Timothy LeDuc

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Timothy LeDuc
2018 Rostelecom Cup Ashley Cain Timothy LeDuc 2018-11-16 19-03-23 (2).jpg
Cain/LeDuc at the 2018 Rostelecom Cup
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1990-05-04) May 4, 1990 (age 31)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Home townDallas, Texas
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
PartnerAshley Cain-Gribble
Former partnerDeeDee Leng
Cassie Andrews
Lauren Gifford
CoachPeter Cain, Darlene Cain, Nina Mozer, Vladislav Zhovnirski
Former coachSergei Zaitsev
ChoreographerSerge Onik, G. and S. Arena, Cordero Zuckerman
Former choreographerSergei Zaitsev, Amy Blades
Skating clubLos Angeles FSC
Former skating clubEastern Iowa FSC
Training locationsEuless, Texas
Former training locationsIndianapolis, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Began skating2002
World standingPairs with Cain-Gribble
14 (As of 24 January 2019)[1]
23 (2017–18)
44 (2016–17)
Pairs with Leng
76 (2013–14)
69 (2012–13)
Pairs with Andrews
64 (2011–12)
64 (2010–11)
ISU personal best scores
Combined total205.58
2019 U.S. Classic
Short program76.23
2019 U.S. Classic
Free skate129.66
2019 Internationaux de France

Timothy LeDuc (born May 4, 1990) is an American pair skater. With their skating partner, Ashley Cain-Gribble, they are the 2019 U.S. national champion, the 2018 Four Continents silver medalist, and the 2016 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb bronze medalist.

Personal life[]

Timothy LeDuc was born May 4, 1990 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They became interested in figure skating after watching the 2002 Olympics, and started taking figure skating lessons through the Learn to Skate program.[2] LeDuc is the first openly queer skater to win the pairs title at the U.S. Championships.[3] LeDuc began using they/them pronouns in 2021.[4]

Career[]

Single skating[]

LeDuc began learning to skate when they were 12 years old and started private lessons two years later.[5] They placed 7th in the novice men's category at the 2008 U.S. Championships.

Early partnerships[]

Competing in novice pairs, LeDuc placed tenth with Lauren Gifford at the 2010 U.S. Championships.

With Cassie Andrews, they won the junior bronze medal at the 2011 U.S. Championships and finished ninth at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Gangneung, South Korea. Moving up to the senior level the following season, they placed eleventh at the 2012 U.S. Championships.

LeDuc teamed up with DeeDee Leng in June 2012.[6] After placing ninth at the 2013 U.S. Championships, they were assigned to the International Challenge Cup, where they finished fifth. The following season, the pair placed sixth at the 2013 International Cup of Nice and seventh at the 2014 U.S. Championships. After their partnership ended in 2014, LeDuc skated with their sister for two years in Willy Bietak ice shows on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.[7] After completing their contract in March 2016, they decided to return to competition.[8]

Partnership With Cain-Gribble[]

Following a suggestion from U.S. Figure Skating's Mitch Moyer, LeDuc tried out with Ashley Cain in May 2016.[9][5] On May 23, 2016, they confirmed their intention to compete together.[10][11] The pair is coached by her father, Peter Cain, in Euless, Texas.[12]

2016–17 season[]

Cain/LeDuc received three Challenger Series assignments in the 2016–2017 season. After placing fourth at the 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy and 2016 Finlandia Trophy, they were awarded the bronze medal at the 2016 Golden Spin of Zagreb, where they upgraded their twist from a double to a triple. Cain stated, "We just started rotating it days before we left for that competition."[9] At the 2017 US Figure Skating Championships, they placed third. They placed ninth at the 2017 Four Continents Championships.

2017–18 season[]

Cain/LeDuc started the 2017–2018 season with a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Lombardia Trophy in mid-September. They placed seventh at the 2017 Nebelhorn Trophy in late September. At their first Grand Prix event, the 2017 Cup of China, they placed sixth. They placed third at the 2018 US Figure Skating Championships. They placed second at the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and earned their first medal at a senior ISU Championship.

2018–19 season[]

At 2018 US International Figure Skating Classic, Cain/LeDuc placed first overall with a score of 173.05. At the 2018 Ondrej Nepela Trophy, they placed first overall with a score of 181.56. At their first Grand Prix event of the season, 2018 Skate America, they placed third overall with a score of 175.05. At 2018 Rostelecom Cup, Cain/LeDuc placed sixth with a score of 170.29.

