Tanja Kolbe (born 7 September 1990) is a German former competitive ice dancer. With Stefano Caruso, she won seven international medals and two German national silver medals. They placed eighth at the 2013 European Championships and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing 19th.
Personal life Tanja Kolbe was born 7 September 1990 in Berlin, Germany. She studied business communication in Berlin and has worked for the Bundeswehr's sports group. She and her partner, Alexander Nissen, have a son named Moritz, born on 11 October 2015.
Career
Early career From 2003 to 2006, Kolbe competed with Paul Boll. They won the 2006 German national junior title and were sent to the 2006 World Junior Championships where they placed 16th.
In 2006, Kolbe teamed up with Sascha Rabe. In their first season together, they competed on the junior level. They appeared at two ISU Junior Grand Prix events and took the silver medal at the German Junior Championships. The next three season, Kolbe/Rabe competed on the senior level. They took bronze at the 2009 German Championships. After Rabe decided to retire in 2010, she had a tryout with Deividas Stagniūnas of Lithuania.
Partnership with Caruso Kolbe teamed up with Italian ice dancer Stefano Caruso in 2010. In their first season together, they took bronze at the 2010 Ice Challenge and at the 2011 German Championships.
In their second season together, Kolbe/Caruso won two international medals, gold at the 2011 NRW Trophy and bronze at the Istanbul Cup. They took the silver medal at the German Championships and were assigned to the 2012 European Championships where they finished 12th. The duo split up after the event but teamed up again in July 2012.
In the 2012–13 season, Kolbe/Caruso took silver again at the German Championships and earned another trip to the European Championships where they finished 8th. They won two international medals – bronze at both the New Year's Cup and Volvo Open Cup.
In the 2013–14 season, Kolbe/Caruso were invited to their first Grand Prix event, the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard where they placed 7th. They added two more international medals to their collection – bronze at the 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy and Ice Challenge. In February 2014, Kolbe/Caruso competed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi and finished 19th. They announced the end of their partnership in June 2014.
Programs
With Caruso Season Short dance Free dance 2013–2014 New York, New York performed by Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti Borsalino performed by Tokyo Hosei Orchestra New York, New York performed by Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti Enchanted by Alan Menken: Narissa Arrives Storybook Ending Andalasia 2012–2013 La Foule by Édith Piaf French Can Can (from Gaite Parisienne) by Jacques Offenbach Beethoven's Last Night by Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Overture – Moonlight Sonata Dream of Candlelight Moonlight Sonata 2011–2012 Bla Bla Cha Cha by Petty Booka Besame Mucho Give It Up by The Goodman Love Story by Francis Lai Summer of '42 by Michel Legrand 2010–2011 Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day Sugar by Alma Cogan Tore My Heart by Oona Man's World by Natacha Atlas
With Rabe Season Original dance Free dance 2009–2010 German folk: Wir tanzen wieder Polka Amboß Polka O wie bist du schön Come On In My House by Bella Reese Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers Hip Hip Chin Chin by Club des Belugas
With Boll Season Original dance Free dance 2005–2006 Sway Bella Maria by Michael Buble Happy Brazil by James Last The Mask of Zorro by James Horner 2004–2005 Slow Foxtrot Quickstep Black Machine
Competitive highlights GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix
With Caruso
International Event 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 Winter Olympics 19th World Champ. 21st European Champ. 12th 8th 11th Trophee Bompard 7th Bavarian Open 4th Cup of Nice 4th Finlandia Trophy 6th Golden Spin 7th 6th 5th Ice Challenge 3rd 3rd Istanbul Cup 3rd New Year's Cup 3rd NRW Trophy 8th 1st Ondrej Nepela 3rd Pavel Roman 4th Volvo Open Cup 3rd National German Champ. 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd
With Rabe
International Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 Golden Spin 7th Ice Challenge 8th Nebelhorn Trophy 13th 14th Ondrej Nepela 5th Pavel Roman 4th International: Junior Czech Republic 5th Netherlands 6th Pavel Roman 1st National German Champ. 2nd J 3rd WD J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew
With Boll
International: Junior Event 2004–05 2005–06 World Junior Champ. 16th Canada 6th Estonia 8th Germany WD USA 8th Nordics 2nd National German Champ. 3rd J 1st J J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew
References
External links