Kurt Browning facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kurt Browning CM
Browning at the 2001 Stars on Ice
Personal information
Country represented	Canada
Born	(1966-06-18) June 18, 1966 (age 59) Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada
Residence	Caroline, Alberta, Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in
Former coach	Karen McLean Michael Jiranek Louis Stong
Former choreographer	Sandra Bezic Kevin Cottam Brian Powers Clarence Ford
Former skating club	Rocky Mountain House Royal Glenora Club Granite Club
Medal record Men's single skating Representing  Canada World Championships Gold 1989 Paris Men's singles Gold 1990 Halifax Men's singles Gold 1991 Munich Men's singles Silver 1992 Oakland Men's singles Gold 1993 Prague Men's singles Canadian Championships Gold 1989 Chicoutimi Men’s Singles Gold 1990 Sudbury Men’s Singles Gold 1991 Saskatoon Men’s Singles Gold 1993 Hamilton Men’s Singles Silver 1987 Ottawa Men’s Singles Silver 1988 Victoria Men’s Singles Silver 1994 Edmonton Men’s Singles

Browning performing "Singin' in the Rain" in Art on Ice 2014

Kurt Browning (born June 18, 1966) is a famous Canadian figure skater. He is also a choreographer and a commentator. He made history as the first skater to successfully land a quadruple jump in a competition. Kurt Browning has won the World Championships four times and the Canadian national championship four times. He also competed in three different Olympic Games.

Kurt Browning's Skating Career

Kurt Browning represented Canada in three Winter Olympics. He finished 8th in 1988, 6th in 1992, and 5th in 1994. He won the Canadian novice championships in 1983. He was also the Canadian junior champion in 1985.

Winning Championships

Kurt Browning became the senior champion of Canada four times. He also placed second three times. He won the World Championships four times: in 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1993. In 1992, he finished second at the Worlds due to a serious back injury.

At the 1994 Winter Olympics, he finished in fifth place. He had the special honor of carrying the Canadian flag during the opening ceremonies in Lillehammer, Norway. After his amateur career, Browning also won three Canadian Professional Championships. He also won three World Professional Championships.

The First Quadruple Jump

On March 25, 1988, at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Kurt Browning made history. He landed the first ever "ratified" quadruple jump. This means it was officially recognized as a successful jump in competition. This amazing achievement is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Browning later shared that he was inspired by other skaters practicing the jump. He was surprised that more skaters didn't start doing it in competitions right away.

Browning's Unique Style

Kurt Browning is also famous for his detailed, fast, and often fun footwork. He used lively music in his programs. For example, in 1993, he skated to "Bonzo's Montreux" by Led Zeppelin. He moved his fists and ran across the ice to match the music.

The next season, he skated to "St. Louis Blues." He wore a tight black outfit and used humor in his performance. He would flex his muscles and point to the audience during his footwork.

Memorable Performances

Figure skating experts remember Browning for his amazing interpretive programs. His free skating program in 1993, set to music from the film Casablanca, is very famous. He dressed like the character Rick, played by Humphrey Bogart, wearing a white dinner jacket.

One of Browning's most iconic programs is "Singin' in the Rain." In this performance, he copies Gene Kelly's dancing from the movie. This program was first shown on CBC-TV in 1994. People still ask him to perform it in ice shows even today. He has also appeared in TV movies and toured with Stars on Ice.

As a Commentator and Choreographer

Since becoming a professional skater in 1994, Kurt Browning has often worked as a commentator. He has been a regular colour commentator for the CBC at big skating events since 2006.

He also appeared on the TV show Skating with Celebrities in 2006. Starting in 2009, he was a co-host for the show Battle of the Blades.

As a choreographer, he has created programs for many well-known figure skaters, including:

He also helped direct and choreograph the 2011–12 Stars on Ice tour.

Awards and Honors

Kurt Browning has received many awards for his achievements. He was given the Lou Marsh Trophy in 1990, which is for the top Canadian Athlete. He also won Lionel Conacher Awards in 1990 and 1991.

He was named a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 1989. This is a very high honor in Canada.

Browning was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He also joined the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2001, he received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2020, he received the first-ever ISU Skating Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal Life

Kurt Browning was born on June 18, 1966, in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in Caroline, Alberta.

He married Sonia Rodriguez, a main dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, on June 30, 1996. They had two sons, Gabriel (born 2003) and Dillon (born 2007). They later divorced.

Kurt Browning married Alissa Czisny on August 11, 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Kurt Browning para niños