
Jeremy wins bronze at Four Continents
February 22, 2011 — At the 2011 Four Continents Championship in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, Jeremy Abbott rebounded from a fourth place showing at the U.S. Championships by claiming the bronze medal. He scored 225.71 points overall, the highest of the American contingent.
Coming out of the men’s short program in second place, he delivered his season’s best in the free skate (148.98), despite falling on an under rotated quadruple toe attempt. He recovered from the fall to nail three jump combinations, including triple Axel-double toe, and a solo triple Axel that scored over 10 points.
He will likely compete next at the World Team Trophy in April.
Jeremy claims pewter medal in Greensboro, N.C.
January 30, 2011 — Jeremy Abbott finished fourth at the 2011 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, N.C., taking the pewter medal, following two years at the top of the podium. He was also the pewter medalist in 2007 and 2008.
Abbott was second in the short program, behind eventual 2011 U.S. Champion Ryan Bradley, dropped to fourth overall with a sixth place showing in the free program. He had various problems including a fall on an under rotated triple Lutz. He also under rotated the third jump in his triple loop-double toe-double toe combination.
“I had a weird pick on the Lutz and a bad landing, and I guess that was enough to put me in fourth,” Abbott said. “I was pleased with my performance. I gave a lot of emotion and a lot of my soul.”
Jeremy wins bronze at the Rostelecom Cup
November 20, 2010 — Jeremy Abbott finished third at the Cup of Russia in Moscow, Russia, taking home the bronze medal with 217.21 points. He was second in the short program and fourth in the free skate.
Performing to “Viejos Aires” by Ensemble Nuevo Tango for his short program, Abbott landed a triple flip-triple toeloop, a triple Axel and a triple Lutz to earn 77.61 points.
“I was very nervous today, much more so than at my first Grand Prix,” Jeremy said. “I had more to loose with trying to qualify for the Grand Prix Final. I just wanted to stay calm the best I could. I got all my elements completed and I was very happy about that. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and I have a lot more confidence.”
Jeremy, who fell on the quadruple toe attempt and an underrotated triple Lutz in the free skate, has been battling boot problems throughout the season. The problems will likely prevent him from qualifying for the Grand Prix Final.
“I’m not guaranteed a spot in the Grand Prix Final now and I’m pretty disappointed,” Jeremy said. “My training was sporadic due to boot issues. It just wasn’t as consistent as I wanted. Ice is slippery and sometimes we fall.”
Jeremy starts the season with silver medal in Nagoya, Japan
October 24, 2010 — Jeremy Abbott made a podium appearance at the NHK Trophy in Nagoya, Japan. Skating in old boots, he finished second to Japan’s two-time World Champion Daisuke Takahashi (234.79), who relied n a quadruple toe early in his routine to finish ahead of Jeremy (218.19) and France’s Florent Amodio (213.77).
Jeremy skated a clean program but did not attempt a quad. He singled a triple Axel midway through his routine and had the first jump in his triple lutz, double toe combination downgraded. He was otherwise clean, receiving credit for six clean triple jumps and four doubles.
“It was my first competition of the season and I’ve never started with a Grand Prix before,” Jeremy said. “To start with this much pressure, I’m really proud of how I kept myself together and I feel much stronger than I have in previous seasons, and I feel that my programs are stronger.”
He picked up 143.57 points for the free skate and remained in second place. He also came in behind Takahashi in the short program.
“I feel great,” Jeremy said. “I had about a month of boot issues where I couldn’t train at 100 percent and have only had two weeks where I felt comfortable.”
Jeremy competes next Nov. 19-21 at the Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia. The 2010 Grand Prix Final is Dec. 9-12 in Beijing, China.
Jeremy to compete in Grand Prix events in Japan, Russia
June 14, 2010 — Jeremy Abbott has been assigned to compete in two events on the Grand Prix circuit for the 2010 season, the NHK Trophy and Rostelecom Cup. He made his debut on the series in 2007, taking three gold medals since, including the 2008 Grand Prix Final title.
He will make his season debut Oct. 22-24 at the NHK Trophy in Nagoya, Japan, then skate Nov. 19-21 in Rostelecom Cup in Moscow, Russia. The 2010 Grand Prix Final is Dec. 9-12 in Beijing, China.
