Selena Zhao
Zhao in 2015
Born (1998-05-10) 10 May 1998
Kirkland, Washington
Figure skating career
CountryCanada
CoachChristy Krall, Damon Allen
Skating clubVarennes FSC Quebec

Selena Zhao (born 10 May 1998) is a Canadian competitive figure skater. She is the 2015 Canadian Junior Champion.

Personal life and education

Zhao was born in the United States and holds a dual citizenship as an American and Canadian. Her parents were born in Beijing, China before emigrating to Vancouver, where her father earned his PhD. They eventually moved to Ottawa, where Zhao's older brother, Davis, was born. The family later settled in Kirkland, Washington for Zhao's father's job, where she was eventually born.[1] In 2012, Zhao moved to Chicago, before relocating in 2013 to Colorado Springs, where she trained from 2013-2016. During this time, she attended Cheyenne Mountain High School as a top student in her classes,[2] winning a department award in mathematics.[3] Zhao now studies political science and biology[4] at Harvard University as a member of the Class of 2020.[5] She also performs in the annual cancer research fundraiser show, An Evening with Champions.[6][7]

Career

Early career

Zhao began skating at the age of four. She landed her first triple at the age of twelve, and mastered all of them a year later.[1]

In the 2008-2009 season, Zhao won her regional competition and qualified for the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships on the juvenile level, where she placed 9th.[8][9] A year later, at the intermediate level, Zhao once again won regionals to qualify for the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships on the intermediate level.[10] The following season, Zhao repeated her win at regionals on the intermediate level and competed for the third time at the U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships.[11]

In the 2011-12 season, Zhao won regionals at the novice level by 21.07 points[12] and placed fourth at sectionals[13] to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where she placed seventh.[14]

For the 2012-13 season, Zhao moved to Chicago to train with Kori Ade and Rohene Ward, coaches of 2014 US Olympian Jason Brown. She won the inaugural US Challenge Skate at the junior level, ahead of Polina Edmunds.[15] Zhao won regionals by 45.37 points[16] but placed 5th at sectionals, failing to qualify for the 2013 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.[17]

Zhao began working with coaches Christy Krall and Damon Allen, at the age of fourteen, prior to the 2013-14 season.[1][18] but failed to qualify for the 2014 U.S. Figure Skating Championships after placing 5th at sectionals.[19]

2014-2015 season

Zhao made her international debut on the ISU Junior Grand Prix during the 2014-15 figure skating season, representing Canada. Zhao finished 10th at her JGP event in Ljubljana, Slovenia and 9th at her JGP event in Dresden, Germany.

At the 2015 Canadian Junior Championships, Zhao overcame a prior foot injury, sustained while training a triple-triple jump combination,[20] to win the gold medal by 13.34 points.[21]

This earned her a spot for the 2015 World Junior Figure Skating Championships where she had the flu but competed anyway and placed 26th.[3]

2015-2016 season

Zhao made her senior debut at the 2015 U.S. International Classic, where she placed 5th.[22]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2015–2016
[3]
2014–2015
[23]

Competitive highlights

International
Event 2014–15 2015–16
CS U.S. Classic5th
International: Junior[24]
Junior Worlds26th
JGP Germany9th
JGP Slovenia10th
National
Canadian Championships1st J.
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
Levels: J. = Junior
JGP = Junior Grand Prix

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smith, Beverley (1 October 2014). "Trading Places: US-born Selena Zhao proudly represents Canada". Skate Canada. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Selena Zhao wins junior women's title in Kingston". Skate Canada. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Slater, Paula. "Canada's Zhao prepares for senior debut". Golden Skate. Golden Skate. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "United Nations Development Programme". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Rocky Mountain Harvard University Club". rmhuc.clubs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Inside Edge: Chen, Edmunds headline 'EWC'". icenetwork.com. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "An Evening with Champions". harvardindependent.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "2009 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships" (PDF). Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "2009 U.S. JUNIOR FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Zhou overcomes slippery start at NW Regional". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "2011 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "2012 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "2012 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "2012 US Figure Skating Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Rutherford, Lynn. "Zhao delivers first-class program, gold is her due". icenetwork.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "2013 Northwest Pacific Regional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "2013 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "2014 Southwestern Regional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "2014 Midwestern Sectional Championships Results". Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  20. ↑ "Junior skaters impress at national championships". Skate Canada. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  21. ↑ nurun.com. "Zhao doesn't disappoint". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "Team USA earns five medals at the U.S. International Classic in Salt Lake City | Figure Skaters Online". figureskatersonline.com. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  23. ↑ "Ladies". ISU Results. ISU. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Competitive Results". ISU. ISU. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
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