Frank Carroll has died

[Debbie S]

MK's tribute: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8DGPtayhRF/

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks! Embedding Michelle Kwan's post here (includes 5 photos total) for those who might not be able to access it:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Sylvia]

USFS' obituary/tribute (June 10, 2024):

Coaching Great Frank Carroll Passes Away | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

 

[canbelto]

Very classy post by Michelle.

 

[Sylvia]

Nick Zaccardi's article today includes Evan Lysacek's emailed response:

Figure skating coach Frank Carroll dies at 85

Frank Carroll, who coached Evan Lysacek, Michelle Kwan and more Olympians, died at age 85.

www.nbcsports.com

“I started working with Frank when I was nothing in skating,” Lysacek said by email Monday. “Frank taught me and shaped me, as an athlete and as a person. Although he said several times that he didn’t much care about winning an Olympic Gold, I wanted it for him. Frank coached so many great champions in our sport, all of whom I admire and respect. I WAS NOT one of the best or most talented skaters that Frank ever coached, but he rarely ever talked to me about how to be great… he only talked to me about how to win. My motivation to win Olympic gold became as much about Frank as it was about my country. As the pressure mounted and training became more grueling leading up to the Olympics, Frank and my bond grew. My life consisted of a cold empty ice rink, and Frank was often the only person I would speak with in a day.
“On a particularly difficult training day, I broke down. Frank told me that he never competed at the Olympic Games, and maybe didn’t ever feel the kind of pressure that I was under… but when he looks back at his life as a skater, he hardly remembers the crowning moments of his career. What he remembers most are days in an empty ice rink, where he skated and dreamed what might be. He recalled those days as the best time of his life. Looking back, of course I remember some of our winning moments together, but Frank was right (as he always was)... the private moments, with just Frank and me training... working out every detail, drilling elements and dreaming of what could be, are the moments that make my eyes well up. Later in life, my relationship with Frank evolved. He was not my coach anymore, he was my friend and my family. Frank knew that I loved him. When we spent time together, we almost never talked about skating. He talked to me more like a father would talk to a son. I will miss him forever.”

 

[Lynn226]

Thanks! Embedding Michelle Kwan's post here (includes 5 photos total) for those who might not be able to access it:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I like the last one best where she's sitting on the ice .

 

[BittyBug]

WaPo obit (gifted): https://wapo.st/45AeaOZ

 

[genevieve]

I keep coming back to this thread as surprised and sad as the first time I saw it. As others have mentioned, I just kind of thought Frank Carroll would go on forever.

Lovely tributes by so many of his former skaters.

Now, who was there and want to talk about Frank in his boxers during the fire alarm at the skaters' hotel so may years ago?

 

[Jarrett]

WaPo obit (gifted): https://wapo.st/45AeaOZ

Even to read a free article that require an email address. Jesus these newspapers.

 

[Karen-W]

Even to read a free article that require an email address. Jesus these newspapers.

yup - I clicked out and went buh-bye.

 

[Jarrett]

yup - I clicked out and went buh-bye.

It was a nice article. I went to it on safari and apple makes up alias emails for you so I just used that and i will delete it later.

 

[Sylvia]

Associated Press article by Dave Skretta (June 11):

Frank Carroll, figure skating coach who led Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek to stardom, dies at 85

Longtime figure skating coach Frank Carroll, who over the course of a 60-year career helped guide six Olympic medalists at 10 Winter Games, including Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek, has died.

apnews.com

A sampling of tributes on Instagram from his students, coaches, etc.

Dice Murakami:

Daisuke Murakami 「村上大介」 on Instagram: "June 9, 2024. Today we lost a legend in skating. My heart is heavy as I write this message. Thank you Frank for the legacy you will leave in our sport. From traveling all over the world together, to long phone c

diceskates on June 9, 2024: "June 9, 2024. Today we lost a legend in skating. My heart is heavy as I write this message. Thank you Frank for the legacy you will leave...".

www.instagram.com

Jonathan Cassar:

Jonathan Cassar on Instagram: "Today we lost a legend 💔 Frank was my coach, my mentor, my family. Words cannot describe the wisdom you shared with me. After the end of my competitive career, I had the joy of teaching beside you every week. You tre

476 likes, 52 comments - jjcassar on June 9, 2024: "Today we lost a legend 💔 Frank was my coach, my mentor, my family. Words cannot describe the wisdom you shared with me. After the end of...".

www.instagram.com

Cassar's current student, August Perthus (cute throwback 2nd pic):

August perthus on Instagram: "Dear Frank, I remember every Sunday almost like clockwork I would have a lesson with you at Desert Ice Castle. These lessons were always the highlights of my week as your sarcastic humor and the way you would sit would

