Emily Samuelson

Infobox Figure skater
title= Emily Samuelson


caption= Samuelson & Bates in 2007.
fullname= Emily Samuelson
altname=
country= USA
formercountry=
dateofbirth= birth date and age|1990|5|14
birthplace= Southfield, Michigan
hometown=
residence= Ann Arbor, Michigan
height= convert|161|cm|ftin|abbr=on
partner= Evan Bates
formerpartner=
coach= Juri Tchesnitchenko,
Jaroslava Netchaeva
formercoach=
choreographer= Juri Tchesnitchenko,
Jaroslava Netchaeva
formerchoreographer=
skating club= Ann Arbor FSC
retired=
dance score= 181.66
dance date= 2008 World Juniors
CD score= 35.11
CD date= 2008 World Juniors
OD score= 57.84
OD date= 2008 World Juniors
FD score= 88.71
FD date= 2008 World Juniors

Emily Samuelson (born May 14, 1990 in Southfield, Michigan) is an American ice dancer. She skates with Evan Bates. They are the 2008 World Junior Champions.

Personal life

Emily Samuelson was born in Southfield, Michigan. She currently lives and trains in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She attended Novi High School.

Samuelson was selected for the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Scholastics Honors Team [ [http://usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=40336 U.S. Figure Skating to Honor 10 Exceptional Scholar Athletes at 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships] ] .

Career

Emily Samuelson began skating at age five. She began competing with Evan Bates at the Juvenile level in 2000.

They failed to qualify for Nationals at the novice level in the 2002-2003 season. The following season, they won their regional, placed second at their sectional, and won the bronze at Nationals. They stayed novice for one more season, winning the Novice national title in 2005.

They made their debut on the Junior Grand Prix circuit the following season, but did not place at either of their two events. They won their sectional championships and won the silver medal at the 2006 Nationals as Juniors. This medal earned them a trip to the World Junior Figure Skating Championships, where they placed 10th.

Samuelson & Bates stayed Junior the following season. In 2006-2007, they won both their Junior Grand Prix events and placed second at the Junior Grand Prix Final. They won the Junior National Title and went to the Junior Worlds as favorites for a medal. However, after being second going into the free dance, they were forced to withdraw in the middle of the FD due to injury. Bates stepped on the back of her hand after she fell shortly into the free dance, severing a tendon. [ [http://usfigureskating.org/Story.asp?id=37845 Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating ] ] Their withdrawal, combined with the placement of the other American teams, meant the US would only have two entries to the 2008 Junior Worlds.

In the 2007-2008 season, Samuelson & Bates came back strong, remaining junior internationally while moving up to seniors nationally. Skating with a minor knee injury at their first Junior Grand Prix event, in Lake Placid, Samuelson & Bates won convincingly. They won their second event as well, qualifying them for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where they went in as heavy favorites for a medal. They won the silver medal in a very close race for gold. They made their senior debut at the 2008 Nationals, where they won the pewter medal, continuing their medals streak at that event. This earned them a trip to the 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, where they placed first in all three segments of the competition, winning the title overall.

Programs

Competitive highlights

(with Bates)

*N = Novice level; J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

References

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External links

* [http://emily-evan.ice-dance.com Official Site]
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