Jeremy will also participate in two shows this fall, Improv Ice (Sept. 25) in Loveland, Colo., and Skate for the Heart (Oct. 10) in Youngstown, Ohio.
Jeremy finishes fifth at the World Championships
March 25 , 2010 — Jeremy Abbott finished in fifth place at the 2010 World Championships in Torino, Italy, six places higher than he finished at the events in 2008 and 2009. Jeremy scored 232.10 total points for his sixth place short program and sixth place free skate.
Jeremy placed sixth in the short program (81.05) with a clean program that included a triple flip-triple toe combination. In his free skate, he missed the quad toe and a double Axel but hit eight triples to score 151.05 for the program.
With the season complete, Jeremy is now embarking on the two-month long Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour.
Jeremy wins nationals, books ticket to Vancouver
January 18, 2010 — When Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir qualified for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, Jeremy Abbott was not even eligible to compete for a spot on the Olympic team. He had failed to qualify for 2006 national competition.
Then he began to turn things around. “That was kind of a starting point for me and everything that has happened since then,” Jeremy said. In those four years, he rearranged his whole life in pursuit of a spot on the 2010 U.S. Olympic team.
The hard work came to realization Sunday when a breathtaking performance not only put him on the team but also vaulted his stature as a medal contender in Vancouver. At the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash., Jeremy won his second consecutive national title in dramatic fashion, scoring a personal-best 263.66 points to win by about 25 points.
“This is the best performance I’ve ever given, but I know I’m capable of so much more,” Jeremy said. He could not miss from the time he hit his opening quadruple toe to his program-ending spin. One by one, he landed the big tricks: Triple flip, triple Axel-triple toe combination, double Axel, triple Lutz-triple toe, triple Lutz-double triple toe-double loop, triple loop and triple Salchow.
“When I hit the quad it was just business as usual,” Jeremy said. “I still had seven jumping passes and eight triples left so there no way could I celebrate at that point.”
The celebration will be short for Jeremy. With the gold medal tucked into his carry-on bag, the 24-year-old heads home to the Detroit Skating Club on Monday, and will soon come up with the Vancouver game plan with his coaches, 1994 World Champion Yuka Sato and two-time U.S. Pairs Champion Jason Dungjen. Jeremy began working with Sato and Dungjen this summer after spending a decade working with Tom Zakrajsek in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jeremy moved from his mom’s house in Colorado Springs to the Detroit suburbs after a disappointing performance at the World Championships last year. He was the national champion but his 11th-place showing ranked him the lowest of all three Americans. Lysacek, meanwhile, usurped Jeremy’s role as the top American male skater by claiming the world title.
“When you make huge changes there’s always risk involved,” he said. “There’s always doubt when it come to making big moves, but deep down in my heart it felt right. I’m very happy with the decision I made and the lifestyle change I made.”
Sato has instilled a confidence in him that he never had before.
“Everyone has doubt in themselves, but I used to believe it,” Jeremy said. “That little nagging voice in the back of my head that told me I couldn’t do it, I’d believe it. I’m learning I can quiet that voice and tell it to shut up.”
Jeremy leads at 2010 U.S. Championships
January 15, 2010 — The favorites lived up to expectations. On Friday at the 2010 U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash., 2009 U.S. Champion Jeremy Abbott staked a claim to the title by winning the men’s short program over 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir, three-time national title holder. Jeremy scored 87.85 points, about five points higher than his personal best, to take the lead.
Jeremy, performing to the Jeff Beck version of the Beatles classic “A Day in the Life” in the short, looked on from the moment his program started. He started with a solid triple flip-triple toe combination than did a three-turn entry into a high triple Axel. He also performed a triple Lutz, which left a smile on his face for the rest of the program.
“It was like an explosion inside and it just felt really, really good,” Jeremy said. “The rest of the program was just a blast. I had so, so much fun.”
