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Kurt Browning

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For the Florida politician, see Kurt S. Browning.
Kurt Browning
CM
Refer to caption
Browning at the 2001 Stars on Ice
Born (1966-06-18) June 18, 1966 (age 58)
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)[1]
Figure skating career
Country Canada
Competitive1982–1994
Professional1994–present
Medal record
Men's single skating
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Paris Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1990 Halifax Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1991 Munich Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 1992 Oakland Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1993 Prague Men's singles
A man wearing a gray suit and fedora and holding an umbrella skates on ice
Browning performing "Singin' in the Rain" in Art on Ice 2014

Kurt Browning, CM (born June 18, 1966) is a Canadian figure skater, choreographer and commentator. He is the first skater to land a ratified quadruple jump in competition. He is a four-time World Champion and Canadian national champion.

Career

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Kurt Browning represented Canada in three Winter Olympics, 1988 (finishing 8th overall), 1992 (6th) and 1994 (5th).[citation needed] Browning won the Canadian novice championships in 1983 and was the Canadian junior champion in 1985. He was the senior champion of Canada four times and came in second place three times. He won the World Championships four times, in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993.[2] He came in second place at Worlds in 1992 due to a severe back injury that "had a particularly negative effect on his Olympic bid".[2] He came in fifth place at the 1994 Winter Olympics.[2] He earned the privilege of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway. Browning's other achievements include three Canadian Professional Championships and three World Professional Championships.[citation needed]

On March 25, 1988, at the 1988 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Browning landed the first ratified quadruple jump, a toe loop in the competition.[3] This accomplishment is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Jozef Sabovčík had previously landed a quad toe loop at the 1986 European Championships which was recognized at the event but then ruled invalid three weeks later.[4] Browning later said, "I remember that there were a few people landing the jump (in practice) long before I did, and by watching them I was inspired to try it myself. After landing it, I certainly expected more skaters to start doing it in competition. I was surprised in the next few years when that really did not happen."[4] Browning is also known for his intricate, fast, often lighthearted footwork.[5][6] Browning has used percussive pop instrumentals in his programs; for example, he used "Bonzo's Montreux" by Led Zeppelin in 1993. He interpreted the music by punching his fists and frequently running across the ice. The following season he used "St. Louis Blues," wearing a tight black t-shirt, stretch pants, and belt.[7] He also raised his fists "in a biceps-flexing muscle pose"[7] and included humor by emulating laughter with upper body movements, skated in time to descending saxophone notes and by pointing to the audience during his footwork sequence.[8]

As figure skating historian James R. Hines has stated, "Browning is remembered for outstanding interpretative programs".[2] For example, Hines calls Browning's free skating program in 1993, set to music from the film Casablanca and choreographed by Sandra Bezic, "is most memorable".[2] He portrayed Rick, Humphrey Bogart's character, and like Bogart, wore a white dinner jacket.[2] One of Browning's iconic programs is "Singin' in the Rain", where he emulates Gene Kelly's dancing in the film. Choreographed by Bezic[9] and debuted in a CBC-TV special in 1994,[10] this program is still asked to be performed at ice shows after 20 years.[11] He has also appeared in made-for-television films and toured with Stars on Ice.[2]

As a commentator, Browning has made frequent appearances since turning professional in 1994. He has been a regular colour commentator for the CBC at major skating events since 2006.

Browning appeared in the 2006 Fox television program Skating with Celebrities. Starting in 2009, he was the co-host of Battle of the Blades.

As a choreographer, he has choreographed programs for many figure skaters including:

He also co-directed and choreographed the 2011–12 Stars on Ice tour.[16][17]

Awards and honors

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Browning was awarded with a Lou Marsh Trophy for top Canadian Athlete (in 1990),[18] Lionel Conacher Awards (1990 and 1991),[19] an American Skating World Professional Skater of the Year Award (in 1998), and a Gustav Lussi Award from the Professional Skaters' Association (in 2001).

