Courtney Hicks

Courtney Hicks
Courtney Hicks in 2016
Full nameCourtney N. Hicks
Born (1995-12-15) December 15, 1995 (age 28)
Placentia, California
HometownChino Hills, California
Height1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
CoachKori Ade
Skating clubAll Year Figure Skating Club
Began skating2001

Courtney Hicks (born December 15, 1995) is an American figure skater. She has won two medals on the Grand Prix series—silver at the 2015 NHK Trophy and bronze at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup—and two medals on the ISU Challenger Series. She took gold at two other senior internationals, the 2013 Ice Challenge and U.S. Classic.

Personal life

Courtney Hicks was born on December 15, 1995, in Placentia, California.[2] The eldest of three girls, she is of Russian descent through her mother who has three Russian grandparents.[3]

Career

Hicks began skating in 2001.[4] She placed 5th in the novice event at the 2010 U.S. Championships.

2010–11 to 2012–13

Hicks won the junior title at the 2011 U.S. Championships.[5][6] She was selected to compete at the 2011 World Junior Championships, where she placed sixth in her international debut.[7]

In the 2011–12 season, Hicks debuted on the Junior Grand Prix series, winning a gold medal at her first event in Brisbane, Australia. She sustained a season-ending injury while competing at her second JGP event, on October 8, 2011, in Milan, Italy. On the opening jump in the long program, a piece of bone detached from the tibia in her right leg.[8] She underwent surgery on October 12.[9] Hicks returned to the ice in December 2011 and resumed jumping in February 2012.[10] She was coached mainly by John Nicks in Aliso Viejo, California, until April 2012 when her primary coach became Ken Congemi at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.[10][11]

Coached by Jere Michael and Alex Chang, Hicks won the pewter medal at the 2013 U.S. Championships and placed 5th at the 2013 World Junior Championships.

2013–14 season to present

Hicks made her senior international debut in the 2013–14 season, winning gold at the 2013 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic ahead of Gracie Gold. Replacing 2010 Olympic champion Kim Yuna, she placed 6th at her first senior Grand Prix (GP) event, the 2013 Skate Canada International. Hicks won the 2013 Ice Challenge ahead of Miki Ando. After finishing 6th at the 2014 U.S. Championships, she was sent to the 2014 Four Continents, where she placed 5th.

In 2014–15, Hicks won silver at the U.S. Classic, a part of the newly inaugurated ISU Challenger Series (CS). She finished fourth at both of her GP assignments, the 2014 Skate Canada International and 2014 Trophee Eric Bompard, and 8th at the 2015 U.S. Championships.

In 2015–16, Hicks started her season with a bronze medal at the CS Nebelhorn Trophy. Competing on the GP series, she placed 6th at the 2015 Cup of China before winning her first GP medal, silver, at the 2015 NHK Trophy. She finished 9th at the 2016 U.S. Championships. Having decided to change coaches in March 2016, she spent several months working with the 87-year-old John Nicks, from whom she had previously taken lessons, before joining Todd Sand in early August.[12]

In 2018–19, Hicks added a triple flip-triple loop combination to her short program and free skate. She finished 7th at the 2018 U.S. International Figure Skating Classic and finished 8th at the 2018 NHK Trophy. At the 2019 U.S. Championships, Hicks placed sixteenth. She was eighth the following season.[13]

Hicks placed sixteenth at the 2020 ISP Points Challenge, a virtual competition. She did not compete at the Championship Series, another virtual competition used the qualifier for Nationals. In January 2021, she announced she had been struggling with a hip injury and had surgery to replace it. She said would be off the ice for a couple of months.[14]

In June 2023, Hicks announced her plans to return to competition for the 2023–24 figure skating season.[15]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024
[15]
2018–2019
[2][16]
2017–2018
[17][18][19][20]
2016–2017
[4][12]
2015–2016
[21][22][23]
2014–2015
[2][24]
2013–2014
[2][25]
2012–2013
[2][26]
  • Red Violin
    by Ikuko Kawai
2011–2012
[2][7]
2010–2011
[2][27]
2008–2009

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[28]
Event 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19-20
Four Continents 5th
GP Cup of China 6th 9th
GP France 4th
GP NHK Trophy 2nd 8th
GP Rostelecom Cup 3rd
GP Skate Canada 6th 4th 4th
CS Autumn Classic 4th
CS Finlandia 6th
CS Nebelhorn 3rd
CS U.S. Classic 2nd 7th
CS Warsaw Cup 3rd
Ice Challenge 1st
Philadelphia 4th
U.S. Classic 1st
International: Junior[28]
Junior Worlds 6th 5th
JGP Australia 1st
JGP Slovenia 4th
JGP U.S. 2nd
National[2]
U.S. Champ. 1st J 4th 6th 8th 9th 12th 9th 16th 8th
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
Levels: V = Juvenile; I = Intermediate; N = Novice; J = Junior

References

  1. ^ "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance - Ladies". International Skating Union.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Courtney Hicks". U.S. Figure Skating.
    "Earlier versions: 2014–2018". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    "Earlier versions: 2011–2013". Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Walker, Elvin (September 4, 2011). "Hicks aims for the top". GoldenSkate. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Courtney HICKS: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Walker, Elvin (January 25, 2011). "Hicks dominates junior ladies short". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  6. ^ Walker, Elvin (January 27, 2011). "Hicks turns heads with winning performance at U.S. Nationals". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Courtney HICKS: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Hersh, Philip (October 12, 2011). "Injury knocks top young U.S. skater out for season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  9. ^ Rosewater, Amy (October 12, 2011). "Hicks to miss rest of season with leg injury". Icenetwork. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Rosewater, Amy (April 12, 2012). "Healed Hicks gets fresh start with new coach". Ice Network.
  11. ^ "Courtney Hicks announces coaching change". U.S. Figure Skating. April 12, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Brannen, Sarah S. (August 10, 2016). "The Inside Edge: Aaron, Settlage announce split". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  13. ^ Slater, Paula (January 25, 2020). "Alysa Liu defends national title in Greensboro". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ Courtney Hicks (January 8, 2021). "Facebook Page of Courtney Hicks". Facebook.
  15. ^ a b Hicks, Courtney. "2023-24 Return". Instagram. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2018/2019". International Skating Union.
  17. ^ Hicks, Courtney (July 14, 2017). "😍😍😍 So excited about the dress by @xcostumedesigns for my short program to "Nocturne" by Yo Yo Ma!" (Instagram).
  18. ^ Hicks, Courtney (May 18, 2017). "Short program ✔️ I loveeeeeee this program and I can't wait to perform it! Thank you @roheneward for such a great short!" (Instagram).
  19. ^ Hicks, Courtney (June 11, 2017). "Working hard on perfecting choreography with @jjcassar!" (Instagram).
  20. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ Klaus-Reinhold Kany (August 3, 2015). "Gold debuts stunning 'Firebird' free at Glacier Falls; Hicks attempts first triple axel in competition; Le impresses in junior event". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  23. ^ Slater, Paula (August 11, 2015). "USA's Hicks works to up her game". GoldenSkate.
  24. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 22, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "Courtney HICKS: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ a b "Competition Results: Courtney HICKS". International Skating Union.