Timothy Goebel

Not to be confused with Tim Göbel.

Timothy Richard Goebel (born September 10, 1980) is an American former competitive figure skater. He is the 2002 Olympic bronze medalist. He was the first person to land a quadruple salchow jump in competition^[1] and the first person to land three quadruple jumps in one program. He landed 76 career quadruple jumps before his retirement in 2006.^[2]

Timothy Goebel
Goebel competes at the 2001 Grand Prix Final in Kitchener, Ontario.
Full name	Timothy Richard Goebel
Born	(1980-09-10) September 10, 1980 (age 44) Evanston, Illinois
Hometown	Fairfax, Virginia
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Country	United States
Discipline	Men's singles
Retired	April 25, 2006
Event Olympic Games 0 0 1 World Championships 0 2 0 Grand Prix Final 0 0 2 U.S. Championships 1 4 1 World Junior Championships 0 1 0 Junior Grand Prix Final 1 0 0 Medal list Olympic Games 2002 Salt Lake City Singles World Championships 2002 Nagano Singles 2003 Washington, D.C. Singles Grand Prix Final 1999–2000 Lyon Singles 2001–02 Kitchener Singles U.S. Championships 2001 Boston Singles 2000 Cleveland Singles 2002 Los Angeles Singles 2003 Dallas Singles 2005 Portland Singles 1999 Salt Lake City Singles World Junior Championships 1997 Seoul Singles Junior Grand Prix Final 1997–98 Lausanne Singles

Personal life

Goebel was born on September 10, 1980, in Evanston, Illinois.^[3] He was adopted through Catholic Charities by Ginny and Richard Goebel as an infant.^{[4][citation needed]}

Goebel initially attended Loyola Marymount University. Beginning in the fall of 2006, he studied at Columbia University's School of General Studies,^[5] graduating in May 2010 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics.^{[6][citation needed]} After working for the Nielsen ratings company, he joined an ad agency, MEC, as a consumer analyst.^[7] As of April 2016, he was pursuing a master's degree in data science from New York University Stern School of Business.^[8] In January 2017, he began working as a data analyst for Google.^[9]

In April 2016, Goebel became engaged to his boyfriend of three years, Thomas Luciano.^[8] They married on April 29, 2017, in Newport, Rhode Island.^[9]

Career

Early in his career, Goebel was coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins and Glyn Watts near his Illinois home and then moved to California to work with Frank Carroll.^[10]

During his skating career and prior to the arrival of Nathan Chen to the sport, Goebel was sometimes referred to as the "Quad King"^[11][12] because of his ability to land quadruple jumps. On March 7, 1998, in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the Junior Grand Prix Final, Goebel became the first skater in the world to land a quadruple Salchow, and the first American skater to land a quadruple jump of any kind in competition.^[13] International Skating Union officials ratified the jump at the end of the month after watching a video provided by the parents of Tiffany Stiegler / Johnnie Stiegler.^[1]

On October 31, 1999, at the 1999 Skate America in Colorado Springs, Goebel became the first skater to land three quads in one program. In the free skate, he landed a quad salchow in combination, a quad toe loop, and a quad salchow as a solo jump.^[14]

Goebel also made history at the 2002 Olympics by becoming the first skater to successfully land a quad Salchow in combination in Olympic competition. Goebel's repertoire of quadruple jumps made him one of the most competitive skaters in the world during the peak of his career. He would land a total of 76 quads in competition.^[2] Goebel was heavily criticized early in his career for focusing exclusively on jumping to the detriment of choreography and presentation, but in later years he improved in those areas.

Goebel increasingly struggled with his jumps after 2003 due to injuries. At the 2006 U.S. Championships, in what he had previously announced would be his last competitive season, he was unable to land either a quadruple jump or triple Axel cleanly, and dropped to a seventh-place finish which left him far short of qualifying for the 2006 Winter Olympics.^[15][16]

Goebel represented the Winterhurst Figure Skating Club. He was coached by Audrey Weisiger in Fairfax, Virginia, after having been previously coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins, Glyn Watts and Frank Carroll.

On April 25, 2006, Goebel announced his retirement from competitive skating.^[2] He planned to continue to contribute to the sport as a technical specialist, having received certification for competitions sanctioned by the United States Figure Skating Association. He worked as a technical specialist at the Aviator Figure Skating Academy in New York.

