Alexandra Zaretsky

Alexandra "Sasha" Zaretsky (Hebrew: אלכסנדרה זרצקי‎, Russian: Александра Зарецкая, Alexandra Zaretskaya, Belarusian: Аляксандра Зарэцкая) (born December 23, 1987) is an Israeli ice dancer. With her brother Roman Zaretsky, she is the 2009 Skate America bronze medalist, 2009 Golden Spin of Zagreb champion, a three-time Nebelhorn Trophy medalist, and a three-time Israeli national champion. They finished as high as sixth at the World Championships and competed twice at the Winter Olympics, finishing tenth in 2010.

Alexandra Zaretsky
Alexandra and Roman Zaretsky in 2009
Personal information
Full nameAlexandra Zaretsky
Alternative namesZaretski
Country represented Israel
Born (1987-12-23) December 23, 1987
Minsk, Belarus SSR
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
PartnerRoman Zaretsky
Former coachGalit Chait
Nikolai Morozov
Evgeni Platov
Elena Zaretski
Igor Zaretski
Irina Romanova
Igor Yaroshenko
Former choreographerGalit Chait
Nikolai Morozov
Evgeni Platov
Skating clubKochavim on the Ice
Began skating1994
RetiredJune 2010
ISU personal best scores
Combined total181.26
2010 Worlds
Comp. dance37.59
2004 JGP Romania
Original dance58.10
2008 Worlds
Free dance91.34
2010 Worlds

Personal life

Alexandra Zaretsky was born on December 23, 1987, in Minsk, Belarus SSR, Soviet Union.[1] The Zaretsky family was Jewish and made aliyah, settling in Metula, Israel, in 1990.[2] Alexandra trained in rhythmic gymnastics as a young child before choosing skating.[3] She speaks fluent Hebrew, Russian, and English.[3] Her sons, Dennis and Adam, were born in Indiana, United States.[4]

Career

Early years

Alexandra Zaretsky began skating in Metula at the age of 6.[3][2] She originally competed as a single skater, winning age group medals. When older brother Roman wanted to switch to ice dancing, his sister was the only girl at the rink he could partner, so their parents put them together.[5] She was seven and he was 11 when they switched to ice dancing.[3] They were coached by their mother until 2001, when they relocated for training to the United States.[6][2]

The siblings debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in October 2001, placing 11th in The Hague, Netherlands. They placed 19th at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Hamar, Norway.

2002–2003 season

In September 2002, the Zaretskys became the first Israeli figure skaters to medal on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, taking bronze in Belgrade, Serbia. After winning another bronze, at a JGP event in Chemnitz, Germany, they were named the first alternates for a spot at the JGP Final. In January 2003, the siblings became the first Israelis to medal at the European Youth Olympic Festival.[7] They went on to finish eighth at the 2003 World Junior Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. They were coached by Irina Romanova and Igor Yaroshenko in Wilmington, Delaware.[5]

2003–2004 season

Competing in their third JGP season, the Zaretskys won silver in Mexico City, Mexico, and then gold in Gdańsk, Poland. They qualified for the first time to the JGP Final, where they would finish sixth. They placed ninth at the 2004 World Junior Championships in The Hague, Netherlands.

2004–2005 season

In their final JGP season, the Zaretskys took bronze in Chemnitz, Germany, and then silver in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. In December, they placed eighth at the JGP Final in Helsinki, Finland. They decided to change coaches, switching to Evgeni Platov in January 2005.[8] In March, they competed at the 2005 World Junior Championships in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Ranked third in the compulsory dance, fourth in the original dance, and fifth in the free dance, they finished fourth overall.

2005–2006 season

The Zaretskys debuted on the senior Grand Prix series, placing 9th at both of their assignments. They were required to finish at least 15th at the 2006 European Championships in order to be sent to the Olympics as Israel's second team.[8] They accomplished this and were sent to Torino, where they placed 22nd.

2006–2007 season

In the summer of 2006, the Zaretskys briefly trained in Moscow because Platov was taking part in a skating reality show and then returned to the U.S. with Platov. Following Galit Chait / Sergei Sakhnovski's retirement at the end of the previous season, the siblings became the top Israeli ice dancing team. They won the bronze medal at the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy, a senior "B" international, and finished just off the podium at the 2006 Cup of China. They finished 11th at the 2007 Europeans and 14th at the 2007 World Championships. They were coached by Platov in Little Falls, New Jersey until the end of the season.[9]

2007–2008 season

They Zaretskys began their season with a new coaching team, having joined Galit Chait and Nikolai Morozov in Hackensack, New Jersey.[10]

They competed at two Grand Prix events, 2007 Skate America and 2007 Cup of China, repeating their 4th-place finish in China. They finished 8th at the 2008 Europeans and 9th at the 2008 World Championships, setting a new personal best score.

2008–2009 season

In October 2008, the Zaretskys and their coach Galit Chait filed a lawsuit against the Ice House training rink in Hackensack, New Jersey, alleging that rink officials discriminated against them on the basis of their Israeli nationality by denying them prime training time and threatening to ban them from the rink.[11]

The siblings had an up and down season, winning their first international event, the 2009 Winter Universiade, but placing lower at both the 2009 Europeans and 2009 World Championships than they had the previous year.

