Kurt Browning
Kurt Browning | |
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![]() Browning skates during the 2000 Canadian Stars on Ice tour | |
Figure skating career | |
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Kurt Browning, CM (born June 18, 1966) is a Canadian figure skater and choreographer. He is a four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian national champion.
Biography
Born in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta and raised in Caroline, Alberta, Browning was a four-time Canadian figure skating champion and four-time World Champion. He represented Canada in three Winter Olympics, 1988 (finishing 8th overall), 1992 (6th) and 1994 (5th), and was given the privilege of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway. Browning's other achievements are numerous, including three Canadian Professional Championships, three World Professional Championships, a Lou Marsh Trophy for top Canadian Athlete (in 1990), Lionel Conacher Award winner (1990 and 1991), Order of Canada recipient (in 1990), an American Skating World Professional Skater of the Year Award (in 1998), and a Gustav Lussi Award from the Professional Skaters' Association (in 2001). The only trophy that he never won was an Olympic medal. He is also known as Wayne Gretzky of figure skating due to his achievements, contributions to the sport and popularity in Canada.
On March 25, 1988, at the 1988 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Browning landed the first quadruple jump ever in competition.[1] This accomplishment is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Browning is also known for his footwork.
He was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and Canada's Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000. He was honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2001. He also appeared in the 2006 FOX television program Skating with Celebrities.
As a professional skater, Browning has had a long rivalry with Brian Boitano. At the 2006 Ice Wars competition, Browning narrowly defeated Boitano.
Browning married Sonia Rodriguez, a principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, on June 30, 1996. Their first son Gabriel was born on July 12, 2003 and their second son Dillon was born on August 14, 2007.
Competitive highlights
Event/Season | 1984-1985 | 1985-1986 | 1986-1987 | 1987-1988 | 1988-1989 | 1989-1990 | 1990-1991 | 1991-1992 | 1992-1993 | 1993-1994 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winter Olympics | 8th | 6th | 5th | |||||||
World Championships | 15th | 6th | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |||
Canadian Championships | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
References
- ^ "A Quadruple Jump on Ice". The New York Times. 1988-03-26. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1966 births
- Alberta sportspeople
- Canadian figure skaters
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame inductees
- Olympic figure skaters of Canada
- Figure skaters at the 1988 Winter Olympics
- Figure skaters at the 1992 Winter Olympics
- Figure skaters at the 1994 Winter Olympics
- Living people
- Members of the Order of Canada
- People from Clearwater County, Alberta
- Figure skating commentators