Viktor Pfeifer (born 16 May 1987) is an Austrian former competitive figure skater. A nine-time Austrian national champion, he has placed as high as eighth at the European Championships (2013) and has competed three times at the Winter Olympics, placing 22nd in 2006, 21st in 2010 and 26th in 2014.
Career In the 2002–03 season, Pfeifer won Austria's senior national men's title for the first time. The following season, he began competing on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series.
In 2004–05, Pfeifer competed in his second JGP season and finished 12th at the 2005 World Junior Championships. He also made his senior international debut at the 2005 European Championships, where he was 18th. He then placed 23rd at his first senior World Championships.
In 2005–06, Pfeifer again began his season on the junior level, placing fifth in both of his JGP events. He then competed on the senior level at the 2005 Karl Schäfer Memorial, the final opportunity for countries to qualify an Olympic entry. His placement, fifth, gave Austria a spot in the 2006 Olympic men's event. Pfeifer won his third senior national title and was sent to the Olympics where he placed 22nd. He ended his season at the 2006 World Championships, finishing 26th.
In 2006, Pfeifer moved from Austria to train in Aston, Pennsylvania. Two years later, he began training under Priscilla Hill at the Skating Club of Wilmington in Wilmington, Delaware. He stated that Austrian skating officials disagreed with his decision to train abroad and his funding dried up, leading him to consider no longer competing for the country. He was not sent to any ISU Championships in 2007 and 2008.
Pfeifer returned to international competition in autumn 2008. He placed tenth at the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy and fifth at the 2008 Karl Schäfer Memorial before taking his fourth national title. He was 29th at both the 2009 European Championships and 2009 World Championships.
The final opportunity to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics was the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy in September. Pfeifer placed fifth and earned a spot for Austria in the men's event in Vancouver. Austria consequently resumed funding his training. After winning his fifth national title, Pfeifer was sent to the 2010 European Championships where he placed 17th. He then competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics, placing 21st. His final event of the season was the 2010 World Championships where he was 20th.
In the 2012–13 season, Pfeifer was eighth at the European Championships, the best European result of his career. He then placed 20th at the 2013 World Championships, earning a spot for Austria in the 2014 Olympic men's event.
Pfeifer began coaching at The Skating Club of Wilmington when he was still a competitive skater. He retired from competition on 27 May 2014.
Personal life Pfeifer began playing the cello as a child and attended a music conservatory in Austria before deciding to focus on skating. He studied business management and economics at the University of Delaware.
Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2013–2014 Cloud Atlas by Piano Sextett Breath of Life by Audiomachine Sad Piano by Michael Orteta Guardians at the Gate by Audiomachine 2012–2013 Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven 2011–2012 Lady Caliph by Ennio Morricone Send In the Clowns The Elephant Man Entry of the Gladiators Circus Contraception 2010–2011 The Mask by Randy Edelman 2009–2010 Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez for piano Mandolin Rain by Bruce Hornsby 2008–2009 The Matrix by Don Davis
Blues for Klook Adagio in G minor by Remo Giazotto, Tomaso Albinoni Ancient Life by Rage 2007–2008 Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven Beethoven's Last Night Trans-Siberian Orchestra Mr. & Mrs. Smith by John Powell 2006–2007 Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 2005–2006 Chronologie Part2 Zoolook No.3 by Jean-Michel Jarre La Strada 8½ Il bidone by Nino Rota Chaplin medley 2004–2005 Tango from Cirque du Soleil by René Dupéré Art on Ice (from "Strings and Beats") performed by Edvin Marton 2003–2004 Backdraft by Hans Zimmer
Results GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
2003–2014 International Event 04–05 05–06 06–07 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 Olympics 22nd 21st 26th Worlds 23rd 26th 29th 20th 26th 22nd 20th 30th Europeans 18th 18th 29th 17th 18th 18th 8th 14th Skate America 12th Golden Spin 4th Ice Challenge 13th 3rd 11th 2nd Schäfer Memorial 5th 14th 5th Nebelhorn Trophy 10th 5th 13th Nepela Memorial 2nd 5th Triglav Trophy 2nd International: Junior Junior Worlds 12th 15th Bulgaria 5th Estonia 5th Romania 10th Slovakia 22nd Ukraine 9th Montfort Cup 2nd J 1st J 1st J National, domestic, or club events Austrian Champ. 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st Austrian Junior 1st 1st
1998–2003 International Event 01–02 02–03 Copenhagen Trophy 2nd J Euro. Youth Olympic Festival 11th J National Austrian Champ. 4th 1st Austrian Junior Champ. 2nd 1st
References
External links
Official site of Viktor Pfeifer