Victor Kraatz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victor Kraatz
Bk dance spin.jpg
Victor Kraatz with Shae-Lynn Bourne.
Personal information
Country representedCanada
Born (1971-04-07) April 7, 1971 (age 50)
West Berlin, West Germany
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Former partnerShae-Lynn Bourne
Taryn O'Neill
Former coachNikolai Morozov
Uschi Keszler
Natalia Dubova
Tatiana Tarasova
Josée Picard
Eric Gilles
Retired2003
Medal record
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Washington, D.C. Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 2002 Nagano Ice dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Helsinki Ice dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Minneapolis Ice dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Lausanne Ice dancing
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Edmonton Ice dancing
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Beijing Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 2001 Salt Lake City Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1999 Halifax Ice dancing
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2001–2002 Kitchener Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 1998–1999 St. Petersburg Ice dancing
Gold medal – first place 1997–1998 Colorado Springs Ice dancing

Victor Kraatz, MSC (born April 7, 1971) is a Canadian former ice dancer. In 2003, he and his partner, Shae-Lynn Bourne, became the first North American ice dancers to win a World Championship.

Personal life[]

Born on April 7, 1971 in West Berlin, Victor Kraatz grew up in Switzerland.[1] At age 15, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[2]

Kraatz married Finnish ice dancer Maikki Uotila on June 19, 2004 in Helsinki, Finland. They have two sons – Oliver, born September 14, 2006 in North Vancouver, British Columbia; and Henry, born on July 10, 2010.[2][3]

Career[]

Kraatz began to skate in 1980.[1] In Switzerland, former pair skaters Mona and Peter Szabo taught him basic skills.[2] His first ice dancing partner was Analisa Beltrami of Switzerland.

After his move to Canada, Kraatz was coached by Joanne Sloman in Vancouver, British Columbia. In the early 1990s, he switched to Eric Gillies and Josee Picard in Montreal, Quebec.[2] He had a partnership with Taryn O'Neill.

Partnership with Bourne[]

On April 20, 1991, Kraatz began skating with Shae-Lynn Bourne, who had been a pair skater until that time. Bourne tried out with him in Boucherville, Quebec on the suggestion of a coach, Paul Wirtz.[4]

During their career, Bourne/Kraatz were coached at various times by Tatiana Tarasova, Natalia Dubova, Uschi Keszler, Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, and Nikolai Morozov. For the 1997–98 season, their free dance was modeled after Riverdance, with footwork instruction provided by Riverdance lead dancer Colin Dunne. Bourne/Kraatz became known for their deep edges and soft knees. They were credited with perfecting and popularizing the hydroblading technique.

Bourne/Kraatz missed the 2000 Four Continents and 2000 World Championships due to Bourne's knee surgery.[5] In spring 2000, they changed coaches, moving to Tatiana Tarasova and Nikolai Morozov in Newington, Connecticut.[6]

Bourne/Kraatz withdrew from their 2002 Grand Prix events due to Bourne's injury.[1] They won their tenth Canadian national title and their third Four Continents title. Bourne/Kraatz went on to become the first World champions in ice dancing from North America, winning gold at the 2003 World Championships in Washington, D.C. They retired from competition at the end of the season.

On October 21, 2003, they announced the end of their partnership; while Bourne enjoyed show skating, Kraatz said he wanted "to experiment with other things and follow up on other dreams that I have".[7] In January 2007, they were inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame.[8]

Kraatz represented CPA Boucherville in Boucherville, Quebec.[1]

Later career[]

After retiring from skating, Kraatz studied marketing and began working at a marketing agency in Yaletown, British Columbia.[2]

In 2005, Kraatz joined the B.C. Centre of Excellence.[8] He went on to coach Allie Hann-McCurdy / Michael Coreno,[8] Carolina Hermann / Daniel Hermann,[9] and Danielle O'Brien / Gregory Merriman.[10] In the winter of 2012–13 season, he switched to coaching hockey players.[2]

