Skaters
Dance
Emily Samuelson
Born:
May 14, 1990
Birthplace:
Southfield, Mich.
Height:
5' 4"
Level:
Senior
Hometown:
Novi, Mich.
College:
University of Michigan
Club:
Ann Arbor FSC
Todd Gilles
Born:
April 14, 1986
Birthplace:
Rockford, Ill.
Height:
6' 0"
Level:
Senior
Hometown:
Colorado Springs, Colo.
College:
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Club:
All Year FSC
Coach:
Yaroslava Nechaeva, Yuri Chesnichenko
Choreographer:
Christopher Dean, Tom Dickson
Announced the formation of their partnership in August 2011 (read the article here) ... Samuelson previously skated with Evan Bates for 10 years ... Together, they won two U.S. senior medals (silver in 2009, bronze in 2010), the 2008 World Junior title, the silver at consecutive Junior Grand Prix finals (2007 and 2008), and U.S. titles at the intermediate (2002), novice (2005) and junior (2007) levels ... Competed at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, where they placed 11th ... Gilles' previous partners include Trina Pratt (2001-06) and Jane Summersett (2007-10) ... Won the 2003 U.S. novice and 2005 U.S. junior titles with Pratt ... Competed internationally for three seasons with Summersett, winning the bronze medal at the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy.
Samuelson began skating at age 5 after seeing a girl skating while she was on vacation in Switzerland and wanting to try it, too ... Participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program ... Received numerous academic honors in high school, including Honor Roll (2004-08), Presidential Award for Educational Excellence (2006-08), Phi Beta Kappa (2008) and summa cum laude (2008) ... Was a finalist for Miss Teen Michigan ... Supports the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life and breast cancer research by skating in "Skate for Hope" ... Has volunteered at her church (Faith Community Presbyterian) ... Biggest influence in her life is her mother ... Hobbies include reading, golfing, skiing, swimming and hanging out with friends ... Has a passion for volunteering ... Biggest life-defining moment is coming back from hand surgery to win the 2008 World Junior title ... Fell at the 2003 Midwestern Sectional and broke her two front teeth ... Some things people would be surprised to learn about her are she loves thunderstorms and puddle-jumping in the rain (as long as it's warm enough outside not to catch a cold!), and she's afraid of heights ... Would love to meet Oprah Winfrey ... If she weren't a skater, she would be a ballroom dancer...and a normal college student ... Would like to travel and volunteer more after her skating career ... Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EmilySamuelson.
Gilles began skating at age 4 while trying out a bunch of other sports at the time ... Is the older brother of Piper and Alexe Gilles ... Piper is a competitive ice dancer who won the 2009 U.S. junior bronze medal with Zach Donohue (and who presently skates with Paul Poirier for Canada), and Alexe is a singles skater who won the 2008 U.S. junior crown ... Father is an orthopedic surgeon and mother is a registered nurse ... Has a passion for music ... Says his biggest life-defining moment was moving to Colorado Springs ... Hobbies include playing guitar, hiking, camping and off-roading in his Land Rover ... Favorite place to which he's traveled for skating is Rome because of the history ... Listens to '90s alternative music ... Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ToddGilles.
Samuelson began skating at age 5 after seeing a girl skating while she was on vacation in Switzerland and wanting to try it, too ... Participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program ... Received numerous academic honors in high school, including Honor Roll (2004-08), Presidential Award for Educational Excellence (2006-08), Phi Beta Kappa (2008) and summa cum laude (2008) ... Was a finalist for Miss Teen Michigan ... Supports the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life and breast cancer research by skating in "Skate for Hope" ... Has volunteered at her church (Faith Community Presbyterian) ... Biggest influence in her life is her mother ... Hobbies include reading, golfing, skiing, swimming and hanging out with friends ... Has a passion for volunteering ... Biggest life-defining moment is coming back from hand surgery to win the 2008 World Junior title ... Fell at the 2003 Midwestern Sectional and broke her two front teeth ... Some things people would be surprised to learn about her are she loves thunderstorms and puddle-jumping in the rain (as long as it's warm enough outside not to catch a cold!), and she's afraid of heights ... Would love to meet Oprah Winfrey ... If she weren't a skater, she would be a ballroom dancer...and a normal college student ... Would like to travel and volunteer more after her skating career ... Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EmilySamuelson.
Gilles began skating at age 4 while trying out a bunch of other sports at the time ... Is the older brother of Piper and Alexe Gilles ... Piper is a competitive ice dancer who won the 2009 U.S. junior bronze medal with Zach Donohue (and who presently skates with Paul Poirier for Canada), and Alexe is a singles skater who won the 2008 U.S. junior crown ... Father is an orthopedic surgeon and mother is a registered nurse ... Has a passion for music ... Says his biggest life-defining moment was moving to Colorado Springs ... Hobbies include playing guitar, hiking, camping and off-roading in his Land Rover ... Favorite place to which he's traveled for skating is Rome because of the history ... Listens to '90s alternative music ... Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ToddGilles.
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2012 Season NotesSP Music: "Como Golondrinas" by Angela Carrasco, "Goldfinger" by Perez Prado and his Orchestra
FS Music: "Stairway to Heaven" by Mary J. Blige
- 2012 - U.S. Championships - 8th
2012 - Pacific Coast Sectional - 1st
2011 - Cup of China - 8th
IJS Personal Bests
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
SD - 43.64 (2011 Cup of China)
FD - 63.10 (2011 Cup of China)
Final Score - 106.74(2011 Cup of China)
U.S. QUALIFYING COMPETITION
SD - 54.08 (2012 Pacific Coast Sectional)
FD - 82.78 (2012 Pacific Coast Sectional)
Final Score - 136.86 (2012 Pacific Coast Sectional)
