Christina Gao
Encyclopedia
Christina Gao is an American
figure skater
. She is the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist and 2009 U.S. Junior bronze medalist
.
. Her father was a junior national badminton champion in China
. Gao also has a younger sister, who currently lives with her mother in Cincinnati, Ohio. Due to limited ice time in northern Kentucky, Gao moved to Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada, and trains with Brian Orser
, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist
, at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
In the 2004–2005 season, competing on the Juvenile level, Gao won the silver medal at her regional championship to qualify for the U.S. Junior Championships, where she placed 12th. She moved up to the Intermediate level the following year and won the pewter medal at her regional championship to qualify for the U.S. Junior Championships, where she placed 11th in her qualifying group and did not advance to the final. She moved up to the Novice level for the 2006–2007 season and placed 13th at her regional championship and did not qualify to her sectional championship.
In the 2007–2008 season, competing again on the novice level, Gao won both her regional and sectional championship to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Championships
, where she finished 12th.
The following season, Gao moved up to the 4th level. She won the silver medal at her regional championship and the gold medal at her sectional championship to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Championships
. At Nationals, she placed third in the short program and second in the free skating, winning the bronze medal overall.
debut in the 2009–2010 season. She won the bronze medal at the 2009-2010 Junior Grand Prix event in Poland
with an overall score of 134.55 points. She had also been assigned to the event in Turkey
, where she won another bronze earning 135.01 points.
She qualified for the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the Junior Grand Prix, she placed fifth in the short program with 52.82 points and third in the free skate with 98.65 points, winning the bronze medal overall with a score of 151.47 points. She earned new personal bests in the both segments of the competition.
At the 2010 U.S. Championships
in January 2010, she placed fifth in the short program with a score 56.26 points and fifth in the free skate with 100.27. She placed 5th overall with 156.53.
She was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships
. She placed 8th overall.
and Japan
. She won the silver medal in her first event with a total of 167.14 points. Gao withdrew from the competition in Japan but was reassigned to Germany
based on her result in Austria. She placed second totalling 155.67 points. Those placements qualified her for the 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final
, where she came in sixth position earning 145.01 points. She was fourth at the 2011 World Junior Championships
.
and 2011 Cup of Russia
for the Grand Prix
season. She had a hip injury and was off the ice for most of July.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
. She is the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist and 2009 U.S. Junior bronze medalist
2009 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships were the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2008-2009 figure skating season. They were a national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. In addition to determining the national champions, the event...
.
Personal life
Gao was born in Cincinnati, OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Her father was a junior national badminton champion in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Gao also has a younger sister, who currently lives with her mother in Cincinnati, Ohio. Due to limited ice time in northern Kentucky, Gao moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada, and trains with Brian Orser
Brian Orser
Brian Ernest Orser, OC is a Canadian retired competitive and professional figure skater. He is the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1987 World champion and the 1981-1988 Canadian national champion....
, the 1984 and 1988 Olympic silver medalist
Figure skating at the Olympic Games
Figure skating has been contested in the Olympic Games since the 1908 Summer Olympics. In 1908 and 1920, the figure skating competitions were held in conjunction with the Games of the Olympiad...
, at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
Early career
Gao began skating at age 7.In the 2004–2005 season, competing on the Juvenile level, Gao won the silver medal at her regional championship to qualify for the U.S. Junior Championships, where she placed 12th. She moved up to the Intermediate level the following year and won the pewter medal at her regional championship to qualify for the U.S. Junior Championships, where she placed 11th in her qualifying group and did not advance to the final. She moved up to the Novice level for the 2006–2007 season and placed 13th at her regional championship and did not qualify to her sectional championship.
In the 2007–2008 season, competing again on the novice level, Gao won both her regional and sectional championship to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Championships
2008 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships was the figure skating national championship to determine the national champions of the United States for the 2007/2008 season. It was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions,...
, where she finished 12th.
The following season, Gao moved up to the 4th level. She won the silver medal at her regional championship and the gold medal at her sectional championship to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Championships
2009 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships were the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2008-2009 figure skating season. They were a national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. In addition to determining the national champions, the event...
. At Nationals, she placed third in the short program and second in the free skating, winning the bronze medal overall.
2009–2010 season
Gao made her ISU Junior Grand PrixISU Junior Grand Prix
The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing...
debut in the 2009–2010 season. She won the bronze medal at the 2009-2010 Junior Grand Prix event in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
with an overall score of 134.55 points. She had also been assigned to the event in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, where she won another bronze earning 135.01 points.
She qualified for the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the Junior Grand Prix, she placed fifth in the short program with 52.82 points and third in the free skate with 98.65 points, winning the bronze medal overall with a score of 151.47 points. She earned new personal bests in the both segments of the competition.
