Eric Radford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Radford
Duhamel and Radford in 2015
Personal information
Country represented	Canada
Born	(1985-01-27) January 27, 1985 (age 40) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Home town	Montreal, Quebec
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Partner	Vanessa James (2021–22) Meagan Duhamel (2010–18) Anne-Marie Giroux (2009–10) Rachel Kirkland (2005–09) Sarah Burke (2003–05)
Began skating	1993
Retired	July 11, 2022

Eric Radford (born January 27, 1985) is a Canadian figure skater who is now retired from competitive skating. With his former partner Meagan Duhamel, he became a two-time world champion in 2015 and 2016. He also won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in the team event. At the 2014 Olympics, he won a silver medal in the team event. He also earned a bronze medal in the pairs event at the 2018 Olympics.

Eric Radford is also a two-time Four Continents champion (2013, 2015). He won the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final and was a seven-time Canadian national champion from 2012 to 2018. During the 2014 Olympics, Duhamel and Radford were the first pair to land a side-by-side triple Lutz jump in any Winter Olympic competition. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, 33-year-old Radford became one of the oldest Olympic champions in figure skating. Three days later, they made history again. Duhamel and Radford were the first team to complete a quadruple throw jump at any Winter Olympic competition. This happened when Meagan landed their throw quadruple Salchow.

In April 2021, Radford announced he would return to skating with a new partner, Vanessa James. They represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics. They also won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships. After this, Radford retired from competitive skating for a second time.

Eric Radford's Early Life and Interests

Eric Radford was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He grew up in Balmertown, Ontario. His father, Rick, worked as a mine inspector. His mother, Valerie, was a retired schoolteacher. Eric moved to Kenora when he was 14. He then moved to Winnipeg and Montreal at 15. At 16, he moved to Toronto to focus on his skating dreams.

Eric also loves music. He studied music at York University. He has a Grade 9 certificate from The Royal Conservatory of Music. He plays the piano and writes his own music. In 2014, he joined the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. In 2016, Eric composed the music for fellow Canadian skater Patrick Chan's free skate program.

Besides competing, Eric Radford also coaches other skaters. He also creates music for their performances. In June 2018, the town of Red Lake, where Eric grew up, named a street after him. It is now called Eric Radford Way.

Eric Radford's Skating Career

How Eric Radford Started Skating

Eric Radford began skating when he was eight years old. He was inspired after watching Nancy Kerrigan skate at the 1992 Winter Olympics. He first competed with Sarah Burke. They took part in the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in 2003 and 2004. They placed 6th and 5th. Eric also competed in single skating by himself. At the 2005 Canadian Championships, he got stuck in an elevator right before his event. Luckily, he escaped and was still able to compete!

Eric then teamed up with Rachel Kirkland in 2005. They were coached by Brian Orser in Toronto. They also worked with Ingo Steuer in Germany. They finished 5th at the 2007 Canadian Championships. After placing 7th at the 2009 Canadian Championships, they stopped skating together.

In 2009, Eric moved back to Montreal. He partnered with Anne-Marie Giroux. They finished 8th at the 2010 Canadian Championships.

Partnering with Meagan Duhamel (2010–2018)

A coach suggested Eric try out with Meagan Duhamel. They decided to become partners. They quickly won a silver medal at the 2011 Canadian Championships. This led them to compete at the 2011 Four Continents Championships and the 2011 World Championships. At Four Continents, they won another silver medal.

During the 2011 World Championships, Eric had an accident. Meagan's elbow hit his nose during a triple twist lift. His nose was broken, but he bravely decided to keep skating. They finished their program without stopping!

First National Title and World Bronze Medal

In the 2011–2012 season, Duhamel and Radford won bronze medals at two Grand Prix events. They then won their first national title in Canada. They finished 5th at the 2012 World Championships.

The next season, they won silver at their Grand Prix events. They then won their second national title. They also won their first Four Continents title. Duhamel and Radford won their first World medal, a bronze, at the 2013 World Championships.

Olympic Success and First World Title

At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Eric and Meagan made history. They were the first pair to land a side-by-side triple Lutz jump at any Winter Olympics. They finished seventh at the Olympics. After that, they won another bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships. They achieved their highest scores ever in both programs.

In the summer of 2014, they practiced a quad throw Salchow jump. They successfully landed it at the 2014 Autumn Classic International. They won that event. They continued their winning streak by taking gold at two Grand Prix events. They then won their first Grand Prix Final title. They also won their fourth Canadian title and their second Four Continents title. In March 2015, they won gold at the 2015 World Championships. This meant they won every international event they competed in that season!

Second World Title and More Medals

Duhamel and Radford started the 2015–2016 season by winning the 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic. They won gold medals at two Grand Prix events. In December, they won silver at the Grand Prix Final.

In January 2016, they won their fifth Canadian national title in a row. They had to withdraw from the 2016 Four Continents Championships because Meagan was sick. In April, they competed at the 2016 World Championships in Boston. They won the gold medal, becoming world champions for the second time!

In the 2016–2017 season, they won a bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final. They then won their sixth Canadian national title. They took a silver medal at the 2017 Four Continents Championships. At the 2017 World Championships, Eric had a hip muscle spasm. They finished 7th at the competition.

