Steven Cousins

Steven Cousins (born 24 May 1972) is a British former competitive men's singles figure skater. He is the 1993 Skate Canada International bronze medalist and an eight-time British national champion. He finished as high as 6th at the Olympics (1998), 7th at the World Championships (1998), and 4th at the European Championships (1996).

Steven Cousins
Steven Cousins performs in 2004.
Born (1972-05-24) 24 May 1972
Chester, England
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
Country Great Britain
Began skating1978
Retired1998

Career

Cousins began skating in 1978[1] after he and his brother pushed their parents to take them to an ice rink.[2] Although he had a negative reaction at first ("We ended up going to the rink, and I hated it"), he eventually grew interested in figuring out how to jump and spin.[2] He was also spurred on by sibling rivalry with his elder brother.[3]

Cousins is the youngest skater to win the British National Championships.[4] He trained with Donna Gately at Deeside Ice Rink in the United Kingdom and then moved to the United States where he spent a number of years. In 1993, he moved to Canada and was coached by Doug Leigh at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario.[4] He also worked with Stephen Pickavance and Karen Barber in the UK.[3]

Cousins competed at three Winter Olympics, nine World Championships, and nine European Championships during his career. He became the first Briton to land a triple Axel in competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.[4] He was the British national champion for seven consecutive years before his streak was interrupted by Neil Wilson in the 1996–97 season.[5] Cousins finished higher at the 1997 European Championships and was sent to the 1997 World Championships.

Cousins reclaimed his national title in the 1997–98 season. After finishing ninth at the 1997 Nations Cup, he withdrew from the 1997 Trophée Lalique.[6] He placed sixth at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. He was coached by Doug Leigh and Robert Tebby.[1]

Cousins retired from eligible competition in 1998 but continued to skate in shows, including touring with Stars on Ice until 2007. He has worked as a choreographer. In May 2010, he joined the International Skating School at Planet Ice, Coventry, and Silver Blades, Altrincham.[4] He was the event manager for the 2012–13 Disson skating shows.[7]

Personal life

Cousins was born on 24 May 1972 in Chester, England.[1] He married Canadian ice dancer Kristina Lenko in June 2003. They formally separated in the summer of 2006 and subsequently divorced. With former wife Elena Berezhnaya,[4] he has two children, a son Trystan, born on 6 October 2007, and daughter Sofia Diana, born on 21 June 2009. The couple's separation was confirmed in August 2013.[8]

Cousins has a home in Chester but lives more than half the year in Ontario, Canada.[8]

Programmes
Season Short programme Free skating
1997–98
[1]
    1996–97
        1995–96
            1994–95
                1993–94
                [3]
                  1992–93
                      1991–92

                          Competitive highlights

                          GP: Champions Series (Grand Prix)

                          International[1]
                          Event 86–87 88–89 89–90 90–91 91–92 92–93 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98
                          Olympics12th9th6th
                          Worlds18th16th16th18th10th8th15th11th7th
                          Europeans15th8th7th9th11th8th4th11th6th
                          GP Cup of Russia8th
                          GP LaliqueWD
                          GP Nations Cup9th
                          GP NHK Trophy5th
                          GP Skate Canada5th4th
                          Goodwill Games9th
                          Int. de Paris7th
                          Nations Cup8th6th
                          Nebelhorn Trophy10th
                          Piruetten10th
                          Skate America12th7th
                          Skate Canada5th3rd
                          Skate Electric7th7th
                          St. Gervais10th
                          International: Junior[1]
                          Junior Worlds19th12th9th
                          PFSA Trophy5th J
                          National[1]
                          British Champ.1st1st1st1st1st1st1st2nd1st
                          J: Junior level; WD: Withdrew

                          References
                          1. "Steven COUSINS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016.
                          2. Jones, Maggie (11 February 2016). "British figure skater Steven Cousins to perform for cancer research". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016.
                          3. O'Hagan, Simon (12 December 1993). "Ice Skating: Cousins adds fire to the ice". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
                          4. "Steven Cousins 8 Times British Champion Joins ISS and Ice Act". National Ice Skating Association. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
                          5. Burton, Mark (16 November 1996). "Ice Skating: Hard acts for Cousins to follow". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
                          6. Buhman, Fran (November 1997). "Reviews & Reports: Trophee Lalique - Paris, France, 11/11-11/16/97". toddeldridge.net.
                          7. Brodie, Rob (20 October 2012). "New Moves for Steven Cousins". IFS Magazine.
                          8. "Road ban for drink-driving Olympic skater". Blackpool Gazette. 10 August 2013.
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