Gregory Merriman (born 3 October 1988), also known as Greg Merriman, is an Australian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Danielle O'Brien, he is a six-time Australian senior national champion and three-time junior national champion. They have competed at the World Championships and Four Continents Championships since 2008, and have competed at three World Junior Championships. They became the first Australian ice dancers to reach the free dance at a World Championships and the second Ice Dance couple from Australia to compete at the Winter Olympics.
Career Merriman teamed up with Danielle O'Brien, who also skated at the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, in April 1998. They were coached by Australian ice dancing champion Monica MacDonald in Sydney, Australia. In the 2009–10 season, they trained with former World champion Victor Kraatz and Maikki Kraatz. O'Brien/Merriman withdrew from the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2010 Winter Olympics, due to Merriman's diagnosis of pericarditis, a viral infection in the sac surrounding the heart.
In the 2010–11 season, O'Brien/Merriman began training part-time in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan under coaches Anjelika Krylova, two-time World champion, and Pasquale Camerlengo. They relocated to Detroit to train there full-time in late 2011. Although Merriman's heel of his boot separated during the preliminary round at the 2012 World Championships, they placed eighth out of 23 couples and qualified for the short dance, where they placed 20th and qualified for the free. O'Brien/Merriman became the first Australian team to qualify for the free dance at a World Championships. They finished 20th overall.
In 2012–13, O'Brien/Merriman finished 7th at the US International Classic, 4th at the 2012 Ondrej Nepela Memorial, 8th at the 2012 NRW Trophy and 4th at the 2012 Ice Challenge. In January 2013, they became the first Australian ice dancers to medal at an International event when they took bronze at the Toruń Cup in Poland. In February, O'Brien/Merriman competed at the 2013 Four Continents Championships where they finished with a personal best placement of eighth. They did not qualify for the 2013 World Championships due to new TES requirements.
The 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy was the last chance to qualify for the Olympics; O'Brien/Merriman finished sixth and earned a place for Australia in the Olympic ice dancing event. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, they advanced to the free dance and finished 20th.
They retired from competition on April 11, 2014.
Programs (with O'Brien)
Season Short dance Free dance 2013–2014 Quickstep: Cotton Club Stomp 1 Foxtrot: The Mooche by John Barry Charleston: Cotton Club Stomp 2 by Duke Ellington
Cotton-Eyed Joe Old Country Waltz Thunder and Blazes Goofus performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright The Southerner performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band 2012–2013 Cotton-Eyed Joe Old Country Waltz 2011–2012 Mambo Mambo by Latin Soul Syndicate Samba: Ay Mama (Dance mix) In the Mood by Glenn Miller Moonlight Serenade performed by Frank Sinatra Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman 2010–2011 Waltz from Cousins by Erich Kuenzel Quickstep: Dancing Fool by Barry Manilow Boxes After Car Trust Me Golf by Marvin Hamlisch Original dance 2009–2010 Australian aboriginal music: Yulara by Scott Wilson and James Drury Warrama by David Hudson Kikin Kooka's by Scott Wilson and James Drury Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis Love Potion No. 9 by The Clovers Shout by the Isley Brothers 2008–2009 Lindyhop Swing Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima This Business of Love (from The Mask) Beethoven's Last Night Overture The Dark Ouverture by Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2007–2008 Australian Aboriginal music: Forest Phunk Yulara by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara Mamma Mia musical by ABBA: Overture, Prologue SOS Mamma Mia 2006–2007 Argentinos by C. Novell Hey Sexy Lady by Birch and Morrisen King Swing by Swing City Giants This Business of Love (from The Mask) Hey Pachuco by Crown Review 2005–2006 Mambo: Johnny's Mambo by Michael Lloyd Cha Cha: Sway by Michael Buble Samba 2004–2005 George of the Jungle Pink Panther Henry Mancini White Stones by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland: Steps Windancer Moving 2003–2004
Results (with O'Brien)
Results International Event 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 Olympics 20th Worlds 27th 25th 25th 27th 20th 24th Four Continents 10th 10th 10th 9th 9th 8th 7th Ice Challenge 4th Nebelhorn WD 15th 6th NRW Trophy 8th Ondrej Nepela 10th 4th Skate Down Under 1st Toruń Cup 3rd U.S. Classic 7th Volvo Cup 12th International: Junior Junior Worlds 26th 23rd 20th China 10th Japan 11th Taiwan 10th National Australian Champ. 1st J. 1st J. 1st J. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew
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