Following the Grand Prix, Cain/LeDuc competed in a third Challenger event, the Golden Spin of Zagreb. Second after the short program, the two placed fifth in the free skate following two falls. The second fall involved Cain being dropped on her head in the process of exiting a lift, seemingly being knocked unconscious briefly, before getting up and completing the program. She was subsequently taken to hospital. There was considerable controversy amongst commentators that the referee had not halted the performance.[13][14] Cain was subsequently diagnosed with a concussion.

At the 2019 U.S. Championships, Cain/LeDuc won their first US pairs title after placing second in the short program and first in the free skate. Speaking afterward, LeDuc credited Cain's recovery, saying it "was like building a castle, one brick at a time. It’s been so inspiring for me to watch her push through this and give me strength. We are always trying to progress as a team, and this season, we took it very seriously and we wanted to step it up."[15] As national champions, Cain/LeDuc were assigned to compete at the 2019 Four Continents Championships in early February and as America's sole pairs team at the 2019 World Championships in Saitama, Japan.

Cain/LeDuc finished fourth at the Four Continents Championships, the highest placement for an American team, after finishing fourth in both segments. Cain had struggled in the practice sessions beforehand and felt dehydrated, but recovered and said she was satisfied with how they had performed.[16]

At the World Championships, their first, Cain/Le Duc placed ninth. Le Duc described the season as a "rollercoaster", given the issues with injuries, while Cain expressed pleasure at having earned a second pairs spot for the United States at the following year's World Championships.[17][18] Cain/Le Duc concluded their season as part of the gold medal-winning Team USA at the 2019 World Team Trophy.[19]

2019–20 season[]

Cain-Gribble/LeDuc began the season at the 2019 CS U.S. Classic, where they won gold, defeating reigning World silver medalists Evgenia Tarasova / Vladimir Morozov. They were considered one of the favourites for the gold medal at their first Grand Prix assignment of the year, the 2019 Skate America.[20] They placed third in the short program after Cain-Gribble fell on their throw triple Lutz.[21] In the free skate, they had a second throw Lutz fall, as well as a popped side-by-side jump attempt and an aborted lift, which dropped them to fifth place overall.[22] At their second Grand Prix, the 2019 Internationaux de France, Cain-Gribble again fell on their throw Lutz in the short program, putting them fourth after that segment.[23] They finally landed the throw Lutz in the free skate, but remained in fourth place overall after Cain-Gribble fell on their side-by-side triple Salchow attempt.[24]

Competing at the 2020 U.S. Championships, Cain-Gribble/LeDuc were fourth in the short program after she two-footed the landing of their throw Lutz and an error resulted in their death spiral element being completely invalidated.[25] Struggling with the quality of elements in the free skate, they remained in fourth place overall, winning the pewter medal. LeDuc remarked "it just wasn't in the cards for us today.[26]

Despite their fourth-place at the national championships, Cain/LeDuc were assigned to compete at the World Championships in Montreal, but these were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[27]

2020–21 season[]

Cain-Gribble/LeDuc were assigned to begin the season at the 2020 Skate America, which, due to the ISU's desire to minimize international travel during the pandemic, was attended only by skaters training in the United States.[28] They placed fourth in the short program after both underrotated their jumps and Cain-Gribble two-footed the land of their throw Lutz.[29] They were third in the free skate, but remained in fourth place overall.[30]

Competing next at the 2021 U.S. Championships, also held in Las Vegas, they placed fourth in the short program after Cain-Gribble fell on her jump attempt and again two-footed the throw Lutz landing.[31] Second in the free skate, they rose to the bronze medal position overall.[32] They were named as first alternates to the 2021 World team, and were later called up after the withdrawal of silver medalists Calalang/Johnson.[33] They placed ninth at the World Championships.[34]

Programs[]

With Cain-Gribble[]

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2020–2021
[35]
2019–2020
[36]
2018–2019
[37]
  • Get Up
    by Leah LeDuc
2017–2018
[38]

The Great Gatsby (soundtrack)

2016–2017
[12]
  • I Put a Spell on You
    by Jay Hawkins
    performed by Annie Lennox

With Leng[]

Season Short program Free skating
2013–2014
[39]
2012–2013
[39]
  • Incantation
    by Benoit Jutras
  • Romeo and Juliet Overture: Love Theme
    by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky

With Andrews[]

Season Short program Free skating
2011–2012
[40]
2010–2011
[41]
  • Big Love Adagio
    by Bond
  • Carmen Suite
    by Georges Bizet, Rodion Shchedrin

Competitive highlights[]

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix. Pewter medals (4th place) awarded only at U.S. national, sectional, and regional events.

