Christina Gao

Christina Gao

Christina Gao competing in the 2012-13 Grand Prix Final
Personal information
Full name Christina Gao
Country represented United States
Born (1994-03-07) March 7, 1994
Cincinnati, Ohio
Residence Boston, Massachusetts
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Coach Mark Mitchell
Peter Johansson
Former coach Brian Orser, Ghislain Briand, Stephanie Miller, Ted Masdea
Choreographer David Wilson
Former choreographer Jenni Meno, Todd Sand, David Liu
Skating club Skating Club of Boston
Training locations Boston
Former training locations Toronto
Kentucky
Began skating 2001
Retired June 17, 2015
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 176.28
2013 Four Continents
Short program 62.82
2013 Skate Canada
Free skate 117.62
2012 Skate America
Medal record
Representing  United States
Figure skating: Ladies' singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
2009–10 Tokyo Ladies' singles

Christina Gao (born March 7, 1994) is an American figure skater. She is the 2012 Skate America silver medalist, the 2009 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and the 2009 U.S. Junior bronze medalist.

Personal life

Christina Gao was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her name in Chinese: 高昊; pinyin: Gāo Hào. Her father was a junior national badminton champion in China.[1]

Gao spent several years in Toronto, Ontario, Canada,[2] before moving to Boston in 2012.[3] She was a National Merit semifinalist. In the summer of 2012, she worked at a hospital shadowing a gastroenterologist.[4] In the fall, she began studying at Harvard University, taking a full course load.[3][4]

Career

Early career

Gao began skating at age 7.[2] Early in her career, she trained in northern Kentucky, coached by Stephanie Miller and Ted Masdea.[5]

In the 2004–2005 season, competing on the Juvenile level, Gao won the silver medal at her regional championship[6] to qualify for the United States Junior Championships, where she placed 12th.[7] She moved up to the Intermediate level the following year and won the pewter medal at her regional championship[8] to qualify for the United States Junior Championships, where she placed 11th in her qualifying group[9] and did not advance to the final. She moved up to the Novice level for the 2006–2007 season and placed 13th at her regional championship[10] and did not qualify to her sectional championship.

In the 2007–2008 season, competing again on the novice level, Gao won both her regional[11] and sectional championship[12] to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Championships, where she finished 12th.[13]

The following season, Gao moved up to the junior level. She won the silver medal at her regional championship[14] and the gold medal at her sectional championship[15] to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Championships. At Nationals, she placed third in the short program[16] and second in the free skating,[17] winning the bronze medal overall.[18]

2009–2010 season

Due to limited ice time in Kentucky, Gao relocated before the 2009–10 season to Toronto, where she was coached by Brian Orser, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist, at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.[2] Gao made her ISU Junior Grand Prix debut in the 2009–10 season. She won the bronze medal at the 2009–10 ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Poland with an overall score of 134.55 points. She had also been assigned to the event in Turkey, where she won another bronze earning 135.01 points.

She qualified for the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the Junior Grand Prix, she placed fifth in the short program with 52.82 points and third in the free skate with 98.65 points, winning the bronze medal overall with a score of 151.47 points. She earned new personal bests in the both segments of the competition.

At the 2010 U.S. Championships in January 2010, she placed fifth in the short program with a score 56.26 points and fifth in the free skate with 100.27. She placed 5th overall with 156.53.

She was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships.[19] She placed 8th overall.

2010–2011 season

Gao was assigned to the 2010–11 ISU Junior Grand Prix events in Austria and Japan. She won the silver medal in her first event with a total of 167.14 points. Gao withdrew from the competition in Japan but was reassigned to Germany based on her result in Austria. She placed second totaling 155.67 points. Those placements qualified her for the 2010–11 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, where she came in sixth position earning 145.01 points. She finished 5th at the US Championships at the senior level. She was fourth at the 2011 World Junior Championships.

2011–2012 season

Gao was assigned to the 2011 Cup of China and 2011 Cup of Russia for the Grand Prix season. She had a hip injury and was off the ice for most of July.[20] At her first event, Cup of China, she came in eighth in the short program with a score of 51.99. She placed fourth in the free skate with a score of 100.47 to finish fifth.[21] At Cup of Russia, she was tenth after the short program with a score of 39.64. She also placed tenth in the free skate with a score of 78.13, to place tenth overall.[22] Gao finished 5th at the 2012 U.S. Nationals Championships. Gao then competed at the 2012 World Junior Championships and finished 7th at the event.