At the 2010 U.S. Championships
2010 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2009-2010 figure skating season. It was the national championship of the United States. In addition, the event was used to determine the U.S...
in January 2010, she placed fifth in the short program with a score 56.26 points and fifth in the free skate with 100.27. She placed 5th overall with 156.53.
She was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships
2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2009–2010 figure skating season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they were an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of...
. She placed 8th overall.
2010–2011 season
Gao was assigned to the 2010-2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix events in AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She won the silver medal in her first event with a total of 167.14 points. Gao withdrew from the competition in Japan but was reassigned to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
based on her result in Austria. She placed second totalling 155.67 points. Those placements qualified her for the 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final
2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2010–2011 season...
, where she came in sixth position earning 145.01 points. She was fourth at the 2011 World Junior Championships
2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was an international figure skating competition during the 2010–2011 season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", the event crowned the World Junior Champions in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and...
.
2011–2012 season
Gao is assigned to the 2011 Cup of China2011 Cup of China
The 2011 Cup of China was the Cup of China Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season. Organized by the Chinese Skating Association, it was the third event of six in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series.The event was held...
and 2011 Cup of Russia
2011 Cup of Russia
The 2011 Rostelecom Cup was the Cup of Russia Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season. Organized by the Figure Skating Federation of Russia, the event was the last of six in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series.The...
for the Grand Prix
2011–12 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating will be a series of senior international figure skating competitions in the 2011–2012 season. Skaters will compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing at six invitational competitions in the fall of 2011...
season. She had a hip injury and was off the ice for most of July.
Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | To Love You More To Love You More "To Love You More" is a single by Céline Dion, released in Japan on October 23, 1995.It was recorded for a popular Japanese TV drama series, called Koibito Yo , and included on The Colour of My Love album re-release in Japan... by Lucia Micarelli Lucia Micarelli Lucia Micarelli is an American violinist and actress best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban and classic rock band Jethro Tull, and her role as Annie in Treme.-Early Life:... choreo. by David Wilson David Wilson (figure skater) David Wilson is a Canadian former figure skater who currently works as a choreographer out of the Toronto Cricket and Skating Club.As a skater, his competitive career was cut short when he was diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease... |
Libertango Libertango Libertango is a composition by tango composer Ástor Piazzolla, recorded and published in 1974.The title is a portmanteau merging "Libertad" and "Tango", symbolizing Piazzolla's break from Classical Tango to Tango Nuevo.... by Ástor Piazzolla Ástor Piazzolla Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music... choreo. by David Wilson |
|
| 2010–2011 | Violin Concerto Violin Concerto (Mendelssohn) Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 is his last large orchestral work. It forms an important part of the violin repertoire and is one of the most popular and most frequently performed violin concertos of all time... by Felix Mendelssohn Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text... choreographed by David Wilson |
Yellow River Piano Concerto by Xian Xinghai Xian Xinghai Xian Xinghai was one of the earliest generation of Chinese composers influenced by western classical music and has influenced generations of Chinese musicians... performed by Yin Chengzong Yin Chengzong Yin Chengzong is a Chinese pianist and composer.-Biography:Born on the "Piano Island" of Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, Fujian, in the People's Republic of China... and Chu Wanghua choreographed by David Wilson |
Ave Maria Ave Maria Ave Maria may refer to:*Ave Maria , the "Hail Mary", a traditional Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer calling for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus-Music:... by Beyonce choreographed by David Wilson |
| 2009–2010 | Morning Passages from The Hours The Hours (film) The Hours is a 2002 drama film directed by Stephen Daldry, and starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Ed Harris. The screenplay by David Hare is based on the 1999 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by Michael Cunningham.... by Philip Glass Philip Glass Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with... choreographed by David Wilson |
La Fille Mal Gardée La Fille Mal Gardée La Fille mal gardée is a comic ballet presented in two acts, inspired by Pierre-Antoine Baudouin's 1789 painting, La réprimande/Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère... by Ferdinand Hérold choreographed by David Wilson |
|
| 2008–2009 | Liza's Dance from Stepping Out Stepping Out (1991 film) Stepping Out is a 1991 musical-comedy film directed by Lewis Gilbert, starring Liza Minnelli, written by Richard Harris and based on a play also written by Harris. Minnelli plays the role of a has-been Broadway performer who gives tap lesson to a group of misfits who, through their dance classes,... by Peter Matz Peter Matz Peter Matz was an award winning American musician, composer, arranger and conductor. His musical career in film, theater, television and studio recording spanned fifty years, and he worked with a number of prominent artists, including Marlene Dietrich, Noël Coward and Barbra Streisand... choreographed by David Wilson |