268 likes, 6 comments - august_sk8es on June 9, 2024: "Dear Frank, I remember every Sunday almost like clockwork I would have a lesson with you at Desert Ice Castle. These lessons were always...".

www.instagram.com

Starr Andrews:

Starr☆ on Instagram: "Dear Frank, Thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me and being such an amazing person! You will be missed beyond what words could possibly describe.❤️❤️"

2,474 likes, 25 comments - starrandrews on June 9, 2024: "Dear Frank, Thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me and being such an amazing person! You will be missed beyond what words could...".

www.instagram.com

Yebin Mok:

Yebin Mok on Instagram: "🤍Love you Frank 🤍"

2,064 likes, 34 comments - yebinmok on June 9, 2024: "🤍Love you Frank 🤍".

www.instagram.com

Yeaji Shin (KOR):

Yeaji Shin on Instagram: "14 years old me and Frank When he listened to everything what i was trying to explain how i felt of my hard days in training and to deal with pains, he said back “You learn from those moments and grow to be a better and wis

sk8ter_yj1_luv88 on June 11, 2024: "14 years old me and Frank When he listened to everything what i was trying to explain how i felt of my hard days in training and to deal...".

www.instagram.com

Yeaji Shin on Instagram: "Frank🩵"

sk8ter_yj1_luv88 on June 9, 2024: "Frank🩵".

www.instagram.com

Jim Peterson:

Jim Peterson on Instagram: "I was lucky enough to train in Lake Arrowhead when Frank Carroll was the head coach and Skating Director at Ice Castle. He was elegance personified, a true gentleman, and one of the most knowledgeable and successful coache

jpcoach01 on June 9, 2024: "I was lucky enough to train in Lake Arrowhead when Frank Carroll was the head coach and Skating Director at Ice Castle. He was elegance...".

www.instagram.com

Nani Tanaka & Mari Malama:

AXIS ON ICE on Instagram: "Thank you for showing us what it means to dedicate a lifetime to your passion. For bestowing your knowledge and wisdom upon so many of us in the sport. For imploring us all to simply believe in ourselves. You have shared yo

149 likes, 1 comments - axisoniceofficial on June 9, 2024: "Thank you for showing us what it means to dedicate a lifetime to your passion. For bestowing your knowledge and wisdom upon so many of us...".

www.instagram.com

Ari Zakarian:

Ari Zakarian on Instagram: "Always elegant, smart, intelligent, respected by all. The greatest coach. Was an honored to know you. R. i.P. . Dear Frank Carrol"

267 likes, 4 comments - arizakarian on June 10, 2024: "Always elegant, smart, intelligent, respected by all. The greatest coach. Was an honored to know you. R. i.P. . Dear Frank Carrol".

www.instagram.com

 

[nikjil]

May his memory be a blessing. A true legend.

 

[A.H.Black]

ew.

WaPo obit (gifted): https://wapo.st/45AeaOZ

Even to read a free article that require an email address. Jesus these newspapers.

yup - I clicked out and went buh-bye.

There is a way to read those newspaper articles and others for which you have to subscribe - at least I have one on my computer. Go up to your address bar - on the right side there may be a little icon of a page with 2-3 lines. If you click on that, it will give you that one article to read - with picture and without ads. Good luck. I hope I'm not just one of a few.

When I hover over it, it says "toggle reader view".

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Even to read a free article that require an email address. Jesus these newspapers.

Here's an email address you can use: [email protected].

It's from some spammer who was pretending to be from Norton and telling me my account had expired. I use these phishing email addresses to read articles that require an email address.

 

[Jammers]

ew.





There is a way to read those newspaper articles and others for which you have to subscribe - at least I have one on my computer. Go up to your address bar - on the right side there may be a little icon of a page with 2-3 lines. If you click on that, it will give you that one article to read - with picture and without ads. Good luck. I hope I'm not just one of a few.

When I hover over it, it says "toggle reader view".

Cool trick it worked like a charm.

 

[chewy]

I was a volunteer at worlds in 2013, fake London, and backstage Frank Carroll was looking at the skater lists on the wall at practice time. I asked if I could help with anything and he said thank you for asking just checking some times. I didn't really pay attention to who was coaching who at that time and asked him, "who are you with today" and he said, "a very nice young man, Denis Ten". Good luck I said and he smiled. Denis came walking up and they went off. So low key, not all about him, not boasting about his skater (looking at you, Tom Z.) and well, that's my Frank Carroll memory. Also my Denis Ten memory.

 

[Wyliefan]

Here's an email address you can use: [email protected].

It's from some spammer who was pretending to be from Norton and telling me my account had expired. I use these phishing email addresses to read articles that require an email address.

That's brilliant!