He attended Columbia University, graduating in 2010 with a degree in mathematics.^[17] In 2016, he received a Master of Science in Business Analytics degree from New York University Stern School of Business, and currently works for Google as a Marketing Mix Modeling Partner Program Manager.^[18]

Programs

Goebel performs a hydroblade, one of his signature moves, in 2003.

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2005–2006 [3]	Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman	Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky	Stray Cats Strut by Brian Setzer
2004–2005 [19]	Concerto Elegiaque for Piano in D Minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff	The Queen Symphony by Tolga Kashif, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
2003–2004 [20]	Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev
2002–2003 [21]		Rapsodia Espanola, Tango Op. 65 N. 2 by Espanola Fantasticas by J. Turina
2001–2002 [22]	Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns	An American in Paris by George Gershwin	American Pie by Don Mclean Freedom by Paul McCartney
2000–2001 [23]	2001: A Space Odyssey Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss Slow Waltz	Henry V Canone inverso Second free at Grand Prix Final: 1812 Overture by Pyotr Tchaikovsky	Windmills of Your Mind by Neil Diamond American Pie by Don Mclean Cup of Life by Ricky Martin
1999–2000	Caravan by Duke Ellington	Seven Years in Tibet by John Williams	Ain't No Sunshine by David Sanborn, Sting

Competitive highlights

• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
• WD – Withdrew from competition

Competition placements at senior level ^[24]

Season	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Winter Olympics						3rd
World Championships			12th	11th	4th	2nd	2nd		10th
Four Continents Championships			13th
Grand Prix Final				3rd	5th	3rd
U.S. Championships	6th	WD	3rd	2nd	1st	2nd	2nd	WD	2nd	7th
GP Cup of China								1st
GP France										4th
GP NHK Trophy				2nd				2nd	2nd
GP Skate America				2nd	1st	1st				6th
GP Sparkassen					2nd	2nd
Nebelhorn Trophy		1st
St. Gervais	2nd

Competition placements at junior level ^[24][25]

Season	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
World Junior Championships	14th	7th	2nd	WD
Junior Grand Prix Final				1st
U.S. Championships	5th	1st
JGP France				1st
JGP Ukraine				1st
Blue Swords	4th		2nd

Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System 

Segment	Type	Score	Event
Total	TSS	208.28	2004 NHK Trophy
Short program	TSS	73.65	2003 NHK Trophy
	TES
	PCS
Free skating	TSS	137.60	2003 Cup of China
	TES
	PCS

Senior level

Results in the 1996–97 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Aug 23–28, 1996	1996 Grand Prix International St. Gervais		–		–	2	–
Jan 13–21, 1996	1997 U.S. Championships	10	–	6	–	6	–

Results in the 1997–98 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Aug 26–29, 1997	1997 Nebelhorn Trophy	1	–	1	–	1	–

Results in the 1998–99 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Feb 7–14, 1999	1999 U.S. Championships	2	–	3	–	3	–
Feb 21–28, 1999	1999 Four Continents Championships	12	–	13	–	13	–
Mar 20–28, 1999	1999 World Championships	13	–	12	–	12	–

Results in the 1999–2000 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 27–31, 1999	1999 Skate America	3	–	2	–	2	–
Dec 2–5, 1999	1999 NHK Trophy	2	–	2	–	2	–
Jan 13–16, 2000	1999–2000 Grand Prix Final	5	–	4	–	3	–
Feb 6–13, 2000	2000 U.S. Championships	2	–	2	–	2	–
Mar 23 – Apr 3, 2000	2000 World Championships	7	–	10	–	11	–

Results in the 2000–01 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 26–29, 2000	2000 Skate America	2	–	1	–	1	–
Nov 9–12, 2000	2000 Sparkassen Cup on Ice	2	–	2	–	2	–
Feb 15–18, 2001	2000–01 Grand Prix Final	5	–	5	–	5	–
Jan 14–21, 2001	2001 U.S. Championships	3	–	1	–	1	–
Mar 17–25, 2001	2001 World Championships	4	–	4	–	4	–