Jeremy places wins technical mark at Grand Prix Final
December 5, 2009 — At the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan, Jeremy was near perfect in his second place free program to Saint-Saens’ “Symphony No. 3” although he botched the opening quadruple toe. Even with the fall, he outscored gold medalist Evan Lysacek in the technical mark by 6.53 points, with elements including a triple Axel-triple toe and a triple Lutz-triple toe-double loop.
Jeremy finished fourth overall in the competition with 235.38 points, a combination of his fifth place short program (76.65) and second place free skate (158.73), a program that was less than a point out of first.
Jeremy in fifth at the Grand Prix Final
December 4, 2009 — After the Grand Prix Final short program in Tokyo, Japan, Jeremy is in fifth place with 76.65 points. “It wasn’t my best performance so it gives me something to aim for in the long,” he said.
Jeremy, who won Skate Canada two weeks ago to qualify for the Final, fell on the triple Lutz, the third jumping pass of his program. He landed a nice opening triple flip-triple toe in his performance to “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles but had problems on both the triple Axel, stumbling on the landing, and then the Lutz.
Jeremy advances to the Final with Skate Canada gold
November 21, 2009 — When Jeremy stepped on the ice Saturday for his free skate at Skate Canada in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, he knew that he needed to come up big if he wanted the opportunity to defend his title at the Grand Prix Final.
Skating to Camille Saint-Saens “Symphony No. 3,” Jeremy pulled out all the stops, landing a quadruple toe and a triple flip in the opening moments of his program. He went on to land seven more triple jumps, including the triple Lutz-triple toe-double loop combination and triple Salchow-triple toe, to secure the gold medal with the 153.99 point program.
Jeremy finished with 232.99 points, just edging out the free skate winner Daisuke Takahashi (231.31) of Japan, who settled for the silver medal. With the 1-2 finish, Jeremy and Takahashi earned enough points for a spot in the Grand Prix Final, Dec. 3-6, in Tokyo, Japan.
“I’m pleased,” said Jeremy, the only American man to ever win the Final. “I was really nervous going into it. I heard Daisuke’s score, and it was very big. I just really wanted to keep it together. I wasn’t worried about winning. I wanted to put the quad out there for the first time this season, and to keep the rest of my program together.”
Jeremy honors fallen friend with first place short
November 20, 2009 — About an hour before Jeremy took the ice for his short program at Skate Canada, he received tragic news from Colorado Springs, Colo. His friend Haley Rose Gans, who he knew when training at the Broadmoor Skating Club, had died earlier in the day in a skiing accident at Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado when she hit a tree.
He dedicated his 79-point, first place short program in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, to his friend. “She was a sweet girl,” he told reporters after his performance to “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles, and the girl he often used sign language to communicate with while in the kiss and cry area at competitions.
Jeremy reeled off a triple flip-triple toe combination, a triple Axel and a triple Lutz in his program. The reigning Grand Prix Final Champion got a level four for all three spins and a level three for both step sequences.
“I am very happy with how I skated and I am excited going into the free skating,” he said. “After [NHK Trophy] I really learned a lot about the [free] program and places that kind of needed a little tweaking here and there, and I feel a lot more comfortable with the program than I did in Japan. The program was still very, very new, it was less than two months old. Now it’s only two weeks older, but having gone through that experience I do feel a lot more comfortable and confident going into tomorrow.”
Jeremy opens season by taking fifth in Nagano, Japan
November 7, 2009 — Jeremy slipped from second place after the short program at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan, to fifth place overall following a sixth place free. He finished with 208.45 points.
Debuting his program to “Symphony No. 3 in C minor” by Camille Saint-Saens, Jeremy had problems throughout, falling on the opening quadruple toe, which was also downgraded, then falling on the triple flip and the triple Axel. Jeremy also singled the triple Axel in the triple Axel-triple toe combination although he later landed a triple Lutz-triple toe-double loop.
He received a variety of levels for his non-jumping elements. One spin was Level 4, one was Level 3 and one was Level 2 while his step sequences, circular and straight line, were both judged as Level 2.
“We have to take little steps to achieve a bigger goal,” he tweeted at www.twitter.com/jeremyabbottpcf/ after the performance. “Today I tripped, but I will dust myself off and keep marching towards my dream.”