With Cain-Gribble[]

International[42]
Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Worlds 9th C 9th
Four Continents 9th 2nd 4th
GP Cup of China 6th
GP France 4th
GP NHK Trophy TBD
GP Rostelecom 6th
GP Skate America 3rd 5th 4th
GP Skate Canada TBD
CS Finlandia 4th
CS Golden Spin 3rd 5th 1st
CS Lombardia 4th
CS Nebelhorn 4th 7th
CS Ondrej Nepela 1st
CS U.S. Classic 1st 1st
Cranberry Cup WD
National[43]
U.S. Champ. 3rd 4th 1st 4th 3rd
ISP Points Chall. 3rd
Team events
World Team
Trophy
3rd T
5th P
1st T
5th P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

With Leng[]

International[44]
Event 2012–13 2013–14
Challenge Cup 5th
Cup of Nice 6th
National[39]
U.S. Championships 9th 7th

With Andrews[]

International[45]
Event 2010–11 2011–12
World Junior Champ. 9th
JGP United Kingdom 8th
National[40]
U.S. Championships 3rd J 11th
J = Junior level

With Gifford[]

National
Event 2009–10
U.S. Championships 10th N
Midwestern Sectionals 5th N
N = Novice level

Men's singles[]

National
Event 2008–09 2009–10
U.S. Championships 7th N
Midwestern Sectionals 4th N
Upper Great Lakes Regionals 4th N 3rd J 6th J
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

Detailed results[]

ISU personal best scores highlighted in bold. Historic personal bests highlighted in bold and italicized.

Pairs With Cain-Gribble[]

2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 22–28, 2021 2021 World Championships 6
64.94
9
120.37
9
185.31
January 11–21, 2020 2021 U.S. Championships 4
65.81
2
134.71
3
200.52
October 23–24, 2020 2020 Skate America 4
64.21
3
125.02
4
189.23
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 20–26, 2020 2020 U.S. Championships 4
67.56
4
128.26
4
197.12
November 1–3, 2019 2019 Internationaux de France 4
66.12
4
129.66
4
195.78
October 18–20, 2019 2019 Skate America 3
68.20
5
109.34
5
177.54
September 17–22, 2019 2019 CS U.S. Classic 1
76.23
1
129.35
1
205.58
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 11–14, 2019 2019 World Team Trophy 5
66.91
5
125.24
1T/5P
192.15
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 9
66.93
9
126.88
9
193.81
February 4–10, 2019 2019 Four Continents Championships 4
67.49
4
129.33
4
196.82
December 5–8, 2018 2018 Golden Spin of Zagreb 2

64.34

5

105.33

5

169.67

November 16–18, 2018 2018 Rostelecom Cup 7

58.79

6

112.50

6

170.29

October 19–21, 2018 2018 Skate America 4

57.72

2

117.34

3

176.06

September 19–22, 2018 2018 Ondrej Nepela Trophy 1

65.68

1

115.88

1

181.56

September 12–16, 2018 2018 CS US Classic 1

59.10

1

113.95

1

173.05

2017–18 season
January 22–28, 2018 2018 Four Continents Championships 1

66.76

2

123.85

2

190.61

Dec. 29, 2017–Jan. 8, 2018 2018 US Championships 8

60.03

4

127.11

4

187.14

November 3–5, 2017 2017 Cup of China 7

53.15

6

101.21

6

154.36

September 27–30, 2017 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 10

55.47

5

120.88

7

176.35

September 14–17, 2017 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy 4

60.56

5

105.76

4

166.32

2016–17 season
April 20–23, 2017 2017 World Team Trophy 5

59.57

5

104.23

5 P

163.80

3 T

February 15–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 9

62.58

10

106.27

9

168.87

January 14–22, 2017 2017 US Championships 1

69.33

3

115.08

3

184.41

December 7–10, 2016 2016 Golden Spin 4

56.60

2

115.58

3

172.18

October 6–10, 2016 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy 6

54.26

4

104.37

4

158.63

September 22–24, 2016 2016 Nebelhorn Trophy 5

52.40

4

98.00

4

150.40

References[]

  1. ^ "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance - Pairs". International Skating Union.
  2. ^ "Bio | Ashley Cain and Timothy LeDuc". figureskatersonline.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  3. ^ "Timothy LeDuc becomes first openly queer pairs skater to win gold at US Championships". gaystarnews.com. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  4. ^ U.S. Figure Skating [@USFigureSkating] (June 10, 2021). "We are amplifying skating voices during #PrideMonth by having meaningful conversations and sharing the stories of our family at the rink.⁠