About Us

KIDS' QUESTIONS

April 2004

Ice dancers Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov have had an incredible season taking second at the U.S. Championships and they recently got back from the World Championships where they finished 12th. They took a bit of time from their busy schedule to answer a few quesitons.

Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov at the 2004 State Farm U.S. Championships Photo by Michelle Harvath

Q: Will you be eligible to compete for the United States in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games? Sylvi Pultorak, 12, Joliet, Ill.

A: Yes, we will be eligible in plenty of time for the 2006 Olympic Games.

Q: You are both great skaters! I love to watch your great edges and lifts. How many hours do you train during the competition season? I know you're married, so do you train all the time? Ethan Amaral, 8, Greenwich, Conn.

A: We train about four hours on the ice a day and do some exercises off ice for what is needed for our skating. When we go home from the rink, we are just like any normal married couple that comes home from a day at the office.

Q: What skaters did you admire growing up? Layne Gregory, 13, Athens, Ohio

A: MG: I have to say [Marina] Klimova and [Sergei] Ponomarenko for their classical style but also Shae-Lynn Bourne for her incredible technique and innovativeness, and she has a great feel for the ice. The best part is that I have the opportunity now to work with Shae and that is awesome.
DP: [Elizabeth] Punsalan and [Jerod] Swallow because they made each other great and without one another they wouldn't be who they are today.

Q: When you tried out, what was the deciding factor that you wanted to skate together? Ashley Foy, 14, Simsbury, Conn.; Rebecca Anderson, 14, Ill.

A: MG: I had a couple of tryouts before Denis and they just didn't feel right, but from the first moment we started skating together it just felt right.
DP: You always think there is this perfect person/partner waiting for you, and when I met and started to skate with Melissa I just knew I had found it.

Q: Being one of the only top teams that is married, do you think you have an advantage over other teams because of your marriage? Tori Sanchez, 14, Pensacola, Fla.

A: Yes, we think we have an advantage because we are so connected in our life together that we are always working towards the same goals, and we share all of the same dreams.

Q: How has training with Nikoli Morozov in Connecticut helped bump your skating to a higher level? Danae Y., Calif.

A: It has been so inspiring to work and skate with World and Olympic caliber people that you just can't help but improve and keep evolving, which brings our skating to higher levels.

Q: When did you realize that ice dance was what you wanted to do? What made you want to ice dance? Sarah Kidd, 11, Omaha, Neb.; Rachel Winter, 11, Columbia, Md.; Katie Jenkins, 13, Estero, Fla.; Richard Fong, 14, San Francisco, Calif.

A: I danced and skated singles for many years. I liked the challenge of dance because you cannot throw an extra move or jump into your program like you can in singles. You must do exactly what you plan. I was asked if I wanted to ice dance with a “boy” (I was only 10 so boys were yuck back then) by my old partner's coach after taking a summer ice dance class at my rink.
DP: Well, I didn't have a choice in Russia. They chose me in school. I thought I was being chosen to be a soccer player. I was handed a soccer ball and then after two weeks I was given a pair of skates. I was totally surprised.

Q: I love your free dance music and the energy you put into it! Why did you decide to use more classical and conservative music when other teams are using modern music? Was it a tough decision to make? Kelly Rogers, 13, Arvada, Colo.

A: We picked this music because we want to stand out and be different from other teams. We feel our style is a more classical style, and this music fits us and brings out our connection.

Q: First, thanks for your autographs at U.S. Championships. It was really great of you to take time out to sign for my brother and me. The two of you move so gracefully on the ice. How long did it take the two of you to really blend your skills together to make it look so effortless? Marissa Spector, 11, Birmingham, Ala.

A: You are very welcome. We enjoy and love signing autographs and meeting all of you guys. It takes a lot of practice time and hard work to perfect your skating, but our advantage is being married. We already are one so it is that much easier in our skating.