Jeremy second in short program at the NHK Trophy
November 6, 2009 — With new coach Yuka Sato watching him at the boards for the first time in international competition, Jeremy skated into second place at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan. He scored 83.00 points.
“I was very nervous coming in, because it’s a lot of new firsts for me,” Jeremy said. “This is the first full competition I’ve done [this season] and I have a new coach and a lot of new things happen to my life. So I was very anxious to see how it would turn out. My training has been going very well and I felt that I just kept everything the same [like in practice].”
Jeremy opened his elegant performance to “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles with a solid triple flip-triple toeloop combination followed by a triple Axel and triple Lutz. He was awarded a Level 4 for the change foot sit spin and the flying sit spin while his combination spin and both step sequences were graded Level 3.
Jeremy selected for the Japan Open
September 17, 2009 — After a successful showing at the DuPage Open last month, Jeremy is ready to open the international season. He will make his debut at the Japan Open on Oct. 3 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, he announced today.
The event will include teams of two ladies and two men from North America, Japan and Europe. Joining Jeremy on the men’s side for Team North America is Canadian Jeffrey Buttle, the 2008 World Champion.
At the competition, Jeremy will perform his new free skate choreographed by Pasquale Camerlengo to “Symphony No. 3 in C minor” by Camille Saint-Saens. His original long was Jupiter from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets Suite” and Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi choreographed by Tom Dickson but he has since changed it.
Because of his commitment to the Japan Open, he will not be skating at the Stars, Stripes and Skates in Danbury, Conn., on Sept. 26, as previously scheduled. He will skate Sept. 19 at Skate for the Heart in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Jeremy received two assignments on the Grand Prix circuit for the upcoming season, which he hopes is highlighted at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. He will compete at the fourth event on the series, NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan, Nov. 5-8, and the sixth event, Skate Canada, Nov. 19-22, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Jeremy joins the Detroit Skating Club
August 4, 2009 — When Jeremy steps on to the ice at the DuPage Open Aug. 15-16 in Buffalo Grove, Ill., it will mark the first time he will have “Detroit Skating Club” attached to his name in a competition. It will also be the first time World Champion Yuka Sato will be by his side at the boards.
He announced Tuesday that he has left his longtime club, the Broadmoor Skating Club of Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Detroit Skating Club, which is affiliated with his new training location in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., just outside of Detroit. Earlier this summer, Jeremy announced his move from Tom Zakrajsek in Colorado Springs to Sato and her team.
“We are extremely pleased that Jeremy will be representing this legacy club, DSC has a long and proud history of skating champions,” Jeremy’s mom Allison said in an e-mail to supporters. “Everyone there has been so gracious and welcoming. It is a special place and Jeremy is very fortunate to be working with Yuka, Jason (Dungjen) and an incredible team of professionals on and off the ice.”
DSC is currently the home club of U.S. Ladies Champion Alissa Czisny and U.S. Ice Dance Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White. When Tara Lipinski won her World Championship in 1997 and the Olympic Winter Games in 1998, she represented the Detroit Skating Club. World Champion and six-time U.S. Men’s Champion Todd Eldredge and five-time U.S. Ice Dance Champions Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow also skated for the DSC.
Other current and former members include: Olympic silver medalists and five-time U.S. Ice Dance Champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto; U.S. Ladies Champion and World Championship bronze medalist Nicole Bobek; World Junior Pair Champions Jessica Joseph and Charles Butler; U.S. Pairs Champions and World Junior Champions Danielle and Steve Hartsell; Olympians Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem; and five-time U.S. Ice Dance Champions Naomi Lang and Peter Tchernyshev.
Jeremy set to skate in DuPage Open, in four shows
July 30, 2009 — Before Jeremy opens the Olympic season with the NHK Trophy in November, he will compete at the DuPage Open summer competition Aug. 15-16 in Buffalo Grove, Ill., and perform in four ice shows across the country.
Jeremy’s show schedule includes the Sun Valley Ice Show in Sun Valley, Idaho on Aug. 1; the Lake Placid Ice Show in Lake Placid, N.Y. on Aug. 22; Skate for the Heart in Chicago on Sept. 19; and Stars, Stripes and Skates in Danbury, Conn, on Sept. 26.