Programs[]

(with Bourne)

Season Original dance Free dance
2002–2003
[1]
  • Waltz: Frühlingsstimmen, op. 410
    (Voices of Spring)
    by Johann Strauss II
  • Polka: Unter Donner und Blitz, op. 324
    (Amidst Thunder and Lightning)
    by Johann Strauss II
  • Adagio of the 21st Century
    by Remo Giazotto, Tomaso Albinoni
    performed by Sarah Brightman
2001–2002
[6]
  • Flamenco: Girlfight
    by Theodore Shapiro
  • Tango: Cell Block Tango
    (from Chicago)
    by Bob Fosse
  • Billie Jean
  • In the Closet
  • Smile
  • Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
  • Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
    by Michael Jackson
2000–2001
[5]
  • Quickstep: Jumpin' Jack
    by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Foxtrot: Hey Big Spender
    (from Sweet Charity)
    performed by Shirley Bassey
  • Quickstep: Jumpin' Jack
    by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • March With Me
    by Vangelis
    performed by Montserrat Caballe
1999-2000
  • Latin combination: You Are My Home by Diane Warren; performed by Chayanne & Vanessa Williams
  • The Cup of Life

by Desmond Child & Draco Rosa; performed by Ricky Martin

  • It Had to be You by Gus Khan; performed by Harry Connick Jr.
  • Come By Me by Harry Connick Jr.
1998-1999
  • Waltz: Seachrán Charn Tsiail

by Clannad

  • Meet Her at the Love Parade

by Da Hool

1997-1998

(from Grease soundtrack)

  • Riverdance (soundtrack)
1996-1997
  • Tango
  • Overture (from High Society) by Cole Porter
  • Willow Weep for Me by Ann Ronell
  • Opus No. 1 by Sy Oliver
1995-1996
  • Papa Was a Rollin' Stone by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong covered by George Michael
  • Killer by Adamski & Seal covered by George Michael
  • Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen
  • War by Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong covered by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
  • Relax by Peter Gill, Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, & Mark O'Toole performed by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
1994-1995
  • Quickstep: Goody Goody
  • Beautiful Girl by Günter Noris
  • Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima
1993-1994
  • Rhumba: Johnny Guitar by Peggy Lee
    • Raposchol
    • Devotchka Nadya by traditional Kalinka

by Igor Tuhmanov

Results[]

(with Bourne)

GP: Part of Champions Series from 1995–96 season, renamed Grand Prix series in 1998–99

International[1][5][6]
Event 92–93 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03
Olympics 10th 4th 4th
Worlds 14th 6th 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd 4th 2nd 1st
Four Continents 1st 1st 1st
GP Final 4th 1st 2nd 5th 1st
GP Cup of Russia 2nd
GP Lalique 2nd
GP Nations/Spark. 5th 2nd 2nd 1st 3rd
GP NHK Trophy 2nd 2nd
GP Skate America 3rd
GP Skate Canada 6th 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 1st
National[1][5][6]
Canadian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
WD: Withdrew

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Shae-Lynn BOURNE / Victor KRAATZ: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 15, 2003.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Smith, Beverley (June 19, 2015). "Kraatz honoured for his impact in Canadian Sport". Skate Canada.
  3. ^ Barden, Brett (July 14, 2010). "Victor and Maikki Kraatz welcome second son". Skate Today. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Ouzounian, Richard (December 19, 2014). "Shae-Lynn Bourne stars in Blades on Stage". Toronto Star.
  5. ^ a b c d "Shae-Lynn BOURNE / Victor KRAATZ: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 18, 2001.
  6. ^ a b c d "Shae-Lynn BOURNE / Victor KRAATZ: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  7. ^ "Kraatz ends skating partnership with Bourne". CBC Sports. October 21, 2003. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "Bourne, Kraatz back together - as promoters". CanWest News Service. canada.com. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "Carolina & Daniel Hermann". ice-dance.com. 1 August 2008.
  10. ^ "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""