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 1989.[20]

Browning was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2000.[21] He was honored with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2001.[22] He was inducted into World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2006.[23] He received the inaugural ISU Skating Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.[24]

Personal life

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Browning was born on June 18, 1966, in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.[1] He was raised in Caroline, Alberta.

He 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. They are now divorced.[25]

Browning's home in the Forest Hill area of Toronto suffered a fire on August 18, 2010.[26]

He married Alissa Czisny on August 11, 2022.[27]

Competitive highlights

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Competition placements at senior level [28]
Season 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94
Winter Olympics 8th 6th 5th
Goodwill Games 1st
World Championships 15th 6th 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st
Skate America 8th 3rd
NHK Trophy 7th 3rd 3rd
Skate Canada 4th 1st 1st 1st
Nations Cup 1st
Int. de Paris 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 9th 3rd
St. Gervais 2nd 2nd
St. Ivel 2nd 1st
Canadian Champ. 5th 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd
  • J – junior level, N – novice level
Competition placements at junior and novice level [28]
Season 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85
La Coupe Excellence 5th
Canadian Champ. 12th N 1st N 1st J

References

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  1. ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kurt Browning". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Hines, James R. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-8108-6859-5.
  3. ^ "A Quadruple Jump on Ice". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 26, 1988. Retrieved October 14, 2007.
  4. ^ a b "The quad: Skating's evolution is for more revolution". CBS Sports. December 2, 1999. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  5. ^ "Kurt Browning – 2006 World Hall of Fame". Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Shulman, Carole (December 12, 2001). The Complete Book of Figure Skating. Human Kinetics. p. 92. ISBN 9780736035484.
  7. ^ a b Kestnbaum, Ellyn (2003). Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning. Middleton, Connecticut: Wesleyan Publishing Press. p. 187. ISBN 0-8195-6641-1.
  8. ^ Kestnbaum, pp. 187—188
  9. ^ Browning, Kurt (September 27, 2012). "Kurt Browning returns to the world of competitive skating". CBC Sports.
  10. ^ Nemetz, Andrea (April 20, 2013). "Skating stars wow Halifax Metro Centre crowd". The Chronicle Herald.
  11. ^ Froneman, Kristin (November 27, 2016). "Kurt Browning spins for Holiday Festival on Ice in Vernon". The Morning Star. Archived from the original on December 9, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Kurt Browning Profile". The Kurt Files. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  13. ^ Tyan, Tina (August 2, 2014). "Kurt Browning – twenty years a pro and still going strong". Absolute Skating.
  14. ^ Bangs, Kathleen (December 24, 2007). "Q&A with French champion Brian Joubert". Ice Network. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "Tugba KARADEMIR: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  16. ^ Tyan, Tina (September 20, 2012). "Kurt Browning had a vision – the making of the 2012 Stars on Ice show". Absolute Skating.
  17. ^ Tyan, Tina (September 20, 2012). ""Love 'n Life" – Kurt Browning on choreographing Stars on Ice". Absolute Skating.
  18. ^ "Kurt Browning". Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "Winners: Kurt Browning, Figure Skating". conacher-rosenfeld.ca. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  20. ^ "Mr. Kurt Browning". Governor-General of Canada. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  21. ^ "2000 Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame Induction". Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  22. ^ "Kurt Browning". Canada's Walk of Fame. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  23. ^ "World Figure Skating Hall of Fame". U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  24. ^ "And the winner is: First ISU Skating Award recipients revealed". Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  25. ^ "In Conversation with Ann Rohmer – Episode 56: Kurt Browning". 105.9 The Region. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  26. ^ "Kurt Browning's Toronto home hit by fire". CBC News. August 18, 2010.
  27. ^ Browning, Kurt (August 19, 2022). "Happy to announce that Alissa ( Czisny ) and I are now married" (Instagram).
  28. ^ a b "Skate Canada Result Book" (PDF). Skate Canada. Ottawa. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2009.
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