He received two assignments on the Grand Prix circuit for the upcoming season, which he hopes is highlighted at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. He will compete at the fourth event on the series, NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan, Nov. 5-8, and the sixth event, Skate Canada, Nov. 19-22, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
The top six performers in the entire circuit will compete at December’s Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan. Jeremy won the 2008 Grand Prix Final, becoming the first American man ever to take the gold medal at that competition.
Jeremy headed to NHK Trophy, Skate Canada in the fall
May 30, 2009 — Jeremy received two assignments on the Grand Prix circuit for the upcoming season. He will compete at the NHK Trophy in Nagano, Japan, Nov. 5-8, and Skate Canada, Nov. 19-22, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
NHK Trophy is the fourth event in the six event series while Skate Canada is the sixth competition. The top six performers in the entire circuit will compete at December’s Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan.
He won the 2008 Grand Prix Final, becoming the first American man ever to take the gold medal at that competition. Jeremy finished first at 2008 Cup of China and fourth at Cup of Russia to qualify for the Final.
The upcoming season marks the third year he will compete on the Grand Prix circuit. In his first two Grand Prix competitions, Jeremy finished eighth at 2007 Skate Canada and fourth at NHK Trophy.
Jeremy leaves Colorado Springs to train Yuka Sato
April 18, 2009 — Jeremy announced today he has ended his 10-year professional relationship with coach Tom Zakrajsek and will train with Yuka Sato at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Jeremy has trained with Zakrajsek at the Colorado Springs World Arena since 1999.
“I am sad to be leaving Colorado, where I have lived my whole life,” Jeremy said, “but am very excited about my future and the opportunities that lie ahead.”
Zakrajsek was named the Professional Skating Association’s Coach of the Year on Thursday at the organization’s annual conference in Orlando, Fla.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Tom,” Jeremy said. “I am so grateful to him and everyone else at the World Arena for all that they have done for me in the past.”
In addition to capturing top honors at the 2009 U.S. Championships and the 2008 Grand Prix Final, Jeremy took home the gold from the 2008 Cup of China. He won the bronze at the 2007 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and is the 2005 U.S. junior champion.
“I want to thank Jeremy for allowing me to lead him these past 10 years,” Zakrajsek said. “I am very proud of my work with him and wish him good luck in his new situation.”
Sato is the 1994 World champion, 1990 World Junior champion and a two-time Japanese champion. A coach at the Detroit Skating Club since 1998, Sato also works with 2009 U.S. champion Alissa Czisny.
Team USA wins the inaugural World Team Trophy
April 18, 2009 — Jeremy Jeremy and seven other skaters from the United States won the inaugural World Team Trophy today in Tokyo, Japan. The Americans finished with 60 points, including eight from Jeremy’s individual standing, to best teams five other nations.
Team USA also consisted of World Champion Evan Lysacek on the men’s side. Broadmoor Skating Club member Rachael Flatt, the two-time U.S. silver medalist who finished fifth at Worlds, and U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang, who finished second at the World Junior Championships, represented the country in the ladies event.
Competing in pairs was U.S. silver medalists Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, who were ninth at Worlds. Five-time U.S. Champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who recently won the silver medal at Worlds and also took silver at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, competed in ice dance.
Canada (54), led by World silver medalists Patrick Chan and Joannie Rochette as well as World bronze medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, finished second while Japan (50) took third. The other nations participating were France (37), Russia (35) and China (34).
Team USA also won the team spirit award.
Jeremy lands quad, finishes fifth at World Team Trophy
April 17, 2009 — Jeremy Jeremy ended the season with a 205.05 point showing at the World Team Trophy in Tokyo. He finished fifth individually, which helped Team USA maintain the lead after the second day of action.
Jeremy started his impressive season with a gold medal at November’s Cup of China. In total, he won three gold medals, including the Grand Prix Final in December, becoming the first American man to accomplish that feat, and the 2009 U.S. Championship in January.
His standing at the World Team Trophy contributes eight points to the final score Team USA, which is competing against teams from five other nations including China, France and Russia. Canada and Japan are in second and third place.