2009–2010 season
The Zaretskys perform their Hava Nagila original dance in 2009

The Zaretskys rebounded in their final competitive season. After a 5th-place finish at the 2009 Cup of China, the siblings won their first Grand Prix medal – bronze at the 2009 Skate America after placing fourth in the compulsory dance, third in the original dance, and second in the free dance. They were named third alternates for the Grand Prix Final. The Zaretskys won their next event, the 2009 Golden Spin of Zagreb, and skated to 7th place at the 2010 European Championships, their career-best result at that event.

Based on their top-ten finish at the Europeans, the Zaretskys met their national criterion for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[12] There, in February 2010 they performed to music from Schindler's List in the free dance,[13] having chosen the music in part to honor 27 family members who died in Minsk during the Holocaust.[14] They finished tenth, setting new personal best scores in the free dance and overall. They went on to finish 6th at 2010 Worlds, again setting personal bests in the free dance and overall.

The Zaretskys announced their retirement from competitive skating in June 2010, citing a lack of support from their federation as the reason.[15][16]

Post-competitive career

The Zaretskys later performed in various ice shows, including Shall We Dance on Ice, and coached together for several years in Houston, Texas.[4] In 2017, Alexandra relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.[4]

Programs
The Zaretskys perform at the 2009 Worlds
Season Original dance Free dance
2001–2002
[17][18]
  • Granada
  • Torero Quiero
2002–2003
[18][19]
2003–2004
[18][20][21]
  • Blues: Bad to the bone
    by George Thorogood
  • Rock'n Roll: Americano
    by Brian Setzer Orchestra
  • The House
    by Ben Walkins
    performed by Orchestra Juno Reactor Gocoo
  • Evrious Angel
    by Rob Dougan
  • Spybreak
    by Alex Gifford
    performed by the Propellerheads
2004–2005
[18][22]
2005–2006
[18][23]
  • Samba
    performed by Mambo Kings
  • Rhumba
    performed by Mambo Kings
  • Mambo
    performed by Mambo Kings
  • Caravan
2006–2007
[18][9]
2007–2008
[18][10]
  • Shick, Shack, Shock
    by Mustafa Sax
2008–2009
[18][24][25]
  • Lindy Hop: Are you hip to the jive
    by Cab Calloway
  • Swing: Sing, Sing, Sing
    by Louis Prima
2009–2010
[18][1]

Competitive highlights
The Zaretskys with the other medalists at the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy.

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

with Roman Zaretsky
International[26]
Event 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10
Olympics22nd10th
Worlds20th14th9th13th6th
Europeans15th11th8th11th7th
GP Cup of China9th4th4th7th5th
GP Cup of Russia5th
GP NHK Trophy9th
GP Skate America8th7th3rd
Golden Spin1st
Nebelhorn3rd2nd2nd
Skate Israel4th4th
Universiade1st
International: Junior[26]
Junior Worlds19th8th9th4th
JGP Final6th8th
JGP Germany3rd3rd
JGP Italy8th
JGP Mexico2nd
JGP Netherlands11th
JGP Poland1st
JGP Romania2nd
JGP Serbia3rd
EYOF3rd
National[26]
Israeli Champ.1st N1st J1st J1st J1st J2nd1st1st1st
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior
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See also

References
  1. "Alexandra ZARETSKY / Roman ZARETSKY: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012.
  2. McGrath, Charles (January 19, 2010). "Israel's Winter Athletes Come to U.S. Seeking Ice and Medals". The New York Times.
  3. Golinsky, Reut (2010). "Alexandra and Roman Zaretsky: "We never left Israel"". Absolute Skating. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  4. "Skating Moms Series: Alexandra Zaretsky". ice-dance.com. August 25, 2019.
  5. Mittan, Barry (October 23, 2002). "Zaretskys Add to Israel's Dance Future". GoldenSkate. Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  6. Guzzardo, Jamie (February 18, 2010). "Ice dancing team hopes to build winter legacy for Israel". CNN. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  7. "MAN OF THE YEAR". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on October 11, 2003. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  8. "Young Israelis to compete at Skate America". The Jewish Ledger. October 25, 2006. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011.
  9. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007.
  10. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008.
  11. Ben-Ali, Russell (October 30, 2008). "Skaters, coach sue Hackensack rink". New Jersey Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  12. Kessler, Oren. "2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver / Israel's team: Two skaters, a skier". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  13. D'Alessandro, Dave (February 23, 2010). "Zaretsky, Reed siblings make Jersey proud in Olympic ice dancing". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on February 26, 2010.
  14. Krieger, Hilary Leila (February 19, 2010). "Zaretskys' Olympic dance a tribute to their Holocaust losses". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010.
  15. האחים זרצקי פרשו. האבא: "חושש לחייהם" [Zaretsky siblings have retired] (in Hebrew). Ynet.com. June 20, 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2010.
  16. Barden, Brett (June 20, 2010). "Zaretskys announce retirement". SkateToday. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
  17. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 18, 2002.
  18. "Music". ice-dance.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.
  19. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 4, 2003.
  20. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2003.
  21. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004.
  22. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005.
  23. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 2, 2006.
  24. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008.
  25. "Alexandra ZARETSKI / Roman ZARETSKI: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009.
  26. "Competition Results: Alexandra ZARETSKY / Roman ZARETSKY". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012.
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