The
Unofficial Scott Davis Homepage
Celebrating the
1993 and 1994 U.S. Champion
| Biography |  |
Compiled and
edited by Christy Sadergoske. Please email
her if you
wish to site or quote any part of this blurb.
May 28, 2001
Currently kicking his heels in the "Footloose on Ice" tour, Scott Davis is best known for his dizzying spins. In his Olympic-eligible (amateur) career, Scott's been a National Junior Champion, twice a National Senior Champion, and a member of the historic 1994 U.S. Olympic Team.
Born on January 29, 1972 in Great Falls, Montana, Scott is the youngest of two children. His sister, a law school graduate, is three years his senior. During one of Montana's long, cold winter days, Scott first stepped onto the ice. He was 5 years old. Scott took to the activity immediately. During these childhood years, Scott wore thick glasses. Unfortunately, he was such a natural spinner that when he'd spin on the ice, his glasses would fly off. Scott would eventually switch to contact lenses. But not before being spotted by figure skating coach, Kathy Casey. She would later describe the young Scott as "this little kid with Coke-bottle glasses who tore around the rink and liked to jump and spin." (Karen Rosen. "Great Scott!" TV Guide. February 12, 1994: p. 14.)
At 15, Scott left home to train with Kathy Casey, eventually settling into the U.S. Olympic Traning Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1993, Scott won his first National title, which propelled him onto the world stage.
The following year, 1994, was an interesting year in the world of figure skating. This was the year of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan, but there was controversy in the skating world long before the attack--and the soap-operish details which followed--came to be. This was the year of the reinstatement of so-called "professional" figure skaters, those skaters who had previously abdicated their Olympic eligible ("amateur") status by appearing in non-sanctioned (usually money-earning) events. One of these skaters was the 1988 Olympic Champion, Brian Boitano. Olympic Champion or not, however, Boitano would still be required to compete at the U.S. Nationals, the result of which would help determine who would be sent to the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Many people expected Boitano to win Nationals hands-down--including Scott Davis and his coach, Kathy Casey. However, an uncharacteristic single axel by Boitano near the end of his program (where a triple was planned) was enough to send him to second place. Scott had defended his title, and did so with more "pizzaz" than Boitano showed. (E.M. Swift. "Violence." Sports Illustrated. January 17, 1994: p. 21.) It was off to the Olympics for Scott!
The 1994 Olympic Winter Games were off to a great start for Scott. He performed his technical program, set to the music of "Zorba the Greek," and placed in fourth. He was in contention for a medal. Sadly, Scott was not able to take advantage of this opportunity. Several mistakes in his free program sent him to eighth place. At the World Championships, which were held the following month, Scott finished seventh.
The next season, 1994/1995, was not much better for Scott until Nationals that year. Scott was facing a resurgent Todd Eldredge that year. Scott was in the lead after the short program, but finished second behind Todd Eldredge after the long program. Scott went on to the World Championships and started strong in the short program. It looked as if the U.S. might have two men on the podium that year. Scott would once again finish seventh after the long program.
The following season, 1995/1996, found Scott beset with what was later diagnosed as an inner ear imbalance. This imblance caused Scott to have vertigo and no doubt had an effect on Scott's training. At Nationals that year, Scott was once more strong in the short, but finished fourth in the long program. He would not go to the World Championships that year. That summer, Scott left his coach, Kathy Casey, and began trainin in Simsbury, Conneticut with Galina Zmievskaya (who also coached Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko).
With a new coach, new training base, new choreographers, new programs, and a new attitude, it looked like Scott was forging his way back on track in the 1996/1997 season. He finished third at Skate Canada, and finished a respectable fourth at the NHK trophy. At Nationals in 1997, Scott once more finished fourth--but skated better that year than he did at 96's Nationals.
The 1997/1998 season, another Olympic season, found Scott more confident and skating better than the previous two years. He placed fourth at Skate America (he was seventh the previous year) and second at the NHK Trophy. But the U.S. was only allowed two spots for their World/Olympic team that year. At Nationals, Scott finished a strong third--an improvement over the previous two Nationals. Scott retired from Olympic eligible competition shortly thereafter.
Shortly after he turned professional, Scott began skating with the "Grease on Ice" tour as Danny Zuko. While on "Grease on Ice," Scott met and fell in-love with skater Stephanie LaRivierre, who played Rizzo. The couple were engaged last summer and will marry in July of this year, during a three week break from Scott's busy schedule.
Scott continues to skate as a professional, with such tours as the current "Footloose on Ice," and he remains a popular skater. His amazing spins have become his trademark and delight audiences where he skates. He has competed at such professional and pro-am competitions as the Grand Slam of Figure Skating, Miko Masters, and Ice Wars. Visit SFX's web site for the latest news such tours as "Footloose on Ice."
Back to Vital Stats
 |
Multimedia:
Photos,
Audio
, Video
|
 |
