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Nam Nguyen
Nguyen - 2019 Skate Canada - 5.jpg
Nguyen at 2019 Skate Canada International
Personal information
Full name Nam Phuc Nguyen
Country represented Canada Canada
Born (1998-05-20) May 20, 1998 (age 27)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Home town Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Coach Robert Burke, Danielle Rose
Former coach Tracey Wainman, Gregor Filipowski, David Glynn, Brian Orser, Ernest Pryhitka, Tracy Wilson, Joanne McLeod, Kevin Bursey
Choreographer Mary A. Larmer, Danielle Rose, Kurt Browning
Former choreographer Tracey Robertson-Hanford, David Wilson, Jeffrey Buttle, Lori Nichol, Joanne McLeod, Aaron Lowe
Skating club Richmond Hill Training Centre
Former skating club York Region Skating Academy, Toronto Cricket Club, BC Centre of Excellence
Training locations Richmond Hill, Ontario
Former training locations San Jose, California; Toronto, Ontario;
Burnaby, British Columbia
Began skating 2003
Retired May 20, 2022
World standing 24 (2018–19)
25 (2017–18)
23 (2016–17)
14 (2015–16)
19 (2014–15)
40 (2013–14)
64 (2012–13)
98 (2011–12)
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 262.77
2019 Skate Canada
Short program 87.57
2019 World Team Trophy
Free skate 178.69
2019 Skate Canada
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Figure skating: Men's singles
World Junior Championships
Gold 2014 Sofia Men's singles

Nam Nguyen (born May 20, 1998) is a Canadian figure skater who competed professionally. He won the World Junior title in 2014. He also earned a silver medal at Skate Canada in 2019. Nam was a two-time Canadian national champion, winning in 2015 and 2019. He achieved his highest placement at the World Championships in 2015, finishing fifth. Nam retired from competitive skating on May 20, 2022.

About Nam Nguyen

Nam Nguyen was born in Ottawa, Canada, on May 20, 1998. His parents are from Vietnam. His father, Sony, moved to Canada in 1988. His mother, Thu, joined him in 1994. Nam's father is an engineer, and his mother works for a medical software company. He has a younger sister named Kim, who also figure skates. The family lived in Richmond, British Columbia, and Burnaby, B.C., until 2012. They then moved to Toronto, Ontario, so Nam and Kim could train with coach Brian Orser.

Nam studied health sciences at York University. In 2025, he and former American skater Gracie Gold shared that they were in a relationship.

Nam's Skating Journey

Nam Nguyen started skating in 2003. When he was growing up, his favorite figure skaters were Evgeni Plushenko, Stephane Lambiel, and Jeffrey Buttle. He also looked up to his former training partners, Yuzuru Hanyu and Javier Fernandez.

Early Achievements

2009 4CC Gala04
Nguyen during the gala at the 2009 Four Continents Championships

Between 2007 and 2009, Nam won three Canadian national titles. He won at the Juvenile, Pre-Novice, and Novice levels. Each time, he became the youngest skater to win these titles. In 2010, he earned a bronze medal at the junior level at the Canadian Championships. Nam also performed in the exhibition gala at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The next year, at the 2011 Canadian Championships, he became the youngest skater to win the junior men's title.

Junior International Competitions

2012 World Junior FS Nam Nguyen
Nguyen at the 2012 World Junior Championships

In the 2011–2012 season, Nam was old enough to compete in international junior events. He placed twelfth at his first Junior Grand Prix (JGP) event in Latvia. He then won a bronze medal at his second JGP event in Romania. He finished seventh at the senior level at the 2012 Canadian Championships. This led to him being chosen for the 2012 World Junior Championships. Nam successfully landed his first triple axel jump in competition during the preliminary round. He finished thirteenth overall at the event. He was coached by Joanne McLeod at the BC Centre of Excellence until the end of that season.

