Peter Oppegard

Peter Allen Oppegard (born August 23, 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee)[1] is an American retired pair skater and coach. With his partner Jill Watson, he is the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist and a three-time U.S. national champion.

Peter Oppegard
Oppegard at 2016 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1959-08-23) August 23, 1959
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
ResidenceCalifornia
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Former partnerJill Watson, Vicki Heasley
Skating clubLAFSC (Los Angeles Figure Skating Club)
Retired1988
Medal record
Pairs' figure skating
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Calgary Pairs
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1987 CincinnatiPairs

In May 2022, Oppegard was suspended for one month by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for misconduct.[2]

Career

Oppegard initially paired with Vicki Heasley. He began competing with Watson in 1985. In their career, Watson and Oppegard won three national titles, a world bronze medal, an Olympic bronze medal, and various other medals. During Watson and Oppegard's free skate at the 1988 Olympics, a photographer dropped his camera bag onto the ice and an usher walked onto the ice to pick it up while the pair was performing an overhead lift.[3] Oppegard later skated with Cindy Landry for a short time. Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2004.

As a coach, his skaters have won 10 national singles and pairs titles. The Professional Skaters Association and US Figure Skating has named Oppegard "Choreographer of the Year" and "Coach of the Year". He coached at the East West Ice Palace in southern California until 2018.[4]

Personal life

Oppegard was married to Karen Kwan, sister of world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan. As of 2017, they were estranged.[4]

Abuse allegations and suspension

In February 2021, USA Today reported that Oppegard had been under investigation by the United States Center for SafeSport since July 2020 for allegations of physical abuse, including throwing coffee and hot water at skaters he coached at the East West Ice Palace. American pairs skater Jessica Pfund also alleged that Oppegard bit her on the upper right arm during a training session in 2013, when Pfund was 15 years old.[4] In May 2022, Oppegard was suspended for one month by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for "physical & emotional" misconduct.[2][5]

Results

With Watson
International
Event 84–85 85–86 86–87 87–88
Winter Olympics3rd
World Championships4th6th3rd6th
Fujifilm Trophy1st
NHK Trophy2nd
Skate America1st
National
U.S. Championships1st2nd1st1st

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Peter Oppegard". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  2. Brennan, Christine. "US Olympic medalist, renowned figure skating coach suspended over physical, emotional misconduct". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  3. Janofsky, Michael (February 17, 1988). "Soviet Skaters Prevail in Pairs". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  4. Brennan, Christine (February 18, 2021). "US Olympic medalist and figure skating coach being investigated over allegations of abuse". USA Today.
  5. "Names in the News". Sports Business Journal. May 3, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
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