Lloyd Eisler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lloyd Eisler
Personal information
Country represented	Canada
Born	(1963-04-28) April 28, 1963 (age 62) Seaforth, Ontario
Residence	Santa Clarita, California
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Partner	Isabelle Brasseur
Former partner	Karen Westby Katherina Matousek Lorri Baier
Coach	Josée Picard
Retired	1994
Medal record Pairs' figure skating Representing  Canada Olympic Games Bronze 1992 Albertville Pairs Bronze 1994 Lillehammer Pairs World Championships Gold 1993 Prague Pairs Silver 1990 Halifax Pairs Silver 1991 Munich Pairs Silver 1994 Chiba Pairs Bronze 1985 Tokyo Pairs Bronze 1992 Oakland Pairs

Lloyd Edgar Eisler (born April 28, 1963) is a former Canadian pairs figure skater. He is known for his amazing skills on the ice. With his skating partner Isabelle Brasseur, he won two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1994. They also became World Champions in 1993.

Early Skating Adventures

Lloyd Eisler started his competitive skating career with Lori Baier. They were a strong team in Canada. From 1980 to 1982, they won silver medals at the Canadian Championships three times in a row. They also competed at the 1982 World Figure Skating Championships, finishing in ninth place.

Teaming Up with Katherina Matousek

After Lori Baier, Lloyd partnered with Katherina Matousek. They competed at the 1984 Winter Olympics, where they placed eighth. This pair also competed in three World Championships from 1983 to 1985. They won the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in both 1984 and 1985. Their biggest achievement together was winning a bronze medal at the 1985 World Figure Skating Championships. After this success, Katherina Matousek decided to retire from the sport.

Starting with Isabelle Brasseur

In 1986, Lloyd Eisler skated with Karen Westby. They earned a bronze medal at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships. However, they just missed out on a spot for the World team. Many people thought Lloyd might stop skating after this.

A New Partnership Begins

But Lloyd didn't give up! In 1987, he teamed up with Isabelle Brasseur. They quickly became a strong pair. By 1988, they had qualified for both the Olympics and the World Championships. In 1989, they became Canadian champions. They went to the World Figure Skating Championships in Paris with high hopes. However, they had some mistakes and finished in seventh place.

A Big Breakthrough in 1990

The 1990 season started tough for Brasseur and Eisler. They struggled at the Canadian Championships, barely taking third place. They only qualified for the 1990 World Figure Skating Championships by a very close decision from one judge. They later said they might have stopped skating if they hadn't made the World team.

Surprising Success at Worlds

With low expectations, they performed a clean short program at the 1990 World Championships in Halifax. This put them in fourth place. Then, they delivered an amazing long program. Some people even thought it should have won the gold medal! They ended up winning a surprising silver medal. They were only beaten by the famous Russian skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov.

Exciting Seasons: 1991-1992

Brasseur and Eisler won back their Canadian title in 1991. They went into the 1991 World Figure Skating Championships as favorites to win. They easily won the short program. However, another Russian pair, Natalia Mishkutionok and Artur Dmitriev, had a fantastic free program. Lloyd made a small mistake, and Brasseur and Eisler ended up with a silver medal.

Olympic Challenge in 1992

After a great long program at the 1992 Canadian Championships, Brasseur and Eisler competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Many expected them to compete closely with Mishkutionok and Dmitriev. Even with a fall by Isabelle in the short program, the judges kept them in third place. This put them in a good position for a medal. Their long program had some big errors, including two falls. Despite this, they were awarded a bronze medal.

World Championships in Oakland

At the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships in Oakland, California, Brasseur and Eisler performed a clean and exciting short program, placing second. But their long program had two falls, leading to a bronze medal. Isabelle thought about retiring, but they decided to keep skating.

Becoming World Champions

The 1993 season was a bit up and down for Brasseur and Eisler. However, with some top teams retiring or having tough seasons, they became the favorites for the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. They won the short program by a close margin.

A Dream Come True

Two other strong teams made big mistakes, which helped Brasseur and Eisler. They then performed a spectacular long program. Their main rivals made a mistake, which secured the long-awaited World Championship victory for Brasseur and Eisler! All nine judges voted for them to win first place. They were praised for their artistic improvements and their strong technical skills.

Final Amateur Year: 1994

Even as world champions, Brasseur and Eisler faced tough competition in 1994. Former Olympic champions Gordeeva and Grinkov returned, as did their old rivals Mishkutionok and Dmitriev. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, Brasseur and Eisler skated clean short and long programs. They made a strong effort for the gold medal. They managed to hold off a young Russian team to win another bronze medal.

Last Amateur Competition

Brasseur and Eisler competed while injured at the 1994 World Figure Skating Championships in Chiba, Japan. Despite their injuries, they earned a silver medal. This was their last competition as amateur skaters.

Throughout their amateur career, Brasseur and Eisler were known for having the strongest lifts in the world. They also had incredibly strong double and triple twists. They were especially famous for a unique lift where Lloyd lifted Isabelle with only one arm. Other pairs might use two hands and then let go of one, but Lloyd started and held the lift with just one hand.

Professional Skating Career

After their amateur career, Brasseur and Eisler became professional skaters. They had a very successful professional career, winning many events. They were always popular with fans because of their creative routines. They were also popular performers in ice shows like Canadian Stars on Ice and Champions on Ice for many years.

Post-Skating Life

In 2004, Lloyd Eisler helped start a skating program in Kingston, Ontario. He later stepped down from that role in 2006.

Today, Lloyd Eisler works as the director of skating operations at the L.A. Kings Valley Ice Center in Panorama City, Los Angeles.

Family Life

Lloyd Eisler was born in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada. He has two sons, Ethan (born in 2004) and Seth (born in 2005), from his first marriage.

In 2006, he appeared on a television show called Skating with Celebrities. On the show, he was partnered with actress Kristy Swanson. They later started a relationship. Their son, Magnus Hart Swanson Eisler, was born in 2007. Lloyd and Kristy married on February 7, 2009, in San Luis Obispo, California.

Skating Results

With Isabelle Brasseur

With Katherina Matousek