Katherine Leigh Copely (born January 9, 1988) is an American-born former ice dancer who competed internationally for Lithuania. With partner Deividas Stagniūnas, she is the 4 time Lithuanian National Champion with Bronze Medals at both Golden Spin of Zagreb and Nebelhorn Trophy. Together they qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada after placing in the top 20 at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, California. She received her medical degree in 2018 from Central Michigan University College of Medicine.
Copely partnered with Duke Wensel in 2002. They competed until 2004 on the Novice and Junior levels. From 2004 to 2006, Copely skated at the Junior level with Patrick Connelly. She teamed up with Stagniunas in 2006 to compete for Lithuania. By the end of their partnership they were #10 in Europe and #14 in the World. Though they qualified, the team was subsequently prevented from competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics as Katherine was denied Lithuanian citizenship by then president Dalia Grybauskaitė.
Her brother is American ice dancer/coach/choreographer Dean Copely. Her mother is skating costume designer Sandra Copely. Katherine is fellowship trained in Diagnostic Radiology, with a sub-specialty in Musculoskeletal Imaging and is currently an Assistant Professor of Radiology at a state university.
Programs (with Stagniunas) Season Original dance Free dance 2009–2010 Lithuanian Polka West Side Story 2008–09 Bei Mir Bist du Schön Evita 2007–08 Two Guitars Beethoven's Last Night 2006–07 Tango Kalinka
Results With Duke Wensel Event 2003 2004 U.S. Championships 7th N. 12th J. N. = Novice level; J. = Junior level
With Patrick Connelly Event 2005 U.S. Championships 8th J. J. = Junior level
With Deividas Stagniūnas for Lithuania Results International Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 Worlds 23rd 14th 14th Europeans 18th 12th 10th GP Cup of Russia 5th 6th 8th GP Skate America 8th Golden Spin 3rd 3rd Nebelhorn 6th 3rd National Lithuanian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st GP = Grand Prix
References
External links
Co-transplantation of Mesenchymal and Neural Stem Cells and Overexpressing Stromal-Derived Factor-1 for Treating Spinal Cord Injury (Brain Res. 2017 Oct 1;1672:91-105) (contributing author) Copely K, Dawkins A. The floating gallbladder [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jan 28]. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2020;10.1007/s00261-020-02420-x. doi:10.1007/s00261-020-02420-x
Katherine Copely & Deividas Stagniunas official website (archived) Katherine Copely & Deividas Stagniunas at Tracings Competition Photos on Getty Images