He started his performance with a quadruple toe. Jeremy went on to land a triple flip, single axel, triple Salchow, single axel-double toe, triple lutz-triple toe-double toe and triple loop. He fell on the final triple axel.
Jeremy stumbles in short at World Team Trophy
April 16, 2009 — Jeremy Jeremy skated his last short program of an impressive competitive season today at the inaugural World Team Trophy in Tokyo. He finished fifth with a score of 71.27 points.
Skating to Adagio in G Minor by Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni, Jeremy started his program with a solid triple flip-triple toe combination, which earned a positive grade of execution. But received two points in deductions after falling on his triple axel and stumbled later in the program.
His placement contributes eight points to the current team score. Team USA has 48 points after the completion of the original dance, men’s short program and ladies short program. Japan is second with 43 and Canada is third (39).
Jeremy matches World Championship result from 2008
March 27, 2009 — U.S. Champion Jeremy Jeremy, the only American man to win the Grand Prix Final, finished the 2009 World Championships in Los Angeles with the same standing he had last season. He placed 11th overall with 204.67 points.
Jeremy had moments of brilliance in his free skate to “Eight Seasons Tangos” by Astor Piazzolla. Among the highlights were an opening triple lutz, a triple flip, triple Salchow and later, a triple lutz-triple toe-double toe combination.
But he had some troubles on the axel, a jump he has four times in the program. He fell out of the landings of both triple axels. He later popped a double axel into a single then put his hand down on the landing of another double axel.
“I really didn’t feel that the mistakes I made were great enough to justify my scores,” said Jeremy, who placed 10th in the free with 132.52 points. “It certainly wasn’t my greatest, but I’m proud of my effort. I didn’t feel any pressure.”
Jeremy in the top 10 after short program at Worlds
March 26, 2009 — Jeremy Jeremy is in 10th place after the short program at the World Championships in Los Angeles. The newly crowned U.S. Champion takes 72.15 points into Thursday’s free skate.
It was an off day for the often spectacular Jeremy, who holds highest score ever recorded for an U.S. man in international competition from his win at the Grand Prix Final. He put his hand down on the triple toe then stepped out of the triple axel, which was downgraded to a double.
“I just felt tight,” Jeremy said. “It’s been a long, long season. I think that, training for this, I wanted to get my best points at worlds. I’ve been skating consistently all season, but I just allowed my mind to get to that place of trying to be good instead of just being me and doing what I know how to do.”
His program components (36.45) were the fourth best of the competition.
USOC names Jeremy as ‘Athlete of the Month’
February 10, 2009 — The U.S. Olympic Committee announced this week that Jeremy Jeremy, the 2009 U.S. men’s champion, has been voted one of its January Athletes of the Month. This is the first time Jeremy has won this honor.
In winning his first U.S. senior title last month at the 2009 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, Jeremy broke the five-year stranglehold on the men’s division of Evan Lysacek (2007 and 2008 U.S. champion) and Johnny Weir (2004-06 U.S. champion). At 23, Jeremy became the oldest first-time U.S. champion since Rudy Galindo in 1996 and qualified for the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in March.
After winning gold at the Cup of China and finishing fourth at the Cup of Russia, Jeremy became the first U.S. man to claim the title at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. His fifth-place finish last week at the 2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships moved him into the No. 3 spot in the latest icenetwork.com World Figure Skating Rankings. Jeremy earned bronze at that event in 2007. He is also the 2005 U.S. junior champion.
Jeremy trains under coaches Tom Zakrajsek, Becky Calvin and Eric Schulz at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colo.
In winning the January honor, Jeremy beat out 2008 Olympic wrestler Steve Mocco and Paralympic skier Tyler Walker, among others.
U.S. ladies champion Alissa Czisny came in third in the women’s voting after capturing her first U.S. title at the 2009 U.S. Championships. Pairs team Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker also finished third in the voting for the honor of January Team of the Month after winning their second consecutive U.S. title.
Jeremy looks to Worlds after taking fifth in Vancouver
February 7, 2009 — Jeremy finished fifth at the Four Continents Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, two weeks after a stunning performance at the U.S. Championships.
He finished with 216.94 points after a fourth place short program (75.67) and a sixth place free skate (141.27).
