Danielle O'Brien

Danielle O'Brien
O'Brien/Merriman in 2011.
Born	(1990-02-07) 7 February 1990 (age 34) Sydney
Height	150 cm (4 ft 11 in)[1]
Figure skating career
Country	Australia
Partner	Gregory Merriman
Skating club	Sydney FSC
Began skating	1997
Retired	April 11, 2014

Danielle O'Brien (born 7 February 1990) is an Australian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Gregory Merriman, she is a six-time Australian senior national champion and three-time junior national champion. They have competed at the World Championships and Four Continents Championships since 2008, and have competed at three World Junior Championships. They became the first Australian ice dancers to reach the free dance at a World Championships.

Career

Danielle O'Brien teamed up with Gregory Merriman, who also skated at the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink,^[2] in April 1998.^[3] They were coached by Australian ice dancing champion Monica MacDonald in Sydney, Australia. In the 2009–10 season, they trained with former World champion Victor Kraatz and Maikki Kraatz. O'Brien/Merriman withdrew from the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2010 Winter Olympics, due to Merriman's diagnosis of pericarditis, a viral infection in the sac surrounding the heart.^[4][5]

In the 2010–11 season, O'Brien/Merriman began training part-time in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan under coaches Anjelika Krylova, two-time World champion, and Pasquale Camerlengo. They relocated to Detroit to train there full-time in late 2011.^[5] Although Merriman's heel of his boot separated during the preliminary round at the 2012 World Championships, they placed eighth out of 23 couples and qualified for the short dance, where they placed 20th and qualified for the free. O'Brien/Merriman became the first Australian team to qualify for the free dance at a World Championships. They finished 20th overall.

In 2012–13, O'Brien/Merriman finished 7th at the US International Classic, 4th at the 2012 Ondrej Nepela Memorial, 8th at the 2012 NRW Trophy and 4th at the 2012 Ice Challenge. In January 2013, they became the first Australian ice dancers to medal at an International event when they took bronze at the Toruń Cup in Poland. In February, O'Brien/Merriman competed at the 2013 Four Continents Championships where they finished with a personal best placement of eighth. They did not qualify for the 2013 World Championships due to new TES requirements.^[6]

The 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy was the last chance to qualify for the Olympics; O'Brien/Merriman finished sixth and earned a place for Australia in the Olympic ice dancing event. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, they advanced to the free dance and finished 20th. They retired from competition on April 21, 2014.^[7]

Programs

(with Merriman)

Season	Short dance	Free dance
2013–2014 [8]	Quickstep: Cotton Club Stomp 1 by John Barry Foxtrot: The Mooche by John Barry Charleston: Cotton Club Stomp 2 by Duke Ellington Cotton Eye Joe Old Country Waltz	Thunder and Blazes performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band Goofus performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright The Southerner performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band
2012–2013 [9]	Cotton Eye Joe Old Country Waltz	Thunder and Blazes Goofus Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright The Southerner
2011–2012 [10]	Mambo Mambo by Latin Soul Syndicate Samba: Ay Mama (Dance mix)	In the Mood by Glenn Miller Moonlight Serenade performed by Frank Sinatra Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman
2010–2011 [11]	Waltz from Cousins by Erich Kuenzel Quickstep: Dancing Fool by Barry Manilow	Boxes by Marvin Hamlisch After Car by Marvin Hamlisch Trust Me by Marvin Hamlisch Golf by Marvin Hamlisch
	Original dance
2009–2010 [12]	Australian aboriginal music: Yulara by Scott Wilson and James Drury Warrama by David Hudson Kikin Kooka's by Scott Wilson and James Drury	Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis Love Potion No. 9 by The Clovers Shout by The Isley Brothers
2008–2009 [13]	Lindyhop Swing Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima This Business of Love (from The Mask)	Beethoven's Last Night Overture by Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Dark by Trans-Siberian Orchestra Ouverture by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
2007–2008 [14]	Australian Aboriginal music: Forest Phunk by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara Yulara by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara	Mamma Mia musical by ABBA: Overture, Prologue SOS Mamma Mia
2006–2007 [15]	Argentinos by C. Novell Hey Sexy Lady by Birch and Morrisen	King Swing by Swing City Giants This Business of Love (from The Mask) Hey Pachuco by Crown Review
2005–2006 [16]	Mambo: Johnny's Mambo by Michael Lloyd Cha Cha: Sway by Michael Buble Samba	King Swing by Swing City Giants This Business of Love (from The Mask) Hey Pachuco by Crown Review
2004–2005 [17]	George of the Jungle Pink Panther Henry Mancini	White Stones by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland: Steps Windancer Moving
2003–2004 [3]		White Stones by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland: Steps Windancer Moving

Results

(with Merriman)

Results[18]
International
Event	04–05	05–06	06–07	07–08	08–09	09–10	10–11	11–12	12–13	13–14
Olympics										20th
Worlds				27th	25th	25th	27th	20th		24th
Four Continents				10th	10th	10th	9th	9th	8th	7th
Ice Challenge									4th
Nebelhorn						WD	15th			6th
NRW Trophy									8th
Ondrej Nepela							10th		4th
Skate Down Under										1st
Toruń Cup									3rd
U.S. Classic									7th
Volvo Cup										12th
International: Junior
Junior Worlds	26th	23rd	20th
JGP China	10th
JGP Japan		11th
JGP Taiwan			10th
National
Australian Champ.	1st J.	1st J.	1st J.	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

References

1. "Danielle O'Brien". sochi2014.olympics.com.au. Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
2. Georgakopoulos, Chris (4 February 2014). "Ice dancing duo Greg Merriman and Danielle O'Brien primed for Sochi Winter Olympic Games". Canterbury-Bankstown Express. DailyTelegraph.com.au.
3. Mittan, Barry (8 August 2005). "Australian Dancers Win First Gold". Skate Today.
4. Moore, Emmeline (16 February 2014). "Australian ice dancers live dream after heart scare". Agence France-Presse. Google.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014.
5. Miller, Nick (9 February 2014). "Greg Merriman, Danielle O'Brien prepare for Olympic debut". The Sydney Morning Herald.
6. Noonan, Belinda (12 March 2013). "Disappointment for Aussie ice dancers has its benefits". Burwood Scene. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013.
7. "Dani and Greg hang up the skates". Olympics.com.au. 11 April 2014.
8. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014.
9. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013.
10. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012.
11. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
12. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010.
13. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009.
14. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 April 2008.
15. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007.
16. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 7 May 2006.
17. "Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 5 February 2005.
18. "Competition Results: Danielle OBRIEN / Gregory MERRIMAN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014.

External links

Media related to Danielle O'Brien at Wikimedia Commons

• Danielle O'Brien / Gregory Merriman at the International Skating Union