Michael Shmerkin
Born (1970-02-05) 5 February 1970
Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Figure skating career
CountryIsrael
Skating clubCanada Centre, Metulla, ISR
Retired2002

Michael "Misha" Shmerkin (Hebrew:

מיכאל "מישה" שמרקין, born 5 February 1970) is an Israeli former competitive figure skater.[1] He is a two-time Skate Canada International silver medalist (1994 and 1995), 1993 Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion, and 1995 Skate Israel champion. He competed in the final segment at two Winter Olympics (1994, 1998), six World Championships, and four European Championships. He is currently a figure skating teacher/coach for many young adults and children . He is located in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York.

Career

Early in his career, Shmerkin competed internationally for the Soviet Union, most notably at the 1984 World Junior Championships, where he placed fifth.

Shmerkin moved with his family to Israel in 1991,[2] and Shmerkin began representing his new country in international competition.[3]

At the 1994 Winter Olympics, where he placed 16th, Shmerkin became the first skater to represent Israel at the Olympic Games.[3][4] He placed 18th at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

In the late 1990s he skated to Jewish songs and had a tallis and menorah embroidered on his costume.[2]

He retired from competitive skating following the 2001/2002 season.[4]

Shmerkin currently coaches in New York.[5]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2000–2002
[6][7]
  • Russian gypsy dance
  • Swing

Competitive highlights

GP: Champions Series (Grand Prix)

International[8]
Event 88–89
(URS)		 90–91
(URS)		 92–93
(ISR)		 93–94
(ISR)		 94–95
(ISR)		 95–96
(ISR)		 96–97
(ISR)		 97–98
(ISR)		 98–99
(ISR)		 99–00
(ISR)		 00–01
(ISR)		 01–02
(ISR)
Olympics16th18th
Worlds19th14th11th11th15th15th35th33rd
Europeans14th13th19th20th25th
GP Nations Cup6th8th
GP NHK Trophy10th
GP Skate Canada2nd2nd
Golden Spin8th5th
Moscow News9th2nd
Nations Cup5th
Nepela Memorial1st
NHK Trophy5th
Piruetten6th
Skate America7th
Skate Canada2nd
Skate Israel1st2nd8th3rd
National[8]
Israeli Champ.1st1st1st1st1st1st

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sivorinovsky, Alina (2000). Inside figure skating — Google Books. MetroBooks. ISBN 9781586630058. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Author Battling Antisemitism at the Ice Rink –". Forward.com. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 . 17 February 1994 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB2A5C4B643758F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. 1 2 "Jewish athletes in the Olympics — then and now | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California". J. Jweekly.com. 9 February 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  5. ↑ "Figure skating coaches". Aviator Sports & Events Center. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "Michael SHMERKIN: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 October 2002.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ↑ "Michael SHMERKIN: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. 1 2 "Michael SHMERKIN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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