Steven Cousins (born 24 May 1972) is a British former competitive men's singles figure skater. He is the 1993 Skate Canada International bronze medalist and an eight-time British national champion. He finished as high as 6th at the Olympics (1998), 7th at the World Championships (1998), and 4th at the European Championships (1996).
Career Cousins began skating in 1978 after he and his brother pushed their parents to take them to an ice rink. Although he had a negative reaction at first ("We ended up going to the rink, and I hated it"), he eventually grew interested in figuring out how to jump and spin. He was also spurred on by sibling rivalry with his elder brother.
Cousins is the youngest skater to win the British National Championships. He trained with Donna Gately at Deeside Ice Rink in the United Kingdom and then moved to the United States where he spent a number of years. In 1993, he moved to Canada and was coached by Doug Leigh at the Mariposa School of Skating in Barrie, Ontario. He also worked with Stephen Pickavance and Karen Barber in the UK.
Cousins competed at three Winter Olympics, nine World Championships, and nine European Championships during his career. He became the first Briton to land a triple Axel in competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He was the British national champion for seven consecutive years before his streak was interrupted by Neil Wilson in the 1996–97 season. Cousins finished higher at the 1997 European Championships and was sent to the 1997 World Championships.
Cousins reclaimed his national title in the 1997–98 season. After finishing ninth at the 1997 Nations Cup, he withdrew from the 1997 Trophée Lalique. He placed sixth at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. He was coached by Doug Leigh and Robert Tebby.
Cousins retired from eligible competition in 1998 but continued to skate in shows, including touring with Stars on Ice until 2007. He has worked as a choreographer. In May 2010, he joined the International Skating School at Planet Ice, Coventry, and Silver Blades, Altrincham. He was the event manager for the 2012–13 Disson skating shows.
Personal life Cousins was born on 24 May 1972 in Chester, England. He married Canadian ice dancer Kristina Lenko in June 2003. They formally separated in the summer of 2006 and subsequently divorced. With former wife Elena Berezhnaya, he has two children. The couple's separation was confirmed in August 2013.
Cousins has a home in Chester but lives more than half the year in Ontario, Canada.
Programmes Season Short programme Free skating 1997–98 Gone with the Wind 1996–97 1995–96 1994–95 1993–94 Chariots of Fire 1992–93 1991–92
Competitive highlights GP: Champions Series (Grand Prix)
International Event 88–89 89–90 90–91 91–92 92–93 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98 Olympics 12th 9th 6th Worlds 18th 16th 16th 18th 10th 8th 15th 11th 7th Europeans 15th 8th 7th 9th 11th 8th 4th 11th 6th Cup of Russia 8th Lalique WD Nations Cup 9th NHK Trophy 5th Skate Canada 5th 4th Goodwill Games 9th Int. de Paris 7th Nations Cup 8th 6th Nebelhorn Trophy 10th Piruetten 10th Skate America 12th 7th Skate Canada 5th 3rd Skate Electric 7th 7th St. Gervais 10th International: Junior Junior Worlds 19th 12th 9th PFSA Trophy 5th J National British Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st J: Junior level; WD: Withdrew
References