In March 2012, Gao left Toronto and returned to Cincinnati.[23] After a June visit to Boston, Gao decided to train with coaches Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson at The Skating Club of Boston.[3][23]

2012-2013 season

After winning the silver medal at the 2012 Skate America,[24] Gao placed fourth at the 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard.[25] In late November, ISU officials announced that she would compete at the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final, replacing Yulia Lipnitskaya who withdrew from the event due to injuries.[26] Gao placed sixth at the Grand Prix Final.[27] She was fifth at the 2013 U.S. Championships and was named in the United States team to the 2013 Four Continents in Osaka, Japan where she finished 4th and was the highest ranking American at the event ahead of teammates Gracie Gold and Agnes Zawadzki.

2013-2014 season

Gao opened her 2013-2014 season by winning the bronze medal at the 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy behind Russian Nikol Gosviani. She has been assigned to two events for the 2013–14 ISU Grand Prix series, her first event was at the 2013 Skate Canada where she finished 4th. In her next assignment, Gao finished 8th at the 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard.

2014-2015 season

Gao decided to "go for it" one more time and while she failed significantly, she still had a blast trying. She decided her time in figure skateing was up and said "peace out" in January 2015. Since then, she's been traveling around Europe and trying to figure out what she wants to do next..

Programs

Gao during her free skate to La Fille Mal Gardée at the 2009 JGP Final
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2014–2015
[28]
  • River
    by Emeli Sande
    2013–2014
    [1]
    • Angels & Demons
      by Hans Zimmer
      2012–2013
      [29]
      • Close Without Touching
        by David Arkenstone
      2011–2012
      [20][30][31]
      • To Love You More
        by Lucia Micarelli
        choreo. by David Wilson
      2010–2011
      [32]
      2009–2010
      [33]
      2008–2009
      [28]
      • Paquita
        by Richard Bonynge
        performed by the English Concert Orchestra
        choreo. by David Wilson
      2007–2008
      [5]

      Competitive highlights

      2009–10 season to present

      International[34]
      Event 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15
      Four Continents 4th
      Grand Prix Final 6th
      GP Bompard 4th 8th
      GP Cup of China 5th 9th
      GP NHK Trophy 9th
      GP Rostelecom 10th
      GP Skate America 2nd
      GP Skate Canada 4th
      Ondrej Nepela 3rd
      International: Junior[34]
      Junior Worlds 8th 4th 7th
      JGP Final 3rd 6th
      JGP Austria 2nd
      JGP Germany 2nd
      JGP Poland 3rd
      JGP Turkey 3rd
      National[28]
      U.S. Champ. 5th 5th 5th 5th 8th 11th
      GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix
      QR = Qualifying round; TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

      2004–05 to 2008–09

      National[28]
      Event 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
      U.S. Championships 12th N. 3rd J.
      U.S. Junior Champ. 12th Jv. 11th I. (QR)
      Midwestern Sectionals 1st N. 1st J.
      Eastern Great Lakes Regionals 2nd Jv. 4th I. 13th N. 1st N. 2nd J.
      Levels: Jv. = Juvenile; I. = Intermediate; N. = Novice; J.= Junior

      Detailed results

      (Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.)

      2013–2014 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      January 5–12, 2014 2014 U.S. Championships Senior 6
      60.91      		 10
      102.12      		 8
      163.03
      November 15–17, 2013 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard Senior 4
      58.81       		8
      94.04      		 8
      152.85
      October 25–27, 2013 2013 Skate Canada Senior 4
      62.82       		4
      110.8      		 4
      173.69
      October 3–5, 2013 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy Senior 4
      52.14       		3
      100.70      		 3
      152.84
      2012–2013 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      February 8–11, 2013 2013 Four Continents Senior 4
      62.34       		5
      113.94      		 4
      176.28
      January 19–27, 2013 2013 U.S. Championships Senior 5
      58.74      		 4
      117.54      		 5
      176.28
      December 6–9, 2012 2012-2013 ISU Grand Prix Final Senior 6
      48.56      		 6
      105.98      		 6
      154.54
      November 15–18, 2012 2012 Trophee Eric Bompard Senior 7
      52.55      		 4
      112.16      		 4
      164.71
      October 19–21, 2012 2012 Skate America Senior 3
      56.63      		 2
      117.62      		 2
      174.25
      2011–2012 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      February 27 – March 4, 2012 2012 World Junior Championships Junior 5
      52.66      		 7
      98.43      		 7
      151.09
      January 22–29, 2012 2012 U.S. Championships Senior 6
      54.83      		 5
      111.53      		 5
      166.36
      November 25–27, 2011 2011 Cup of Russia Senior 10
      39.64      		 10
      78.13      		 10
      117.77
      November 4–6, 2011 2011 Cup of China Senior 8
      51.99      		 4
      100.49      		 5
      152.48
      2010–2011 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      February 28 – March 6, 2011 2011 World Junior Championships Junior 3
      56.80      		 6
      98.47      		 4
      155.27
      January 22 – 30, 2011 2011 U.S. Championships Senior 5
      58.43      		 6
      108.77      		 5
      167.20
      December 9–12, 2010 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 7
      43.98       		3
      101.03      		 6
      145.01
      October 6–10, 2010 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Germany Junior 2
      47.66      		 2
      108.01      		 2
      155.67
      September 15–19, 2010 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Austria Junior 2
      58.07      		 2
      109.07      		 2
      167.14
      2009–2010 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      March 8–14, 2010 2010 World Junior Championships Junior 9
      49.34      		 6
      94.52      		 8
      143.86
      January 14–24, 2010 2010 U.S. Championships Senior 5
      56.26      		 5
      100.27      		 5
      156.53
      December 3 – 6, 2009 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 5
      52.82      		 3
      98.65      		 3
      151.47
      October 14–18, 2009 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Turkey Junior 7
      44.91      		 1
      90.10      		 3
      135.01
      September 9–12, 2009 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Poland Junior 3
      50.52      		 3
      84.03      		 3
      134.55
      2008–2009 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      January 18 – 25, 2009 2009 U.S. Championships Junior 3
      49.45      		 2
      79.24      		 3
      128.69
      November 11–15, 2008 2009 Midwestern Sectional Championships Junior 4
      43.89      		 1
      85.94      		 1
      129.83
      October 10–14, 2008 2009 Eastern Great Lakes Regionals Junior 1
      47.01      		 5
      66.61      		 2
      113.62
      2007–2008 season
      Date Event Level SP FS Total
      January 20–27, 2008 2008 U.S. Championships Novice 11 11 12
      83.75
      November 14–17, 2007 2008 Midwestern Sectional Championships Novice 3
      41.83      		 1
      85.34      		 1
      127.17
      October 1–6, 2007 2008 Eastern Great Lakes Regionals Novice 1
      45.52      		 1
      73.49      		 1
      119.01

