Nicholas LaRoche (born July 29, 1983) is an American figure skater. He is the 2002 United States National Jr. Men's Figure Skating Champion, Nebelhorn Trophy bronze medalist, 2007 Ondrej Nepela Memorial silver medalist, and placed tenth at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

Nicholas LaRoche
Born (1983-07-29) July 29, 1983 (age 41)
Gardner, Massachusetts
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
Skating clubAll Year FSC
Began skating1992
Retired2009

Career

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LaRoche debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in 1999. He won the junior title at the 2002 U.S. Championships. He was assigned to the 2002 World Junior Championships where he placed tenth. Later that year, he won a bronze medal on the JGP series, in Germany.

From 2003, LaRoche competed on the senior level at the U.S. Championships. He won the bronze medal at the 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy and silver at the 2007 Ondrej Nepela Memorial. His last competition was the 2009 nationals. On April 13, 2009, he announced his retirement on his official site.

LaRoche coaches at the Toyota Training Center in El Segundo, California. He also runs the US Athletic Foundation, which he started with his sister Tricia, to assist athletes in all sports obtain funding.

Personal life

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LaRoche's private life has been marred by tragedy. In 2003, his older brother, David, died at the age of 23. On July 1, 2008, his father, William LaRoche, apparently bludgeoned to death Nicholas' mother, Bernadette, before killing himself.[1]

Programs

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Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008
[2]
  • Fiesta Flamenca
    by Monty Kelly
2006–2007
[2]
  • Unchained Melody
    by Alex North
  • Unforgettable
2005–2006
[2]
  • Kodo Drums
  • Fiesta Flamenca
    by Monty Kelly
2004–2005
[2]
2003–2004
[3]
2002–2003
[4]
  • JFK
2001–2002
[5]
  • Star Island
  • B-Tribe

Competitive highlights

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Results[6][7]
International
Event 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
Finlandia Trophy 5th
Golden Spin 8th
Nebelhorn Trophy 3rd
Ondrej Nepela 4th 2nd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds 10th
JGP Canada 5th
JGP Germany 3rd
JGP Netherlands 12th
JGP Norway 5th
National
U.S. Champ. 7th J. 7th J. 1st J. 8th 12th 8th 11th 11th

References

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  1. ^ Przygodski, Linda (June 2, 2008). "Tragedy strikes figure skating family". IceNetwork.
  2. ^ a b c d "Nicholas LaRoche". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004.
  4. ^ "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 15, 2003.
  5. ^ "Nicholas LaROCHE: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  6. ^ "Competition Results: Nicholas LaROCHE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012.
  7. ^ "Nicholas LaRoche". IceNetwork.
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