Fresh off their performances in Torino, Italy, the world’s figure skating champions will come to Nashville, Tenn. on May 21, 2006 at 3 p.m. to bring their Olympic experiences direct to you as part of the 2006 John Hancock Champions on Ice tour.
The top skaters in the world—many of whom fulfilled their Olympic dreams by standing on the podium or participating in Torino—will be spotlighted in the tour, including five-time World Champion and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan, 2002 Olympic silver medalist Irina Slutskaya, U.S. Champion and two-time Olympian Sasha Cohen, three-time World Champion and 2002 Olympic silver medalist Evgeny Plushenko, three-time U.S. Champion Johnny Weir, reigning World Champion Stephane Lambiel, as well as other Champions from Olympic and World competition including Olympic gold medalist Victor Petrenko, Rudy Galindo and Surya Bonaly.
Openly gay gold medalist Galindo has been a part of Champions on Ice for the past eleven years at the age of 36.
“I remember being a kid of eight and taking my first skating lessons,” Galindo told O&AN. “I went through the house back and forth imagining all the opening moves I would make. It was very creative for me. Plus I got to wear all of those fabulous costumes.”
World Silver Medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who have emerged as ice dancing’s newest sensation and America’s sweethearts, will also be on the tour, as will the 2002 Olympic ice dancing champions Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat. Also featured in the tour are the brilliant Russian world champion pairs team of Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinan.
The tour also will feature some of its well-known and well-loved specialty acts with Irina Gregorian, Dan Hollander and the acrobatic duo of Vladimir Besedin and Oleksiy Polishchuk.
“I’ve been to Nashville many, many times and I look forward to it every time,” said Galindo who is a native of Townsend, California of Mexican descent. “I grew up in the country so Nashville is a lot like home. It confuses people sometimes that I’m Mexican, an ice skater, and that I love country music! Clay Walker doesn’t even have to sing for me. I love him!”
Tickets, priced from $67, can be charged by phone at 615-255-9600 and are available at Nashville Municipal Auditorium Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, ticketmaster.com or by visiting www.championsonice.com. Service fee applies. Youth and senior discounts are available.
O&AN has partnered with the Municipal Auditorium in order to bring three winners and their guests the chance to see the Champions on Ice extravaganza on May 21. The first three readers who respond by sending an e-mail to daniel@outandaboutnewspaper.com with the word “Champions” in the subject line and their Name, Mailing Address and daytime phone number will win tickets for two to see the show!