In the summer of 2012, Nam moved to Toronto to train with Brian Orser. He started the next season at the JGP in France, where he placed ninth. He improved at his second JGP event in Turkey, earning a bronze medal. At the Canadian Championships, he placed sixth in the senior division. He ended the season at the World Junior Championships in Italy, finishing twelfth.

Becoming a World Junior Champion

The next season, Nam placed fourth and sixteenth at his two JGP events. He competed at the senior level, finishing fifth at the Canadian Championships. He then competed in his first senior international event, the Four Continents Championships, where he placed tenth. After that, at the World Junior Championships in Bulgaria, he won the gold medal. He finished first in both parts of the competition. He ended the season at the senior World Championships, placing twelfth.

Senior Career Highlights

Orser and Nguyen - 2015 Four Continents
Nguyen with Brian Orser at the 2012 World Junior Championships

Nam started the 2014–2015 season by winning a silver medal at the 2014 Skate Canada Autumn Classic. This was an ISU Challenger Series event. He made his senior Grand Prix debut at 2014 Skate America, where he won a bronze medal. He then placed fourth at his second Grand Prix event, the 2014 Cup of China. In January 2015, he won his first senior national title at the Canadian Nationals. He scored more than 30 points higher than the second-place skater. After placing eleventh at the 2015 Four Continents, he finished fifth at the 2015 World Championships in China. He achieved his personal best scores in both parts of the competition there.

For the 2015–2016 season, Nam began by winning silver at the 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic. In the Grand Prix series, he placed fifth at the 2015 Skate Canada International and seventh at 2015 Rostelecom Cup. He finished fourth at the 2016 Canadian Nationals. He was chosen for the 2016 World Championships in Boston. He did not qualify for the free skate. Nam later changed coaches to David Glynn and moved to San Jose.

In the 2016–2017 season, Nam placed fifth at the U.S. International Classic. On the Grand Prix series, he was sixth at 2016 Skate America and eighth at the 2016 NHK Trophy. He returned to Ontario in December 2016 and trained with Tracey Wainman and Grzegorz Filipowski. He won a bronze medal at the 2017 Canadian Championships. He then placed eighth at the 2017 Four Continents Championships. Nam later changed coaches again, working with Robert Burke.

Nam Nguyen at the 2018 Canadian Nationals - Senior men winners - 1 (cropped)
Nguyen at the 2018 Canadian Championships

For the 2017–2018 season, Nam placed fifth at the 2017 CS Autumn Classic and seventh at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup. He finished tenth at the 2017 NHK Trophy. He won a bronze medal at the 2018 Skate Canada Challenge. Nam placed third at the 2018 Canadian Championships. He was not selected for the 2018 Winter Olympics. He competed at the 2018 World Championships but did not qualify for the free skate.

Nam Nguyen - 2018 Skate America - 12
Nguyen at the 2018 Skate America

Nam started the 2018–2019 season by winning his first senior international gold medal. This was at the 2018 U.S. Classic. He placed sixth at 2018 Skate America and fifth at 2018 Skate Canada. In January 2019, Nam won his second national title at the 2019 Canadian Championships. He was then chosen for the Four Continents and World Championships. At the 2019 World Championships, he placed sixteenth. He finished the season at the 2019 World Team Trophy, placing seventh among the men.

For the 2019–2020 season, Nam placed fourth at the 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy. At the 2019 Skate Canada International, he won a silver medal. This was his first Grand Prix medal in five years. He placed fifth at his second Grand Prix event, the 2019 Rostelecom Cup. Nam aimed to defend his national title at the 2020 Canadian Championships. He finished second overall. He placed sixth at the 2020 Four Continents Championships. Nam was chosen to represent Canada at the World Championships, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the 2020–2021 season, the 2020 Skate Canada International was canceled. Skate Canada held the 2021 Skate Canada Challenge virtually. Nam won the silver medal. He was named an alternate for the 2021 World Championships. He was later assigned as team captain for the 2021 World Team Trophy. Team Canada finished in sixth place.

