Christopher Dean

In 1978, In 1978, the duo won the British national championship. They also earned their first 6.0 for artistry. This was the first of the pair’s seven national championship wins.

In 1981,In 1981, they won the first of their four European championships and the first of their four world championships.

Over 24 million people watched the performanceOver 24 million people watched the performance, making the event one of the most-watched sports events in the history of British TV. In 2002, a Channel 4 poll in the U.K. placed the performance on the eighth spot of the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

After their stunning 1984 Olympic performance, the duo turned professional ice skaters. They won the World Professional Ice Dance Championship title five times (1984–85, 1990, 1995–96).(1984–85, 1990, 1995–96).

Back then, the Olympic Committee rules made the duo ineligible to participate in Olympics again, because of their “professional” status. In 1993 In 1993, however, the International Skating Union changed the rules a bit, which let them participate in Olympics again.

In 1994In 1994, Christopher and Jayne participated in the Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway. Unfortunately, the judges there declared some of their dance moves illegal. Christopher and Jayne were thus penalized and could only win a bronze medal.

Following this, the duo appeared on countless dance shows, some of them being their own tours. They also choreographed a lot of shows. In 1998, In 1998, both Christopher and Jayne retired from competitive skating, after touring with their own skating show, Ice Adventures.

In 2018,In 2018, Christopher Dean choreographed the free performance of Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot. Aljona and Bruno won the gold medal in pair skating and made a world record at the Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang.

Skating Career and Partnership with Jayne Torvill

Skating Career and Partnership with Jayne Torvill

At the age of 16, Christopher Dean left school and took up a job with the Nottinghamshire Police. He served as a constable from 1974 to 1980from 1974 to 1980. Initially, he managed skating as a hobby while he worked full-time.

In 1975,In 1975, Christopher teamed up with Jayne Torvill. The duo was initially trained by Janet Sawbridge. In 1978, Betty Callaway took over as their coach.

Skating Career and Partnership with Jayne Torvill

At the age of 16, Christopher Dean left school and took up a job with the Nottinghamshire Police. He served as a constable from 1974 to 1980. Initially, he managed skating as a hobby while he worked full-time.

His first ice-skating partner was Sandra Elson. They had started skating together when Christopher was just 14. Sandra and Christopher were coached by Len Sayward.

They soon became British Junior Dance champions. However, they parted ways later, due to some differences.

In 1975, Christopher teamed up with Jayne Torvill. The duo was initially trained by Janet Sawbridge. In 1978, Betty Callaway took over as their coach.

They came to be known as “Torvill and Dean” and would practice in their leisure time, as both had jobs that paid their bills. Christopher served as the main choreographer of the team.

They won as a team in contests held in Sheffield and Bristol. Following this, in 1976, the pair won their first international ice-skating contest in St. Gervais, France.

In 1978, the duo won the British national championship. They also earned their first 6.0 for artistry. This was the first of the pair’s seven national championship wins.

Soon, the Nottingham City Council agreed to sponsor them with a grant of £42,000. Following this, both Christopher and Jayne quit their day jobs and started focusing on ice skating completely.

In 1981, they won the first of their four European championships and the first of their four world championships.

At the Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo (then in Yugoslavia, now in Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1984, Christopher and Jayne performed a free-dance version of Maurice Ravel’s Boléro. The performance earned the duo a gold medal. They also became the highest-scoring skating pair of all time for a single competition.

The pair also scored nine 6.0 points for artistic impression and three more for technical merit, taking the total number of 6.0 points to twelve.

Over 24 million people watched the performance, making the event one of the most-watched sports events in the history of British TV. In 2002, a Channel 4 poll in the U.K. placed the performance on the eighth spot of the list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.

After their stunning 1984 Olympic performance, the duo turned professional ice skaters. They won the World Professional Ice Dance Championship title five times (1984–85, 1990, 1995–96).

Back then, the Olympic Committee rules made the duo ineligible to participate in Olympics again, because of their “professional” status. In 1993, however, the International Skating Union changed the rules a bit, which let them participate in Olympics again.

In 1994, Christopher and Jayne participated in the Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway. Unfortunately, the judges there declared some of their dance moves illegal. Christopher and Jayne were thus penalized and could only win a bronze medal.

Following this, the duo appeared on countless dance shows, some of them being their own tours. They also choreographed a lot of shows. In 1998, both Christopher and Jayne retired from competitive skating, after touring with their own skating show, Ice Adventures.

The duo also appeared on Stars on Ice. Their last performance on the show was an ice dance set to Paul Simon's track Still Crazy After All These Years. After a gap of 7 years, in January 2006, they appeared together again, as judges, on the ITV show Dancing on Ice.

In 2018, Christopher Dean choreographed the free performance of Aljona Savchenko and Bruno Massot. Aljona and Bruno won the gold medal in pair skating and made a world record at the Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang.

Who is Christopher Dean?

Who is Christopher Dean?

Christopher Dean is an English ice dancer/skater and choreographer, best known for winning a gold medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, along with his ice-skating partner, Jayne Torvill. Christopher had started skating at 10 but later took up a job as a police constable. In 1975In 1975, he paired up with Jayne. In 1978 In 1978, the duo won the British national championship and earned a sponsorship. Following this, both of them left their jobs and focused on ice skating instead. At the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in 1984Winter Olympics in 1984, the duo, known as “Torvill and Dean,” won the gold medal and also scored perfect 6.0 points for artistic impression from all the judges. In the 1994In the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, they won a bronze. After this, Christopher participated in and choreographed many shows, such as Ice Adventures. Both Christopher and Jayne retired from competitive ice skating in 1998. However, they reunited on the show Dancing on Ice in 2006. Christopher and Jayne have received several honors, such as the MBE and the OBE. Christopher has been married and divorced twice. He now lives in Colorado Springs with his partner, Karen Barber.

Who is Christopher Dean?

Christopher Dean is an English ice dancer/skater and choreographer, best known for winning a gold medal at the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, along with his ice-skating partner, Jayne Torvill. Christopher had started skating at 10 but later took up a job as a police constable. In 1975, he paired up with Jayne. In 1978, the duo won the British national championship and earned a sponsorship. Following this, both of them left their jobs and focused on ice skating instead. At the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in 1984, the duo, known as “Torvill and Dean,” won the gold medal and also scored perfect 6.0 points for artistic impression from all the judges. In the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, they won a bronze. After this, Christopher participated in and choreographed many shows, such as Ice Adventures. Both Christopher and Jayne retired from competitive ice skating in 1998. However, they reunited on the show Dancing on Ice in 2006. Christopher and Jayne have received several honors, such as the MBE and the OBE. Christopher has been married and divorced twice. He now lives in Colorado Springs with his partner, Karen Barber.