Pyeongchang Olympics and Retirement

Duhamel and Radford started their last competitive season with a silver medal. They then won gold at the 2017 Skate Canada International. They earned a bronze medal at the 2017 Skate America. These results qualified them for the 2017–18 Grand Prix Final. They won a bronze medal there.

In January, they won their seventh Canadian pairs' title in a row. This was a new record! In February, they represented Canada at their second Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. In the team event, they helped Canada win a gold medal. They were among the oldest Olympic champions in figure skating. In the individual pairs event, they won a bronze medal. They also became the first pair to complete a throw quad jump at any Winter Olympic competition.

On April 25, 2018, Eric and Meagan announced they were retiring from competitive skating. Eric said he would think about coaching and choreography.

After Competitive Skating

Eric Radford joined the Stars on Ice tours. He also took part in the "Thank You Canada" tour. He competed for two seasons on the CBC show Battle of the Blades. This show pairs figure skaters with ice hockey players. In the fifth season, he skated with former Team USA player Amanda Kessel. In the sixth season, he partnered with former Team Canada player Jennifer Botterill.

Eric also worked as a choreographer for other Canadian skaters. He created programs for the pair team Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud. In March 2019, Eric was elected to the ISU Athletes Commission. He was named vice chair.

Return to Skating with Vanessa James (2021–2022)

In April 2021, news spread that Eric Radford was training with Vanessa James. She had competed for France. On April 21, Skate Canada announced that James and Radford would compete as a pair team. Eric said he returned to competition because he wanted to.

James and Radford made their first competitive appearance at the 2021 CS Autumn Classic International. They won the silver medal. At the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy, they finished fifth. Eric said it was "a disappointment" because they had been skating better in practice.

They competed at the 2021 Skate Canada International, placing fourth. Vanessa said they were "getting stronger each time." At their second Grand Prix event, the 2021 Internationaux de France, they skated a clean short program. They landed all their jumps and throws in the free skate. Vanessa said it was "the most confident we have felt."

Both James and Radford tested positive for COVID-19 before the 2022 Canadian Championships. They started competing but then withdrew to focus on training. Despite withdrawing, they were chosen for the Canadian Olympic team.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, James and Radford competed in the pairs free skate part of the team event. They placed fourth, and the Canadian team finished fourth overall. In the individual pairs event, they placed twelfth. Vanessa said, "To go out there and skate our hearts out is a huge accomplishment."

After the Olympics, the International Skating Union banned Russian and Belarusian skaters from the 2022 World Championships. This changed the competition a lot. James and Radford placed fifth in the short program. In the free skate, they delivered a strong performance. They unexpectedly placed second in that part, rising to win the bronze medal overall. This was Canada's first World medal in pairs in six years. Eric called the season "one of the best years of my life."

On July 11, 2022, James and Radford announced they would retire from competitive skating. Eric said, "Skating has shaped my life in many ways and given me some of my most amazing memories."

Programs

Duhamel and Radford in 2011

With James

With Duhamel

With Kirkland

With Burke

Competitive Highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With James

Pair skating with Meagan Duhamel

With Giroux

With Kirkland

With Burke

Single skating

Detailed Results

Pair skating with Vanessa James

Results in the 2021–22 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 16–18, 2021	2021 CS Autumn Classic International	2	68.29	2	115.72	2	184.01
Oct 7–10, 2021	2021 CS Finlandia Trophy	3	67.55	7	123.03	5	190.58
Oct 29–31, 2021	2021 Skate Canada International	5	65.02	4	122.90	4	187.92
Nov 19–21, 2021	2021 Internationaux de France	3	71.84	4	124.50	4	196.34
Dec 7–11, 2021	2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb	9	56.74	1	130.83	4	187.57
Jan 6–12, 2022	2022 Canadian Championships	4	63.33	–	–	–	WD
Feb 4–7, 2022	2022 Winter Olympics (Team event)	–	–	4	130.07	4	–
Feb 18–19, 2022	2022 Winter Olympics	12	63.03	12	117.96	12	180.99
Mar 21–27, 2022	2022 World Championships	5	66.54	2	130.78	3	197.32

Pair skating with Meagan Duhamel

Results in the 2010–11 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 23–26, 2010	2010 Nebelhorn Trophy	3	51.81	3	95.63	3	147.44
Oct 28–31, 2010	2010 Skate Canada International	4	54.80	4	103.73	5	158.53
Jan 17–23, 2011	2011 Canadian Championships	4	57.71	2	113.63	2	171.34
Jan 24–30, 2011	2011 Four Continents Championships	3	59.92	2	121.87	2	181.79
Apr 27 – May 1, 2011	2011 World Championships	7	58.83	7	114.20	7	173.03

