Gretchen Donlan (born November 18, 1993) is an American former pair skater. With partner Andrew Speroff, she is the 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy champion, 2013 Ice Challenge champion, and 2012 U.S. national pewter medalist. In July 2014, Donlan teamed up with Nathan Bartholomay.[1]

Gretchen Donlan
Born (1993-11-18) November 18, 1993 (age 30)
Boston, Massachusetts
HometownHingham, Massachusetts
Height1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
PartnerNathan Bartholomay
CoachBobby Martin
Skating clubBoston SC
Began skating1999

Career

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Early years

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Donlan was coached by Mark Mitchell and Peter Johansson from the fourth grade.[2] Until 2009, she competed in singles and won the U.S. national title on the intermediate level in 2007.[2]

Partnership with Speroff

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Donlan and Andrew Speroff were paired together in spring 2009 by coach Bobby Martin.[2] She had two stress fractures in her back for two seasons.[3] The pair made their international debut at the 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy where they finished 4th. They were 8th at the 2011 U.S. Championships.

Donlan/Speroff won the pewter medal at the 2012 U.S. Championships. The next season, they received a Grand Prix assignment, the 2012 Skate America, and finished 6th. The pair took the silver medal at the 2012 Ice Challenge.

In the 2013–14 season, Donlan/Speroff won gold medals at two international events, the 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy and 2013 Ice Challenge.

Partnership with Bartholomay

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In July 2014, Donlan teamed up with Nathan Bartholomay.[4] In late October, he underwent surgery to repair a disc and remove bone spurs in his ankle, causing the pair to withdraw from their first assignment, the 2014 CS Ice Challenge.[5] They placed seventh at the 2015 U.S. Championships and concluded their first season with gold at the International Challenge Cup.

In the 2015–16 season, Donlan/Bartholomay appeared at two Challenger Series events, placing fifth at the 2015 U.S. Classic and sixth at the Ondrej Nepela Trophy. They withdrew from their Grand Prix assignment, the 2015 Skate America, after Donlan fell ill with a severe flu.[6] She developed labyrinthitis in her right ear, resulting in vertigo that kept her off the ice for three months and forced the pair to withdraw from the 2016 U.S. Championships.[6] The pair announced the end of their partnership in March 2016.[6] They were coached by Jim Peterson in Ellenton, Florida.[7]

Personal life

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Donlan began attending Boston University in autumn 2012.[8] She is a premed student majoring in chemistry.[9]

Programs

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With Bartholomay

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Season Short program Free skating
2015–2016
[7][10]
2014–2015
[5][10]

With Speroff

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2013–2014
[3][11]
2012–2013
[12]
2011–2012
[3][11]
  • The Sleeping Beauty
    by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
2009–2011
[3][11]
  • Time to Say Goodbye
    by Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli

Competitive highlights

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GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series

Pairs career with Bartholomay

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International[13]
Event 14–15 15–16
CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 6th
CS U.S. Classic 5th
International Challenge Cup 1st
National[10]
U.S. Championships 7th WD
WD = Withdrew

Pairs career with Speroff

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International[14]
Event 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14
GP Skate America 6th
Ice Challenge 2nd 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 4th 4th
Ondrej Nepela 1st
National[3]
U.S. Championships 8th J 8th 4th 6th 8th
J = Junior level

Singles career

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National
Event 08–09
U.S. Championships 11th J

References

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  1. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (August 7, 2014). "With final lift, Bartholomay turns page to Donlan". icenetwork. U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Brannen, Sarah S. (December 21, 2013). "Donlan and Speroff: Strength and Beauty". Boston2014.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Gretchen Donlan and Andrew Speroff". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.
    "Earlier versions". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2011.
  4. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (August 7, 2014). "With final lift, Bartholomay turns page to Donlan". IceNetwork.com. U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Thayer, Jacquelyn (March 8, 2015). "Donlan and Bartholomay Begin Again". Two for the Ice.
  6. ^ a b c Brannen, Sarah S. (March 10, 2016). "The Inside Edge: Donlan, Bartholomay call it quits". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Gretchen DONLAN / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
  8. ^ Brannen, Sarah S. (January 14, 2013). "SC of Boston sends large contingent to Omaha". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013.
  9. ^ Hasenauer Cornetta, Kat (February 27, 2014). "Figure Skating and Premed: an Unlikely Combo?". Boston University. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Gretchen Donlan and Nate Bartholomay". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Programs". Gretchen Donlan & Andrew Speroff: Official web site. Archived from the original on 2014-01-05.
  12. ^ "Gretchen DONLAN / Andrew SPEROFF: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
  13. ^ "Competition Results: Gretchen DONLAN / Nathan BARTHOLOMAY". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016.
  14. ^ "Competition Results: Gretchen DONLAN / Andrew SPEROFF". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014.
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