Naomi Nari Nam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Naomi Nari Nam |
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Nam and Leftheris in 2006.
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| Personal information | |
| Country represented | United States |
| Born | July 6, 1985 Anaheim, California |
| Height | 1.53 m |
| Former partner | Themistocles Leftheris |
| Former coach | Peter Oppegard Karen Kwan-Oppegard John Nicks |
| Former choreographer | Peter Oppegard |
| Skating club | All Year FSC |
| Retired | October 10, 2008 |
| ISU personal best scores | |
| Combined total | 161.32 2006 Skate America |
| Short program | 57.32 2006 Skate America |
| Free skate | 104.00 2006 Skate America |
Naomi Nari Nam (born July 6, 1985) is an American former figure skater. She was a talented athlete who competed in two different types of skating: single skating and pair skating.
As a single skater, Naomi won a silver medal at the U.S. national championships in 1999. Later, as a pair skater with Themistocles Leftheris, she earned a bronze medal at 2006 Skate America and another bronze at the U.S. national championships in 2007.
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About Naomi Nam
Naomi Nari Nam was born on July 6, 1985, in Anaheim, California. Her family is Korean American, and she can speak Korean fluently.
Naomi married Tyler Poor on August 2, 2010. They have two children. Their son, Aiden Zachary Poor, was born in March 2011. Their daughter, Bella Tatum Poor, was born on April 16, 2013.
Naomi's Skating Journey
Naomi Nam had a very interesting career in figure skating. She started as a single skater and later switched to pair skating.
Early Success in Single Skating
Naomi began her career as a single skater. She quickly showed her talent. In 1997, she won the novice ladies' title at the U.S. Championships. The next year, in 1998, she earned a pewter medal at the junior level of the U.S. Championships.
Her biggest achievement in single skating came in 1999. She won the silver medal at the U.S. Championships. She finished just behind the famous skater Michelle Kwan. After this, Naomi became very popular. She even appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Challenges and Injuries
Naomi faced some challenges in her career. She was not old enough to compete at the 1999 World Championships, even though she placed second at the U.S. Championships.
In July 2000, Naomi started having hip pain. She was later diagnosed with a fracture in her growth plate. After healing, she tried to compete in 2001 but had to stop because of hip pain again. Doctors found torn cartilage in her hip joint, and she needed surgery.
Switching to Pair Skating
After recovering from her hip injury, Naomi decided to try something new. In April 2005, she switched to pair skating. Just two weeks after making this decision, she had a tryout with Themi Leftheris. They quickly became a strong team.
Naomi and Themi won their regional and sectional competitions. They then placed fifth at the U.S. Championships in 2006.
Pair Skating Achievements
The 2006–07 season was very successful for Naomi and Themi. They won a bronze medal at 2006 Skate America, which is a big international competition. They also earned a bronze medal at the U.S. Championships in 2007. They finished sixth at the Four Continents Championships.
Unfortunately, Naomi's hip problems returned. On August 24, 2007, she had another surgery on her right hip. This injury caused them to miss some competitions. They placed seventh at the U.S. Championships in 2008.
On October 10, 2008, Naomi announced that she was retiring from competitive skating. Her ongoing hip injury made it too difficult to continue.
Competitive Highlights
Naomi Nam had many notable performances during her career.
Pairs with Themistocles Leftheris
- 2006 Skate America: Bronze Medal
- 2007 U.S. Championships: Bronze Medal
- 2006 U.S. Championships: 5th place
- 2007 Four Continents Championships: 6th place
- 2008 U.S. Championships: 7th place
Ladies' Singles
- 1997 U.S. Championships (Novice): Gold Medal
- 1998 U.S. Championships (Junior): Pewter Medal (4th place)
- 1999 U.S. Championships (Senior): Silver Medal
- 1999 Junior Grand Prix Canada: Silver Medal
- 2000 U.S. Championships (Senior): 8th place