Results in the 2011–12 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 27–30, 2011	2011 Skate Canada International	2	62.37	3	112.47	3	174.84
Nov 17–20, 2011	2011 Trophée Éric Bompard	2	61.06	3	115.56	3	176.62
Dec 8–11, 2011	2011–12 Grand Prix Final	5	61.04	5	109.39	5	170.43
Jan 16–22, 2012	2012 Canadian Championships	1	60.92	1	129.19	1	190.11
Feb 7–12, 2012	2012 Four Continents Championships	8	57.53	4	114.23	4	171.76
Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2012	2012 World Championships	5	63.69	5	121.72	5	185.41
Apr 19–22, 2012	2012 World Team Trophy	4	59.27	2	112.64	3	–

Results in the 2012–13 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 26–28, 2012	2012 Skate Canada International	2	64.49	2	126.00	2	190.49
Nov 15–18, 2012	2012 Trophée Éric Bompard	2	62.28	1	124.43	2	186.71
Dec 6–9, 2012	2012–13 Grand Prix Final	4	64.20	4	122.89	4	187.09
Jan 13–20, 2013	2013 Canadian Championships	1	69.08	1	137.55	1	206.63
Feb 6–11, 2013	2013 Four Continents Championships	1	70.44	2	128.74	1	199.18
Mar 13–15, 2013	2013 World Championships	2	73.61	3	130.95	3	204.56
Apr 11–14, 2013	2013 World Team Trophy	2	69.94	2	121.21	2	–

Results in the 2013–14 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 24–27, 2013	2013 Skate Canada International	1	69.57	3	121.05	3	190.62
Nov 15–17, 2013	2013 Trophée Éric Bompard	2	66.07	2	124.82	2	190.89
Dec 5–8, 2013	2013–14 Grand Prix Final	4	73.07	6	120.31	5	193.38
Jan 9–15, 2014	2014 Canadian Championships	1	75.80	1	137.82	1	213.62
Feb 6–22, 2014	2014 Winter Olympics (Team event)	2	73.10	–	–	2	–
Feb 6–22, 2014	2014 Winter Olympics	5	72.21	7	127.32	7	199.53
Mar 24–30, 2014	2014 World Championships	2	77.01	4	133.83	3	210.84

Results in the 2014–15 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 15–16, 2014	2014 CS Autumn Classic International	1	68.92	1	134.24	1	203.16
Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2014	2014 Skate Canada International	1	72.70	1	138.04	1	210.74
Nov 28–30, 2014	2014 NHK Trophy	1	72.70	1	127.08	1	199.78
Dec 11–14, 2014	2014–15 Grand Prix Final	1	74.50	1	146.22	1	220.72
Jan 19–25, 2015	2015 Canadian Championships	1	79.50	1	150.69	1	230.19
Feb 9–15, 2015	2015 Four Continents Championships	1	75.67	1	143.81	1	219.48
Mar 23–29, 2015	2015 World Championships	1	76.98	1	144.55	1	221.53
Apr 16–19, 2015	2015 World Team Trophy	2	68.68	1	140.70	4	–

Results in the 2015–16 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 12–15, 2015	2015 Autumn Classic International	1	68.97	1	133.64	1	202.61
Oct 30 – Nov 1, 2015	2015 Skate Canada International	1	72.46	1	143.70	1	216.16
Nov 27–29, 2015	2015 NHK Trophy	1	71.04	1	131.68	1	202.72
Dec 10–13, 2015	2015–16 Grand Prix Final	3	72.74	2	143.93	2	216.67
Jan 18–24, 2016	2016 Canadian Championships	1	73.03	1	148.72	1	221.75
Feb 16–21, 2016	2016 Four Continents Championships	2	71.90	–	–	–	WD
Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2016	2016 World Championships	2	78.18	1	153.81	1	231.99
Apr 22–24, 2016	2016 Team Challenge Cup	–	–	1	147.48	1	–

Results in the 2016–17 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 6–10, 2016	2016 CS Finlandia Trophy	1	66.49	1	131.29	1	197.78
Oct 28–30, 2016	2016 Skate Canada International	1	78.39	1	139.91	1	218.30
Nov 25–27, 2016	2016 NHK Trophy	2	72.95	1	131.61	1	204.56
Dec 8–11, 2016	2016–17 Grand Prix Final	3	71.44	2	134.55	3	205.99
Jan 16–22, 2017	2017 Canadian Championships	1	80.72	1	146.51	1	227.23
Feb 15–19, 2017	2017 Four Continents Championships	3	74.31	2	137.92	2	212.23
Mar 29 – Apr 2, 2017	2017 World Championships	7	72.67	7	133.39	7	206.06

Results in the 2017–18 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Sep 20–23, 2017	2017 CS Autumn Classic International	1	77.14	3	125.84	2	202.98
Oct 27–29, 2017	2017 Skate Canada International	2	73.53	1	148.69	1	222.22
Nov 24–26, 2017	2017 Skate America	1	75.37	3	140.31	3	215.68
Dec 7–10, 2017	2017–18 Grand Prix Final	5	72.18	3	138.65	3	210.83
Jan 8–14, 2018	2018 Canadian Championships	1	81.78	1	152.77	1	234.55
Feb 9–12, 2018	2018 Winter Olympics (Team event)	2	76.57	1	148.51	1	–
Feb 14–15, 2018	2018 Winter Olympics	3	76.82	2	153.33	3	230.15

See also

In Spanish: Eric Radford para niños