Tom Zakrajsek (pronounced Za-cry-sheck;[2] born December 10, 1963) is an American figure skating coach and former competitive skater. As a skater, he competed as a senior on the national level. He coaches at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
| Tom Zakrajsek | |
|---|---|
 Zakrajsek at the 2011 Rostelecom Cup. | |
| Born | December 10, 1963 Garfield Heights, Ohio[1] |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | United States |
Skating career
editZakrajsek first went skating at age 7 but did poorly. He came back to the sport three years later and started training. His training locations included Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Denver. He was coached by Norma Sahlin for seven years. He competed in men's singles, including winning the junior title at the 1979 Eastern Great Lakes Regional Championship and the senior title at the 1986 Southwestern Regional Championship. He competed in men's singles at the U.S. Nationals five times, once as a junior (1983) and four times as a senior (1985-1988). He also competed in pair skating with Sheila Nobles at 1985 Nationals, finishing 12th. After retiring from competition, he toured with Disney on Ice.[1][3]
Coaching career
editZakrajsek began coaching in 1991 in Saint Joseph, Missouri,[3] and later moved to the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[3]
His current and former students include:
- Max Aaron, 2013 U.S. national champion[4]
- Jeremy Abbott, 2009 and 2010 U.S. national champion[5]
- Ryan Bradley, 2011 U.S. national champion, coached Bradley for 22 years[6]
- Joshua Farris[7]
- Rachael Flatt, 2010 Olympian, 2010 U.S. national champion and 2008 World Junior champion[8]
- Alexe Gilles, 2008 U.S. national junior champion[9]
- Kaja Hanevold[10]
- Alexandra Kamieniecki[11]
- Austin Kanallakan, 2007 U.S. national junior bronze medalist[12]
- Ann Patrice McDonough, 2002 World Junior champion[13]
- Keauna McLaughlin / Rockne Brubaker[14]
- Brandon Mroz, 2009 U.S. national silver medalist[15]
- Mirai Nagasu, 2018 Olympian, 2018 U.S. national silver medalist[16]
- Paul Bonifacio Parkinson[17]
- Andrei Rogozine[18]
- Bradie Tennell, coached from 2020.[19]
- Agnes Zawadzki, 2010 World Junior silver medalist, coached her 2008–2011[20] and from October 2013[21]
- Vincent Zhou, 2018 Olympian, 2018 U.S. national bronze medalist[22]
Zakrajsek was named the 2009 PSA Coach of the Year.[23] He was nominated for the award in 2011.[24]
Personal life
editZakrajsek was born on December 10, 1963.[25] He has Polish and Slovenian ancestry.[26] He studied at Missouri Western State College.[27] He has a master's degree in science.[28] He has two sisters and a brother.[1] His siblings and parents all skated recreationally.[1] His wife, Susan, is a teacher; they have a daughter, Madison, and a son, Dylan, who is two years younger.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Schneider Farris, Jo Ann (2008). "Interview With Figure Skating Coach Tom Zakrajsek". About.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ Lee, Edward (January 14, 2019). "Pikesville resident Ting Cui, 16, ready to compete among top U.S. skaters". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ a b c Schneider Farris, Jo Ann (March 10, 2008). "Zakrajsek leads all-star group of American skaters". IceNetwork.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "Max AARON". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Jeremy ABBOTT". International Skating Union.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (June 30, 2011). "The Inside Edge with Sarah and Drew - June 30". icenetwork. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Joshua FARRIS". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Rachael FLATT". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Alexe GILLES". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Kaja HANEVOLD". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Alexandra KAMIENIECKI". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Austin KANALLAKAN". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Ann Patrice McDONOUGH". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Keauna McLaughlin & Rockne Brubaker". Figure Skaters Online. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ^ "Brandon MROZ". International Skating Union.
- ^ Rutherford, Lynn. "Change of scenery puts Nagasu on solid ground". Icenetwork. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "Paul Bonifacio PARKINSON". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Andrei ROGOZINE". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Bradie Tennell Announces Coaching Change". U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. August 21, 2020.
- ^ "2010 U.S. Junior Champion Agnes Zawadzki Announces Coaching Change". U.S. Figure Skating. June 3, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
- ^ "Zawadzki Announces Coaching Change". U.S. Figure Skating. October 9, 2013.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S. "Zhou on comeback trail after injury, academic break". Icenetwork. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ Rutherford, Lynn (May 20, 2009). "Zakrajsek named PSA Coach of the Year". IceNetwork.com. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ "2011 Coach of the Year nominees announced". U.S. Figure Skating. IceNetwork.com. May 13, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
- ^ "Coach Profile - Tom ZAKRAJSEK". pyeongchang2018.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018.
- ^ Clarke, Liz (February 21, 2018). "For many U.S. Olympic figure skaters, immigrant heritage yielded a champion's mind-set". The Washington Post. Denver Post.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (August 9, 2010). "The Inside Edge with Sarah and Drew - August 9". IceNetwork.com.
- ^ Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (June 26, 2013). "The Inside Edge: 'Dougs' take show on the road". IceNetwork.com.