Paquita by Richard Bonynge Richard Bonynge Richard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for... performed by the English Concert Orchestra choreographed by David Wilson |
|
| 2007–2008 | Csárdás Csárdás (Monti) Csárdás is perhaps the most famous composition of Vittorio Monti. A rhapsodical concert piece written in 1904, it is a well-known folk piece based on a Hungarian csárdás. It was originally composed for violin, mandolin or piano... by Vittorio Monti Vittorio Monti Vittorio Monti was an Italian composer, violinist, and conductor.Monti was born in Naples, where he studied violin and composition at the Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella... |
Yellow River Piano Concerto by Xian Xinghai Xian Xinghai Xian Xinghai was one of the earliest generation of Chinese composers influenced by western classical music and has influenced generations of Chinese musicians... performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra The Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Bratislava, Slovakia.... |
Competitive highlights
| Event | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
8th | 4th | ||||||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
12th N. | 3rd J. | 5th | 5th | ||||
| U.S. Junior Championships | 12th Ju. | 11th I. (QR) | ||||||
| Cup of China Cup of China The Cup of China is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. The location changes yearly. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.The Cup of China is... |
5th | |||||||
| Cup of Russia Cup of Russia The Cup of Russia is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. It was held as the Rostelecom Cup in 2009 after... |
10th | |||||||
| Junior Grand Prix Final ISU Junior Grand Prix The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing... |
3rd | 6th | ||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Germany 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
2nd | |||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Austria 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
2nd | |||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Turkey | 3rd | |||||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Poland | 3rd | |||||||
| Midwestern Sectionals Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships The Midwestern Sectional Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating.Skaters compete in three levels: Senior, Junior, and Novice. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies singles, Men's singles, Pairs, and Ice dance. Medals are... |
1st N. | 1st J. | ||||||
| Eastern Great Lakes Regionals | 2nd Ju. | 4th I. | 13th N. | 1st N. | 2nd J. | |||
| Ju. = Juvenile level; I. = Intermediate level; N. = Novice level; J.= Junior level | ||||||||
Detailed results
| 2010–2011 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 22 – 30, 2011 | 2011 United States Figure Skating Championships 2011 United States Figure Skating Championships The 2011 United States Figure Skating Championships were a national figure skating competition during the 2010–2011 season. Skaters competed for the title of U.S. national champion in men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating and ice dancing on the senior, junior, and novice levels... |
Senior | 5 58.43 |
6 108.77 |
5 167.20 |
| December 9–12, 2010 | 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
Junior | 7 43.98 |
3 101.03 |
6 145.01 |
| October 6–10, 2010 | 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Germany 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
Junior | 2 47.66 |
2 108.01 |
2 155.67 |
| September 15–19, 2010 | 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Austria 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
Junior | 2 58.07 |
2 109.07 |
2 167.14 |
| 2009–2010 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| March 8–14, 2010 | 2010 ISU World Junior Championships 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships The 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2009–2010 figure skating season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they were an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of... |
Junior | 9 49.34 |
6 94.52 |
8 143.86 |
| January 14–24, 2010 | 2010 United States Figure Skating Championships 2010 United States Figure Skating Championships The 2010 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2009-2010 figure skating season. It was the national championship of the United States. In addition, the event was used to determine the U.S... |
Senior | 5 56.26 |
5 100.27 |
5 156.53 |
| December 3 – 6, 2009 | 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final The 2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final was the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2009–2010 figure skating season... |
Junior | 5 52.82 |
3 98.65 |
3 151.47 |
| October 14–18, 2009 | 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Turkey | Junior | 7 44.91 |
1 90.10 |
3 135.01 |
| September 9–12, 2009 | 2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Poland | Junior | 3 50.52 |
3 84.03 |
3 134.55 |
| 2008–2009 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 18 – 25, 2009 | 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships The 2009 United States Figure Skating Championships were the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 2008-2009 figure skating season. They were a national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. In addition to determining the national champions, the event... |
Junior | 3 49.45 |
2 79.24 |
3 128.69 |
| November 11–15, 2008 | 2009 Midwestern Sectional Championships | Junior | 4 43.89 |
1 85.94 |
1 129.83 |
| October 10–14, 2008 | 2009 Eastern Great Lakes Regionals | Junior | 1 47.01 |
5 66.61 |
2 113.62 |
| 2007–2008 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| January 20–27, 2008 | 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships The 2008 United States Figure Skating Championships was the figure skating national championship to determine the national champions of the United States for the 2007/2008 season. It was organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. In addition to determining the national champions,... |
Novice | 11 | 11 | 12 83.75 |
| November 14–17, 2007 | 2008 Midwestern Sectional Championships | Novice | 3 41.83 |
1 85.34 |
1 127.17 |
| October 1–6, 2007 | 2008 Eastern Great Lakes Regionals | Novice | 1 45.52 |
1 73.49 |
1 119.01 |
- SP = Short program; FS = Free skating.