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

I was at my first US Nationals looking at the posted Novice scores on the bulletin board. It was before I had a smart phone and I was writing in the scores in the program booklet. Frank was there checking on his skater. He asked me if I knew a competitor and I told him I was writing it in to see if I could tell how judges were comparing skaters and what they might be looking for. He laughed and said good luck but gave me a few pointers. Then he moved off with his companion but I did hear him say how fans were watching and the scoring needed to be transparent and fair.

ETA: This was still in the 6.0 era so no COP to figure out scoring. It was nice that he took the time to help me figure out scoring. I always thought about how he didn't have to do that but took the time anyway.

 

[Icetalavista]

In ( one of?) Christine Brennan's books, there was a story about Frank titled, I think, "No one to call", about how he felt after the 1961 crash. He and European coaches were essential to US skating. He gave his life to skating.

 

[Maximillian]

I really feel for Linda Fratianne, it seems like they had the closest relationship of any Frank had with any of his skater's and I know he was devastated by her Olympic silver (I don't think Frank would have cared nearly as much about one of his skater's winning Olympic gold, if he didn't feel so hurt by Linda's loss at Lake Placid). Also, he was very close with her later mother Virginia, as well.

 

[Sylvia]

New York Times’ obituary by Richard Sandomir (June 13):

Frank Carroll, 85, Dies; Coached Michelle Kwan and Other Skating Stars

His roster of students also included Linda Fratianne, but he did not coach an Olympic gold medalist until Evan Lysacek won in 2010.

www.nytimes.com

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

New York Times’ obituary by Richard Sandomir (June 13):

Frank Carroll, 85, Dies; Coached Michelle Kwan and Other Skating Stars

His roster of students also included Linda Fratianne, but he did not coach an Olympic gold medalist until Evan Lysacek won in 2010.

www.nytimes.com

What a great article. You know I actually forgot that Frank coached the goddess, Angela… He coached so many people.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

New York Times’ obituary by Richard Sandomir (June 13):

Frank Carroll, 85, Dies; Coached Michelle Kwan and Other Skating Stars

His roster of students also included Linda Fratianne, but he did not coach an Olympic gold medalist until Evan Lysacek won in 2010.

www.nytimes.com

He thought about pulling Linda out of the Olympics. He wish he had. Oh my goodness this article is a treasure trove of information.

 

[YukiNieve]

Phil Hersh talks memories about Frank Carol in a TSL video regarding Gracie, Michelle, Evan, and all others. Very interesting.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Phil Hersh talks memories about Frank Carol in a TSL video regarding Gracie, Michelle, Evan, and all others. Very interesting.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

A lovely discussion. These guys with such big egos kept themselves on Frank. It was a pleasure.

 

[carriecmu0503]

Phil Hersh talks memories about Frank Carol in a TSL video regarding Gracie, Michelle, Evan, and all others. Very interesting.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Can anybody possibly give a written summary of what Phil had to say? I have NOT been able to stomach TSL since about 2016, when Jenny Kirk left for the second time. I have a feeling I am not the only one who just can't with TSL.....

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Can anybody possibly give a written summary of what Phil had to say? I have NOT been able to stomach TSL since about 2016, when Jenny Kirk left for the second time. I have a feeling I am not the only one who just can't with TSL.....

He actually talked a lot reminiscing all the times he spoke to Frank and all the times he saw was with Michelle Kwan to Bowman to Fratianne and all the way through Gracie Gold.

Frank, always knew he had trouble drawing the line between coach and student and friends and I think maybe one good example of that was with Evan. I believe Frank and Evan maintained a great friendship all the way to the end. I think Evan has spoken to him the day before and had recently been out there. He also had rekindled his connection with Timothy and they had recently had spoken as well.

If you have time, I would suggest watch it because Phil does almost all the talking, and Dave barely talks at all

 

[Vash01]

He was a legend. R.I.P. Mr. Carroll.

 

[ice coverage]

Over 200 people gathered in Palm Springs this weekend to celebrate Frank Carroll's life.
Daisuke Murakami tweeted the "In Loving Memory ..." card that has a nice photo of Frank.
The tweet also shows Daisuke with fellow attendees Gracie and Carly Gold.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804973948041576636

Excerpt from Craig Heath's Instagram caption today:

"Celebrating the extraordinary life of @frank.carroll.121 with amazing people who had the incredible opportunity to have been around Frank as friends, coworkers or students. Sharing stories with many laughs and cries was very healing as we said goodbye to this one of a kind man of impeccable character. ..."​

In Craig's photos today, many other well-known skaters are seen among those who came together to remember Frank. Linda Fratianne, Timothy Goebel, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Boitano, to name just a few examples.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8koPSFyk4l/​

Scott Brown's tribute post today:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8kpAysRfSZ/​

ETA:​

Peter Zapalo's tribute post on the day of celebration of life:​

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8lbT9iRpQ6/​