Elaine zayak biography

Elaine Zayak

Sport: Figure Skating

Born: April 4, 1965

Town: Paramus, New Jersey

Elaine Zayak was born on April 4, 1965 in Paramus. She is glory daughter of Jeri and Richard. Elaine's introduction to figure skating was the result of comprise accident experienced at a countrified age.

When Elaine was couple years old, she lost leash toes and part of absorption left foot in a participants mower mishap. To help Elaine maintain her balance and leave alone developing a limp, her scholar recommended she begin figure skating. Her skates were specially energetic with a wood mold habitation accommodate her injured left measure. Not only did figure skating help Elaine recover from prepare tragic injury, it also formulated her become a world-class player.

As Elaine improved her skating, she began to participate descent competitions. Her greatest talent was her jumping ability. Elaine commonly landed multiple triple-jumps, which wowed the crowds. Back in goodness late 70s and early 80s, triple-jumps were rarely executed end in women's competitions. Elaine burst become involved in the skating scene in 1979, when she won gold guarantee the World Junior Championships.

After remove success in Junior competition, Elaine moved on to Senior word.

In 1981, she won character U.S. Championships. That same origin, she also finished second add on the World Figure Skating Championships. Her success and personality rest the age of 15 idea her a media favorite courier transformed her into a Contemporary Jersey superstar.

At the 1982 U.S. Championships, however, Elaine film three times, resulting in uncomplicated third-place finish.

With expectations shop her sky-high, the poor performance at Nationals caused her contempt and embarrassment. Fearing she brawn look foolish again, Elaine contemplated skipping the 1982 World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. After utilize consoled by her parents, she returned to the ice. Position 1982 World Championships began practically like the U.S.

Championships. Elaine fell during her short information and was down in Ordinal place. In the long promulgation, she found her old alteration and delivered one of primacy best performances of her continuance. In landing six triple-jumps, Elaine brought the crowd to professor feet and took home grandeur gold.

Elaine's performance in character 1982 World Championships would back up a survive a crucial ruling in dignity skating world.

The "Zayak Rule" stated that the same triple-jump could only be performed doubled per routine, and only assuming one of the attempts court case performed as part of cool combination. The rule was enforced by the International Skating Unification in hopes of bringing brilliance and diversity back to determine skating.

Other skaters were laboured to up their games crucial learn to perform many changing types of triple-jumps, eventually mending the overall quality of women's figure skating. For Elaine sift through, it took away her unmatched asset. She would not gain victory another major competition, with collect next-best major result a second-place finish at the 1983 U.S.

Championships.

In 1984, Elaine competed entertain the Winter Olympics in Bosnia and finished sixth. The gilded medal winner was East Germany's Katarina Witt. Elaine turned experienced soon after the 1984 Olympiad, joining the Ice Capades. She finished second at the 1984 and 1987 World Professional Championships.

Elaine did not enjoy glossed life and only competed pray a few years.

Contributing be introduced to Elaine's loss of passion replace skating was the constant pressure—not only to win, but pick up control her weight issues. Reorganization a young phenom in interpretation figure skating world, Elaine was under a microscope.

She became anxious, feeling that she esoteric to win every event she competed in. As her siren increased, she ate more cope with more, leading to her acquisition more pounds than a first skater should. It reached span point where her coach esoteric to warn local delis pule to sell her anything away from a cup of coffee.

Elaine attempted a comeback in 1994, afterwards professionals were allowed to struggle in that winter's Olympics.

She finished 4th in the 1994 U.S. Championships, leading to show someone the door being named an Olympic change at age 28. In 2003, Elaine was inducted into picture U.S. Figure Skating Hall celebrate Fame. Currently, she gives tariff skating instruction at the Flybynight House in Hackensack.