Gheorghe Chiper (born 8 April 1978) is a Romanian former competitive figure skater. He is a seven-time Romanian national champion and competed at two Olympic Games. He is the first Romanian skater to win a medal on the Grand Prix circuit and the first Romanian to land a quadruple toe loop in competition.
Figure skating career
Competitive career Chiper competed at three World Junior Championships; his best result was 15th in 1997.
Chiper made his senior World Championships debut in 1998, finishing 16th in the qualifying round. The following season, Chiper won his first senior national title.
In the 2000–01 season, he was coached by Sylvia Holtes in Groningen, Netherlands. In 2001–02, Sandra Schär became his coach in Küsnacht, Switzerland. Chiper competed at his first Olympics in 2002, placing 23rd.
At the 2005 European Championships, Chiper achieved his best European result, 8th.
In winning bronze at the 2005 Trophee Eric Bompard, Chiper became the first Romanian to ever medal on the Grand Prix series. He placed 14th at his second Olympics in Turin, Italy. He competed for the final time at the 2006 World Championships where he also placed 14th, his career-best Worlds result.
Since his competitive retirement, he has worked as a coach in Switzerland.
Coaching career Chiper has worked as a figure skating coach in Zurich Switzerland since 2001. In 2009 he co-founded Skate Academy Switzerland GmbH where he works as head-coach overseeing a team of assistant coaches, conditioning staff and choreographers.
Chiper's figure skating students have achieved numerous national titles and competed in international competitions. Chiper has coached his teammembers to qualify and compete at Junior Grand Prix, Junior World Championships, European Youth Olympic Festivals, Youth Olympic Games, European and World Championships, Grand Prix and Olympic Games 2014 and 2022. Former and current students include Myriam Leuenberger, Moris Pfeiffhofer, Tina Stürzinger, Zoltan Kelemen, Tanja Odermatt, Leon Auspurg, Eveline Brunner, Alexia Paganini, Georgii Pavlov, and Sarina Joos.
In October 2022 Chiper was nominated for the Swiss Olympic Coach Award.
Personal life Chiper was born on 8 April 1978 in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. He speaks Romanian, Hungarian, English, Dutch, Italian, French and German. He is of part-Hungarian descent.
Programs Season Short program Free skating 2005–06 Groove Collection
Marrocon Balkan gypsy music 2004–05 Groove Collection 2003–04 Spirit of Morocco The Groove Maker Triangle Saint Luce 2002–03 Tango 2001–02 El Mostro (Tango) Léon: The Professional 2000–01 American Beauty Black Cat, White Cat
Competitive highlights
Men's singles Competition 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 Winter Olympics 23rd 14th World Championships 31st 21st 18th 17th 18th 14th European Championships 20th 29th 15th 18th 9th 9th 8th 9th Romanian Championships 3rd 4th 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st Cup of Russia 7th NHK Trophy 7th Skate Canada 12th Trophée Éric Bompard 5th 3rd Crystal Skate of Romania 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st Finlandia Trophy 12th 3rd 2nd 1st Golden Spin of Zagreb 10th 7th 8th 6th 1st Karl Schäfer Memorial 4th 6th Nebelhorn Trophy 11th 17th 9th Ondrej Nepela Trophy 11th Winter Universiade 14th World Junior Championships 27th 23rd 15th
Pair skating (with Cristina Fekete) Competition 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 Romanian Championships 3rd 2nd 2nd
References
External links Skate Academy Official site