For the 2021–2022 season, Nam withdrew from the 2021 CS Autumn Classic International. He competed at the 2021 Skate America, placing eighth. He was tenth at the 2021 NHK Trophy. Nam got COVID-19 before the 2022 Canadian Championships. He struggled at the competition, finishing sixth. He was not chosen for the Canadian Olympic team. Nam had thought this would be his last season. On May 20, 2022, he officially announced his retirement from competitive skating.

Life After Competition

In September 2022, Nam Nguyen shared that watching figure skating made him remember how nervous he felt. He was glad he was no longer competing. He decided not to become a figure skating coach. Instead, he chose to coach ice hockey players in power skating. In 2025, he joined the cast of Canadian Stars on Ice.

Competitive Highlights

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

2011–12 to present

International
Event 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Worlds 12th 5th 27th 25th 16th C
Four Continents 10th 11th 8th 9th 10th 6th
GP Cup of China 4th
GP NHK Trophy 8th 10th 10th
GP Rostelecom Cup 7th 7th 5th
GP Skate America 3rd 6th 6th 8th
GP Skate Canada 5th 5th 2nd C
CS Autumn Classic 2nd 5th WD
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 4th
CS U.S. Classic 5th 1st
Autumn Classic 2nd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds 13th 12th 1st
JGP France 9th
JGP Latvia 12th
JGP Mexico 4th
JGP Poland 16th
JGP Romania 3rd
JGP Turkey 3rd
National
Canadian Champ. 7th 6th 5th 1st 4th 3rd 3rd 1st 2nd C 6th
Skate Canada Challenge 1st 3rd 1st 2nd 6th
Team events
World Team
Trophy
4th T
6th P
5th T
7th P
6th T
11th P
Team Challenge
Cup
1st T
9th P

2006–07 to 2010–11

National
Event 09–10 10–11
Canadian Champ. 3rd J 1st J

Detailed Results

Small medals for short program and free skating are given only at ISU Championships.

Senior Level Results

2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
January 6–12, 2022 2022 Canadian Championships 7
71.27
8
130.77
6
202.04
November 12–14, 2021 2021 NHK Trophy 10
64.28
10
144.11
10
208.39
October 22–24, 2021 2021 Skate America 7
74.32
9
145.28
8
219.60
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 15–18, 2021 2021 World Team Trophy 11
66.89
11
133.04
6T/11P
199.93
January 8–17, 2021 2021 Skate Canada Challenge 2
89.34
2
167.09
2
256.43
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 4–9, 2020 2020 Four Continents Championships 9
85.24
6
166.36
6
251.60
January 13–19, 2020 2020 Canadian Championships 2
88.04
2
155.47
2
243.51
November 15–17, 2019 2019 Rostelecom Cup 6
87.01
6
159.19
5
246.20
October 25–26, 2019 2019 Skate Canada International 3
84.08
2
178.69
2
262.77
September 25–28, 2019 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 9
60.52
2
149.32
4
209.84
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 11–14, 2019 2019 World Team Trophy 7
87.57
7
164.40
5T/7P
251.97
March 18–24, 2019 2019 World Championships 13
82.51
16
154.76
16
237.27
February 7–10, 2019 2019 Four Continents Championships 8
79.55
10
136.94
10
216.49
January 14–20, 2019 2019 Canadian Championships 3
85.73
1
172.28
1
258.01
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International 7
82.22
5
158.72
5
240.94
October 19–21, 2018 2018 Skate America 9
69.86
6
143.13
6
212.99
September 12–16, 2018 2018 CS U.S. International Classic 1
80.28
2
133.24
1
213.52
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 19–25, 2018 2018 World Championships 25
67.79
FNR
January 22–28, 2018 2018 Four Continents Championships 7
84.09
10
153.43
9
237.52
January 8–14, 2018 2018 Canadian Championships 5
83.39
2
174.77
3
258.16
November 10–12, 2017 2017 NHK Trophy 11
65.82
8
148.69
10
214.51
October 20–22, 2017 2017 Rostelecom Cup 7
80.74
6
157.71
7
238.45
September 20–23, 2017 2017 CS Autumn Classic International 3
88.40
4
156.81
5
245.21
2016–17 season
Date Competition SP FS Total
February 14–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 13
72.99
7
164.09
8
237.08
January 16–22, 2017 2017 Canadian Championships 4
76.08
4
164.52
3
240.60
November 25–27, 2016 2016 NHK Trophy 6
75.33
8
137.10
8
212.43
October 21–23, 2016 2016 Skate America 4
79.62
7
159.64
6
239.26
September 14–18, 2016 2016 CS U.S. International Classic 5
74.08
5
146.47
5
220.55
2015–16 season
Date Competition SP FS Total
April 22–24, 2016 2016 Team Challenge Cup 7
64.91
9
127.10
March 28 – April 3, 2016 2016 World Championships 27
61.61
FNR
January 18–24, 2016 2016 Canadian Championships 5
76.04
4
151.65
4
227.69
November 20–22, 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 7
70.78
6
160.89
7
231.67
Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2015 2015 Skate Canada International 4
76.10
4
162.72
5
238.82
October 12–15, 2015 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic 2
86.53
2
154.57
2
241.10
2014–15 season
Date Competition SP FS Total
April 16–19, 2015 2015 World Team Trophy 6
77.42
7
158.63
4T/6P
236.05
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 9
77.73
4
164.86
5
242.59
February 9–15, 2015 2015 Four Continents Championships 14
63.78
8
145.55
11
209.33
January 19–25, 2015 2015 Canadian Championships 1
81.78
1
175.10
1
256.88
November 7–8, 2014 2014 Cup of China 6
72.85
5
149.00
4
221.85
October 24–25, 2014 2014 Skate America 7
73.71
2
158.53
3
232.24
October 15–16, 2014 2014 Skate Canada Autumn Classic 5
66.08
1
159.55
2
225.63

