Nóra Hoffmann (born 8 April 1985 in Budapest) is a Hungarian ice dancer. With Maxim Zavozin, she is the 2010 Cup of Russia silver medalist and a two-time (2009, 2010) Hungarian national champion. With Attila Elek, she is a two-time (2003–2004) World Junior silver medalist, the 2003 JGP Final champion, and a five-time (2003–2007) Hungarian national champion.

Career

With Elek Hoffmann trained in both ice dancing and single skating until age 11 when she broke her leg on a jump. She was paired with Attila Elek by coaches in the early 1990s. They twice won the silver medal at Junior Worlds, in 2003 and 2004. Hoffmann / Elek were silver medalists at the 2002–2003 Junior Grand Prix Final and won the title in 2003–2004. On the senior Grand Prix series, their best placement was 5th at 2006 Cup of Russia. Their best finish at senior Worlds was 15th in 2005. They competed at the 2006 Olympics, finishing 17th. During the warm-up at 2006 Worlds, another couple was performing a lift nearby and the woman's skates accidentally cut Hoffmann's back and elbow. Despite the pain, Hoffmann skated with Elek a few minutes later and they finished 18th.

At the 2007 European Championships, they were 7th after the original dance but they were forced to withdraw – Elek broke his leg during the morning practice before the free dance. They split up at the end of the season.

With Zavozin Hoffman teamed up with Maxim Zavozin in September 2007. They had competed against each other at 2004 Junior Worlds, with Zavozin and his partner in third behind Hoffmann and Elek.

During the 2008–09 season, Hoffmann / Zavozin did not compete on the Grand Prix circuit but won the 2009 Hungarian national title and were given a berth to the 2009 European Championships. Despite Zavozin having a fever, they skated in the original dance at Europeans, but his condition worsened and they had to withdraw before the free dance. They missed the 2009 World Championships due to a serious head injury to Hoffmann while training in the U.S. on 4 March 2009. Hoffmann stumbled over an open gate and cracked her skull, losing consciousness and suffering three hemorrhages. She had a long stay in hospital and was given morphine for the pain but, hoping to compete at Worlds, she eventually decided to refuse it to avoid violating doping rules.

Even after one day I had withdrawal symptoms; I was cold, I vomited... And because of the bleeding I didn't hear on my left ear for three months. The skull was cracked exactly where the middle ear is so I also had problems with my balance. I had to learn to walk a straight line, I couldn't stand on one leg and my head was constantly spinning."—Nóra Hoffmann on her accident

Zavozin stayed with her at the hospital until her boyfriend arrived to take her back to Hungary. Oxygen therapy helped reactivate her brain cells, "This therapy brought me back to a normal life. Until then I was just sleeping or staring at nothing. In the oxygen tent my vitality returned and not so much later I even dared to go back on the ice." She returned to the ice in the second half of May 2009 and eventually began training again with Zavozin, although they had to omit lifts and spins for a while. The accident also resulted in a torn nerve in the sciatic muscle which took half a year to heal.

During the 2009–10 season, Hoffmann / Zavozin missed the Grand Prix series. They competed at the 2010 European Championships where they placed 10th. They qualified for the 2010 Olympics where they finished 13th. At the 2010 World Championships, they finished in 10th.

In the 2010–11 season, Hoffmann / Zavozin made their first appearance together on the Grand Prix series. Their first event was 2010 Cup of China where they placed fourth. At 2010 Cup of Russia, they won silver, their first medal on the senior Grand Prix series. They finished third in both the short and free dance and set personal best scores in both. They competed at the 2011 European Championships where they finished 8th after receiving some low levels from the technical panel and a small stumble. On 30 March 2011, Hoffmann was hospitalized with an unknown illness in Moscow where she was training. Doctors later said they were fairly certain it was pyelonephritis. She and Zavozin had to withdraw from the 2011 World Championships. They did not compete in the 2011–2012 season but said in March 2012 that they were considering returning to competition.

Programs

With Zavozin Season Short dance Free dance 2010–2011 Waltz: The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Tchaikovsky Waltz: Les Patineurs by Émile Waldteufel Nagyidai Cigányok (Gypsy Witch) by Experidance Original dance 2009–2010 Hungarian folk: Csardas So Excited by Janet Jackson Hush Hush by The Pussycat Dolls Rock This Party 2008–2009 Blues: Minnie the Moocher Lindy Hop So Excited by Janet Jackson Too Late to Apologize Rock This Party

With Elek Season Original dance Free dance 2006–2007 Tango Swing, Brother Swing Why don't you do Right? by Julie London Swing, Brother Swing 2005–2006 Cha Cha Rhumba Samba Flamenco medley 2004–2005 Slow foxtrot: Singing in the Rain Quickstep: Music from "Ballroom Dancers" Once Upon a Time in Mexico 2003–2004 Rock'n'roll: Great Balls of Fire Blues: Big Legged Woman Rock'n'roll: Great Balls of Fire Dance with Me: Black Machine by Jazz Machine You are my Everything by Ana Gabriel Pantera en Libertad by Monica Navanjo 2002–2003 Quickstep Slow foxtrot Quickstep Quidam (from Cirque du Soleil by René Dupéré 2001–2002 Tango: Sombras Flamenco: Granada Toccata and Fugue in D-Minor (modern version) by Johann Sebastian Bach 2000–2001 Waltz: My Sweet and Tender Beast by Eugen Doga Polka: Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, op. 214 by Johann Strauss II Lovely Sunset by Claude Challe

Results

With Zavozin Results International Event 2008–2009 2009–2010 2010–2011 Olympics 13th Worlds 10th WD Europeans WD 10th 8th Grand Prix Final 6th GP Cup of China 4th GP Cup of Russia 2nd Finlandia 2nd Ice Challenge 1st Nebelhorn 7th Ondrej Nepela 1st 1st Golden Spin WD National Hungarian 1st 1st 1st

With Elek

Results International Event 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 Olympics 17th Worlds 18th 18th 15th 18th Europeans 14th 11th 10th 12th WD** GP Bompard 7th 6th GP Cup of China 6th GP Cup of Russia 5th GP NHK Trophy 7th Bofrost Cup 5th Golden Spin 1st Karl Schäfer 8th International: Junior Junior Worlds 21st 17th 9th 5th 2nd 2nd JGP Final 5th 2nd 1st JGP Bulgaria 3rd 1st JGP China 9th JGP Germany 1st JGP Italy 2nd JGP Japan 6th JGP Mexico 7th 3rd JGP Netherlands 8th JGP Norway 4th JGP Slovenia 1st JGP USA 1st National Hungarian 2nd J. 1st J. 1st J. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st

References

External links

Nora Hoffmann / Maxim Zavozin at IceNetwork