Naomi Nari Nam

Naomi Nari Nam

Nam and Leftheris in 2006.
Personal information
Country represented United States
Born July 6, 1985
Height 1.53 m (5 ft 0 in)
Former partner Themistocles Leftheris
Former coach Peter Oppegard,
Karen Kwan-Oppegard
John Nicks
Former choreographer Peter Oppegard
Skating club All Year FSC
Retired October 10, 2008
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 161.32
2006 Skate America
Short program 57.32
2006 Skate America
Free skate 104.00
2006 Skate America

Naomi Nari Nam (born July 6, 1985 in Anaheim, California), is an American figure skater who competed in both single skating and pair skating. As a single skater, she is the 1999 U.S. silver medalist. As a pair skater, she is the 2007 U.S. bronze medalist with Themistocles Leftheris.

Personal life

Naomi Nari Nam was born in 1985 in California. She is Korean American and fluent in Korean.

Following her silver medal win at the 1999 U.S. Championships, Nam had endorsements in South Korea and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

In August 2010, she married Tyler Poor.[1] The couple's son, Aiden Zachary Poor, was born in March 2011,[1] and their daughter, Bella Tatum Poor, on April 16, 2013.[2]

Skating career

Singles career

Nam won the 1997 U.S. Figure Skating Championships on the novice level.

In the 1997-1998 season, Nam won the pewter medal on the junior level at the 1998 U.S. Figure skating Championships.

In the 1998-1999 season, Nam won the silver medal at the 1999 U.S. Figure Skating Championships behind Michelle Kwan. Although this medal would under normal circumstances have qualified Nam for the team to the World Championships, Nam was not eligible to be sent because she was not old enough. Sarah Hughes, who had placed 4th at Nationals, was sent in her stead. Hughes was also not age-eligible for Worlds, but was allowed to compete at the World Championships because she had won a medal at the 1999 World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Nam could not get this exemption because she had not competed at the 1999 World Junior Championships. 1999 was the last year that the U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held after the World Junior Championships.

In the 1999-2000 season, Nam competed on the ISU Junior Grand Prix. She won a silver medal at the event in Canada and placed 7th at the event in Japan. She did not qualify for the Junior Grand prix Final. At the 2000 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she placed 8th and was not sent to the World Junior Championships.

Nam suffered from a torn labrum in her hip, hampering her singles career. She withdrew from the 2001 U.S. Figure Skating Championships with injury. In 2003, following hip surgery, she won the Southwest Pacific Regional title but placed 5th at the Pacific Coast Sectionals. She failed to qualify for the 2004 U.S. Nationals.

Pairs career

In the summer of 2005, Nam took up pair skating with Themi Leftheris.[3] After winning both the Regional and Pacific Coast Sectional, the pair placed 5th at the 2006 United States Figure Skating Championships.

Nam & Leftheris at the 2006 Skate America.

In the 2006-2007 season, Nam and Leftheris won the bronze medal at the 2006 Skate America event. They won the bronze medal at the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championships behind Rena Inoue and John Baldwin and Brooke Castile and Benjamin Okolski. They went on to the 2007 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and placed 6th.

In the 2007-2008 season, they withdrew from their Grand Prix events with injury. They placed 7th at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Naomi Nari Nam announced her retirement from competitive skating on October 10, 2008, citing her recurrent hip injury.[4]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008 Piano Fantasy
by Aaron Copland
Liebesträume
by Franz Liszt
2006–2007 Tango Jealousy
by Jacob Gade
Caravan

Competitive highlights

Pairs career

Nam & Leftheris on the podium at the 2006 Skate America.

(with Leftheris)

Event 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–2008
Four Continents Championships 6th
U.S. Championships 5th 3rd 7th
Skate America 3rd
Pacific Coast Sectionals 1st

Singles career

Event 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000 2000–2001
U.S. Championships 1st N. 4th J. 2nd 8th WD
Junior Grand Prix, Canada 2nd
Junior Grand Prix, Japan 7th
N. = Novice level; J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Walker, Elvin (June 1, 2011). "Baby Steps for Naomi Nari Nam". International Figure Skating. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  2. Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (April 22, 2013). "The Inside Edge: 'Ice Chips' takes on Finnish feel". IceNetwork.
  3. Mittan, Barry (January 21, 2007). "Long Road to Success for Nam and Leftheris". Skate Today.
  4. Rutherford, Lynn (October 10, 2008). "Naomi Nari Nam retires from competition". Ice Network.

External links

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