Rank the 5 best life-after-skating (that's not skating-related)

[jlai]

We have been ranking skaters' performances but how about ranking skaters' life after skating? Some retired skaters are doing very well in a life totally non-skating-related but a few seem to have gone nowhere.

I am also hoping this thread's discussion will give us some insight on what our former favorites are doing now.

Since this is about life-after skating, I don't think those who have become full-time skating coaches, choreographers, etc. should be in this list.

Me first:
best 5
1. Loren Galler Rabinowitz (from ice dancing medalist to Miss Massachusetts), man, talk about a gorgeous and dramatic transition! +3 GOE

2. Michelle Kwan (Public Diplomacy Envoy, graduate school student, summer ice show participant, what life can get better than this?)

3. Boitano (having your own cooking show is pretty darn cool)

4. If I must pick a doctor on the list, I will pick Debi Thomas. I listened to her manleywoman skatecast and I'm just impressed as to how she seems to have such professionalism in everything she does

5. If Johnny is not coming back (big if) then I'll say he's doing fairly well for himself. I mean, talk shows, reality show, and writing a book and so on, and yes, an occasional show here and there. If he keeps this up, I'll bump him up my list. But if he doesn't, well, there's always a skating-related life...

I know I've ignored a lot of very successful doctors, lawyers, accountants and so on, but I want to point out a few "unusual" paths that I can think of. If you know of other good life-after-skating, I'm happy to adjust my list.

I thought about the 5 worst life after skating too, but then we'll all end up with more or less the same names.

[goldberry99]

I'd add Tenley Albright to the list - not only did she win gold at Olympics and Worlds, but she graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1961 and became a surgeon! Not easy for women to do in those days! She also seems like such a lovely person, completely charming in every interview I've seen.

[kukkura]

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Pet.../1135251037198

[Jot the Dot Dot]

Toller Cranston as a painter may as well be included. I'll exclude Tonya Harding as a boxer.....

[FunnyBut]

I always think of Kristi Yamaguchi as the ultimate #1

She won Worlds, Olympics, had a brilliant professional career at a time when there was still one to be had. She married a hawt sports star , and has beautiful children, and stays very close to her loving parents. She is active in charity, still supports her sport, won Dancing with the Stars, never has a bad thing to say , nor is anything bad ever said about her. She skated at c a time when audiences were the most enthusiastic and contracts most lucrative yet managed to escape the Tonya Harding scandal, Nancy was not so lucky. I wonder if she ever took a wrong step, other than the over blow-dried circa late-80's hair.

[jlai]

Toller Cranston as a painter may as well be included. I'll exclude Tonya Harding as a boxer.....

Oh yeah I forgot Cranston. As for Tonya, I didn't attempt a 5 worst for a reason (since many would have included her).

It's hard to list all the doctors, lawyers and accountants in the 5 best list, so I picked one.

[attyfan]

Peggy Fleming has done well for herself ... wife, mother, grandmother, commentator, and now vitner. I don't think I'd include Weir on the list, at this stage, since he has done nothing to indicate he is leaving the sport (let alone make it clear what he wants to do after leaving, if/when he does so).

[manleywoman]

For those whose careers didn't exactly include much post-amateur skating at all:

1) Tenley Albright
2) Michelle Kwan
3) Debi Thomas
4) Terry Kubicka
5) Paul Wylie

[jlai]

What does Terry Kubicka do, manleywoman?

[Jessica]

For those whose careers didn't exactly include much post-amateur skating at all:

1) Tenley Albright
2) Michelle Kwan
3) Debi Thomas
4) Terry Kubicka
5) Paul Wylie

I have to disagree about Paul Wylie (one of my all time favorites). He was with SOI for several years and competed in many pro comps.

[bardtoob]

Uncle Dick had a pretty stellar career, Harvard JD and an almost 50 year broadcasting career. He also produced a lot of pro events in the 80s.

[manleywoman]

What does Terry Kubicka do, manleywoman?

Veterinarian

[crzesk8dad]

Veterinarian

As stated, Terry is a veterinarian, but also a National Technical Specialist, since 2005. He is in great demand for competitions and monitoring sessions. He does the Glacier Falls Summer Classic just about every summer. (Terry used to skate at the old Glacier Falls Ice Rink in Anaheim, CA).

More importantly:

"Terry Kubicka received his Bachelor of Science Degree at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at University of California in Davis. He continues to be involved in local organizations to promote the highest quality of veterinary medical care and alleviate the suffering of animals." - about.iceskating.com

He was a great skater, is a great vet and a great supporter of skating.

Thanks, Terry!

[neptune]

These discussions are interesting, but in all honesty, how can you rate somebody's life? You don't have to be doing something prestigious to have a quality life. Maybe some retired skaters just want to live quiet, peaceful lives with fulfilling relationships and meaningful (but not flashy) activities. Hard to rank something like that.

[jlai]

These discussions are interesting, but in all honesty, how can you rate somebody's life? You don't have to be doing something prestigious to have a quality life.

True. That said, this thread is used to celebrate life after skating--without putting anybody down. FOr the purpose of discussions, this is no different than those top 100 most influential/great/etc. American/people/whatever lists in magazines.

[Spiralgraph]

I'd add the Jenkins brothers to this list

Hayes Allen Jenkins, gold medalist in 1956 is a very successful lawyer who married Carol Heiss.

His brother David, gold medalist in 1960, is a dentist.

[briancoogaert]

4. If I must pick a doctor on the list, I will pick Debi Thomas. I listened to her manleywoman skatecast and I'm just impressed as to how she seems to have such professionalism in everything she does

And Alain Calmat ?
Doctor, and Minister of the Sport in France.

[skateboy]

As stated, Terry is a veterinarian, but also a National Technical Specialist, since 2005. He is in great demand for competitions and monitoring sessions. He does the Glacier Falls Summer Classic just about every summer. (Terry used to skate at the old Glacier Falls Ice Rink in Anaheim, CA).

And he was my veterinarian for 12 years! (...and a great guy.)

[DORISPULASKI]

Uncle Dick had a pretty stellar career, Harvard JD and an almost 50 year broadcasting career. He also produced a lot of pro events in the 80s.

A vote for Uncle Dick:

1. He graduated from Harvard law
2. http://sports.jrank.org/pages/729/Bu...-Producer.html
He won an Emmy in 1981 for Outstanding Sports Personality
3. Candid productions did the reality shows of the 1980's and 1990's-battle of the Network Stars and Supersports

[DarrellH]

Vera Wang