      References

      1. 1 2 "Christina GAO: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
      2. 1 2 3 Mittan, Barry (February 11, 2010). "Gao Makes World Team". Skate Today. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
      3. 1 2 3 Rutherford, Lynn (December 4, 2012). "Rejuvenated Gao 'honored' to be with sport's elite". IceNetwork.
      4. 1 2 Whiteside, Kelly (January 22, 2013). "Christina Gao juggles skating, Harvard studies". USA Today.
      5. 1 2 "89th U.S. FigUre Skating ChampionShipS: Ladies' singles biographies" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2011.
      6. ↑ "2005 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships Juvenile Girls Final Standings". U.S. Figure Skating.
      7. ↑ "2005 U.S. Junior Championships Juvenile Girls Final Standings". U.S. Figure Skating.
      8. ↑ "2006 Eastern Great Lakes Figure Skating Championships Intermediate Ladies Final Standings". U.S. Figure Skating.
      9. ↑ "2006 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships Intermediate Ladies Group 1A (QR) Final Standings". U.S. Figure Skating.
      10. ↑ "2007 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships Novice Ladies Final Result". U.S. Figure Skating.
      11. ↑ "2008 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Figure Skate Championships" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating.
      12. ↑ "2008 Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating.
      13. ↑ "2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating.
      14. ↑ "2009 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championships" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating.
      15. ↑ "2009 Midwestern Sectional Championships" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating.
      16. ↑ "2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Junior Ladies Short Program". U.S. Figure Skating.
      17. ↑ "2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Junior Ladies Free Skating". U.S. Figure Skating.
      18. ↑ "2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships Junior Ladies Final Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
      19. ↑ "U.S. Figure Skating Announces Ladies, Ice Dancing Teams Nominated to 2010 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team". U.S. Figure Skating. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
      20. 1 2 Rutherford, Lynn (August 28, 2011). "Jump-free summer may work to Gao's advantage". Icenetwork. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
      21. ↑ "ISU Results GP Cup of China 2011". ISU.
      22. ↑ "ISU Results GP Rostelecom". ISU.
      23. 1 2 Hersh, Philip (December 6, 2012). "Gao performing in 2 world-class worlds". Chicago Tribune.
      24. ↑ Rutherford, Lynn (2012-10-21). "'True champion' Wagner wows crowd in triumph". Icenetwork.
      25. ↑ Berlot, Jean-Christophe (November 17, 2012). "Wagner earns standing ovation in Paris triumph". IceNetwork.
      26. ↑ "Gao gets into Final after Lipnitskaia withdraws". Ice Network. November 30, 2012.
      27. ↑ "Runaway victory gives Asada third GP Final title". December 8, 2012.
      28. 1 2 3 4 "Christina Gao". IceNetwork.
      29. ↑ "Christina GAO: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013.
      30. ↑ "Christina GAO: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 27, 2012.
      31. ↑ "Christina GAO: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012.
      32. ↑ "Christina GAO: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
      33. ↑ "Christina GAO: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010.
      34. 1 2 "Competition Results: Christina GAO". International Skating Union.

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