Junior Level Results

2013–14 season
Date Competition Level PR SP FS Total Ref
26–28 March 2014 2014 World Championships Senior 16
66.75
9
147.31
12
214.06
13–15 March 2014 2014 World Junior Championships Junior 1
72.87
1
144.19
1
217.06
22–24 January 2014 2014 Four Continents Championships Senior 10
68.17
10
136.52
10
204.69
9–15 January 2014 2014 Canadian Championships Senior 7
70.97
4
147.46
5
218.43
19–21 September 2013 2013 JGP Baltic Cup (Poland) Junior 23
40.18
12
98.69
16
138.87
5–6 September 2013 2013 JGP Mexico Cup Junior 4
64.38
4
116.66
4
181.04
2012–13 season
Date Competition Level PR SP FS Total Ref
28 February – 2 March 2013 2013 World Junior Championships Junior 16
53.43
9
119.15
12
172.58
18–19 January 2013 2013 Canadian Championships Senior 6
67.90
6
132.79
6
200.69
20–22 September 2012 2012 JGP Bosphorus (Turkey) Junior 3
59.09
3
112.47
3
171.56
23–25 August 2012 2012 JGP Courchevel (France) Junior 11
46.06
8
102.39
9
148.45
2011–12 season
Date Competition Level PR SP FS Total Ref
27 February – 3 March 2012 2012 World Junior Championships Junior 1
116.33
18
51.13
11
117.07
13
168.20
21–22 January 2012 2012 Canadian Championships Senior 8
57.32
6
121.96
7
179.28
22–24 September 2011 2011 JGP Brasov Cup (Romania) Junior 5
54.82
2
114.73
3
169.55
1–3 September 2011 2011 JGP Volvo Cup (Latvia) Junior 12
47.08
9
101.87
12
148.95
Early career
Date Competition Level PR SP FS Total Ref
17–20 January 2011 2011 Canadian Championships Junior 2
55.22
1
114.67
1
169.89
11–14 January 2010 2010 Canadian Championships Junior 4
52.30
3
96.51
3
148.81
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