icenetwork.com: Skaters

Skaters

Dance

Melissa Gregory

Born:

May 22, 1981

Birthplace:

Chicago, IL

Height:

5' 5"

Level:

Senior

Hometown:

Northfield, IL

Club:

The SC of New York, Inc.

Denis Petukhov

Born:

October 6, 1978

Birthplace:

Kirov

Height:

5' 10"

Level:

Senior

Hometown:

Hartford, CT

Club:

The SC of New York, Inc.

Coach:

Priscilla Hill

Choreographer:

Denis Petukhov

Landed their first endorsement deal in March 2007 with Erchonia Medical, Inc., the leading manufacturer of low-level laser technology that helps the body heal after injuries ... Gregory used Erchonia when she broke her foot in 2006 ... Began working with Natalia Linichuk in the spring of 2006 ... Have previously been coached by Nikoli Morozov and Shae Lynn Bourne, and Sandy Hess and Oleg Epstein ... Gregory and Petukhov first met through e-mails as both were looking for a new partner ... They officially became on-ice partners on Aug. 30, 2000... Off the ice, they developed a relationship, with Petukhov proposing to Gregory during Christmas of 2000 ... The couple was married Feb. 2, 2001, the same day as Petukhov's grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary ... Was also the same month as Gregory's grandparent's 50th anniversary ... Have a dog named Suede ... Do a show benefiting cancer every May; it is important to them because they both have a history of cancer in their families ... Also active with Figure Skating in Harlem, an organization for the underprivileged children of Harlem, and The Right To Play, which helps underprivileged kids have the opportunity to play sports ... Skated in a show for juvenile diabetes research ... Website can be found at www.gregoryandpetukhov.com

Gregory and former partner James Shuford were the 1998 U.S. junior dance champions and finished 10th in the 1998 World Junior Championships ... She began skating at age 7 because she wanted to wear a costume at her local rink's ice show ... Has an older brother, Michael, who is a doctor ... Teaches skating lessons ... Values her family above all ... Hobbies include cooking, shopping, movies and travel ... Favorite foreign countries to travel to are Italy and France ... After her competitive career she'd like to take some college classes and start a family ... Biggest life-defining moment was the opening ceremony of the Olympics ... Continued training for Skate America after breaking her foot in 2006 ... Would like to meet Oprah Winfrey because "she is so giving and has singlehandedly started to change the world" ... Loves old-time movies ... Also enjoys snorkeling, skiing, jet-skiing, fishing and windsurfing ... Has a passion for everything involved in fashion: makeup, shoes and clothes ... Collects purses and hats ... Would like to go on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" ... Listens to Globus, classic U2, Billy Joel, The Beatles and Aerosmith on her iPod.

Favorite TV shows: The Young and the Restless, Desperate Housewives, Heroes
Favorite movies: Singing in the Rain, American In Paris, Grease
Favorite charity: Right to Play
Favorite celebrity: Oprah Winfrey
Favorite website: www.google.com
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite drink: Tomato juice

Petukhov previously competed for Russia with Oksana Potdykova, claiming a silver medal at the 1997 World Junior Championships and a bronze in 1998 ... Graduated from the Russian Academy of Physical Culture in 2004 ... Values his wife, Melissa, above all ... Hobbies include fishing, cars, traveling, soccer and all other sports ... Started to skate at age 8 ... A coach came to his school and took about 20 boys and told them they were going to play soccer ... Two weeks later they gave Petukhov some skates and told him to try them ... Out of those 20 boys, he is the only one still skating ... Has a 20-year-old sister Natalia ... Hobbies include swimming, fishing, cars, traveling and soccer ... Favorite foreign city to travel to is Rome ... Loves the beauty, design, technology, gadgets and speed of cars ... Biggest life-defining moment was competing in the Olympic Games ... Would like to climb Mt. Everest after his skating career ... Wants to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger because he was an athlete, movie star and now a politician ... Listens to Globus on his iPod.

Favorite TV show: Heroes
Favorite movie: Once Upon a Time in America
Favorite charity: Right to Play
Favorite celebrity: Steven Spielberg
Favorite website: www.youtube.com
Favorite food: Sushi

2006 Season Notes
Original Dance Music: "La Cumparsita" and "Tanguera"; Free Dance Music: "Adam and Eve" by Yoav Goren ("Preliator" and "Sarabande")
2005 Season Notes
Free Dance Music: "Romeo and Juliet"

Had a breakout season, winning their third U.S. silver medal and being named to the World and Olympic Teams ... Third-place finish at Skate Canada was their first-ever Grand Prix medal ... Finished in the top 10 at the World Championships for the first time (ninth).
2003 Season Notes
Original Dance Music: "Rock Around the Clock"; "Harlem Nocturne Blues"; and "Great Balls of Fire"; Free Dance Music: "Toccata Fugue" and "Air on a G String"; Exhibition: "God Bless America" by Celine Dion ... They opened the season finishing fifth at Smart Ones Skate America ... Their fourth-place finish at Cup of China was their best showing ever at a Grand Prix event.

Get to know Melissa Gregory & Denis Petukhov 400K | 700K
Interview with Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov from Spokane 400K