Jeremy now looks toward preparing for the the World Championships. The event is March 23-29, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
In his free skate, he started by doubling an intended quadruple toe loop. Jeremy also landed a triple flip, triple axel, triple Salchow and triple axel-triple toe combination before falling on his triple lutz for the second time in the competition.
“This was not what I consider a good performance by any stretch of the imagination,” said Jeremy, who received a one point deduction for the fall on the lutz. “I had some goals for myself and I came just short of them.”
Jeremy recovered from the fall with a triple loop-double toe-double loop and a double axel-double toe. Among the highlights of his program, he had two Level 4 spins and three elements that received a Level 3.
Jeremy in fourth after Four Continents short program
February 5, 2009 — In his first outing since his spectacular win at the 2009 U.S. Championships, Jeremy is in fourth place after the short program at the Four Continents Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The event is in the same rink that will host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
“Fortunately this is not a one-program competition, and I have lots of opportunities to earn points in the free skate. I’m kind of killing many birds with one stone here in preparation for future competitions. I am using this competition to put the quad into the free skate. before Worlds, and I am getting to try it in the Olympic venue as well,” he said.
Jeremy carries 75.67 points into Saturday’s free skate after nailing a triple flip-triple toe loop combination and a triple axel. Performing to Adagio in G Minor by Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni, he fell on his easiest jump, the triple lutz, and also stumbled on a step sequence.
Although Jeremy’s technical performance was not as strong as usual, he had the third highest program component score of the competition. He received 35.95 for the second mark.
Jeremy takes gold at the 2009 U.S. Championship
January 25, 2009 — Jeremy may have came into the 2009 U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, with second billing to two-time U.S. Champion Evan Lysacek and three-time champion Johnny Weir. But he is leaving with the national title after scoring a personal best 241.89 total points.
“I felt awful leading up to this event, I felt awful today, I felt awful on the ice,” Jeremy said. “But I was able to control myself and do what I needed to do. I’m really relieved that it’s over, and I’m so excited that I won. It’s certainly something I’ve been working for for a long time, and I’m very happy it’s happened.”
Jeremy was more nervous than he has ever been but it rarely showed. His coach Tom Zakrajsek tried to calm him, “I said, ‘This is so typical for you to feel this way, Jeremy, because you have worked so hard and you deserve success and it’s OK to feel that way. So now let’s move on and get back to what needs to happen.'”
He landed seven triples — which would have been eight had he not popped a loop into a single — but was most impressive when it came to the quality of his program. He moved effortlessly from one element to the other, and eventually found himself on the top of the podium.
“I think everything happens for a reason and on time,” said Jeremy, who is only one day younger than Lysacek, but has only experienced great success this season. “I may be a late bloomer, but I guess it’s just my time.”
Joining him on the podium were training mates Brandon Mroz (silver) and Ryan Bradley (pewter). All three are coached by Zakrajsek, often sharing two sessions a day with each other, and sometimes U.S. silver medalist Rachael Flatt.
“For me, in 20 years of coaching, this is a really special moment,” said Zakrajsek of his first senior national champion being joined by his two other skaters on the podium. “This will probably never be repeated.”
Jeremy heads to the Four Continents Championship with Mroz and Lysacek, the bronze medalist. All three are also slated for March’s World Championships in Los Angeles.
Jeremy in first after U.S. Championships short program
January 23, 2009 — In the same fashion he won two international events this season, Jeremy stole the spotlight at the U.S. Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, with a masterful performance that put him in first place. He carries 86.40 points into Sunday’s free skate, where he hopes to win the national gold medal for the first time.
“I feel like the national championships is always a little bit about Evan [Lysacek] and Johnny [Weir],” Jeremy said. “I came in and my goal was just to do the best I could and maybe break through that, but I wasn’t focused on that. I was really just focused on myself and whatever comes of that, comes of that.”
Jeremy immediately followed Evan Lysacek’s strong performance, which put the two-time U.S. Champion in second with 83.59 points, with a spectacular showing of his own. For his efforts — a triple flip-triple toe, triple axel and triple lutz paired with balletic movements — he also received a standing ovation.