Results in the 2001–02 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 24–28, 2001	2001 Skate America	1	–	1	–	1	–
Nov 9–11, 2001	2001 Sparkassen Cup on Ice	2	–	2	–	2	–
Dec 13–16, 2001	2001–02 Grand Prix Final	3	–	3	–	3	–
Jan 6–13, 2002	2002 U.S. Championships	1	–	2	–	2	–
Feb 9–21, 2002	2002 Winter Olympics	3	–	3	–	3	–
Mar 16–24, 2002	2002 World Championships	4	–	2	–	2	–

Results in the 2002–03 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Jan 6–13, 2003	2003 U.S. Championships	1	–	3	–	2	–
Mar 24–30, 2003	2003 World Championships	2	–	2	–	2	–

Results in the 2003–04 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 6–9, 2003	2003 Cup of China	2	–	1	–	1	–
Nov 27–30, 2003	2003 NHK Trophy	1	–	2	–	2	–

Results in the 2004–05 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 4–7, 2004	2004 NHK Trophy	2	–	2	–	2	–
Jan 9–16, 2005	2005 U.S. Championships	1	–	2	–	2	–
Mar 14–20, 2005	2005 World Championships	14	–	9	–	10	–

Results in the 2005–06 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Oct 20–23, 2005	2005 Skate America	6	–	8	–	6	–
Nov 17–20, 2005	2005 Trophée Éric Bompard	4	–	6	–	4	–
Jan 7–15, 2006	2006 U.S. Championships	5	–	8	–	7	–

Junior level

Results in the 1994–95 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 21–27, 1994	1995 World Junior Championships	17	–	12	–	14	–
Jan 6–13, 1995	1995 U.S. Championships (Junior)	6	–	5	–	5	–

Results in the 1995–96 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 26 – Dec 2, 1995	1996 World Junior Championships	12	–	6	–	7	–
Jan 13–21, 1996	1996 U.S. Championships (Junior)	1	–	1	–	1	–

Results in the 1996–97 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Nov 24 – Dec 1, 1996	1997 World Junior Championships	5	–	2	–	2	–

Results in the 1997–98 season 

Date	Event	SP		FS		Total
		P	Score	P	Score	P	Score
Aug 19–23, 1997	1997 JS Grand Prix de Saint Gervais		–		–	1	–
Sep 25–28, 1997	1997 JS Ukrainian Souvenir		–		–	1	–
Mar 5–8, 1998	1997–98 Junior Series Final	4	–	1	–	1	–

References

1. "Goebel made history". canoe.ca. Associated Press. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. "Timothy Goebel Announces Retirement from Competitive Skating". US Skating Union. April 25, 2006. Archived from the original on May 25, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
3. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 1, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
4. "Timothy Goebel". Retrieved 2023-06-08.
5. Halberg, Morgan (November 21, 2016). "Olympic Medalist Timothy Goebel Skates Over to Upper West Side". observer.com.
6. "Timothy Goebel". Krigor Studio. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
7. Zaccardi, Nick (April 8, 2014). "Catching up with Tim Goebel". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016.
8. McCarvel, Nick (April 13, 2016). "Davis, White still undecided on competitive return". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
9. Brannen, Sarah S. (May 11, 2017). "The Inside Edge: Edmunds returns following layoff". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
10. Mittan, J. Barry (2000) [1997]. "King of Quads; Goebel Sets U. S. Quad Records". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
11. Mihoces, Gary (February 23, 2003). "Quadruple jump can throw you for a loop". USA Today.
12. Radnofsky, Louise (February 2007), New Heights, Skating Magazine, pp. 10–11
13. Rosewater, Amy (September 27, 2011). "Mroz attempting to push boundaries of sport". Icenetwork. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
14. "The quad: Skating's evolution is for more revolution". CBS Sports. December 2, 1999. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
15. Macur, Juliet (January 15, 2006). "Weir Captures Third Straight Men's Singles Title". The New York Times.
16. Bondy, Filip (February 13, 2006). "Weir Makes U.S. Officials Weary With His Mouth". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
17. "Live Figure Skating | Peacock Premium".
18. "Timothy Goebel, MSBA '16".
19. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
20. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
21. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
22. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 18, 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
23. "Timothy GOEBEL: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 17, 2001.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
24. "Timothy GOEBEL". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
25. "Timothy Goebel". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

• Timothy Goebel at the International Skating Union
• Timothy Goebel Archived 2005-03-10 at the Wayback Machine at the U.S. Olympic Committee