Top Skaters to Watch - Pairs
(Also see Men, Ladies, Dance Teams)

Dong and Wu teamed up after the 2005-06 season. Dong started skating when she was 7, and Wu when he was 3. Dong enjoys playing the piano; Wu likes listening to music and shopping. She previously competed as a singles skater on the national level . He previously competed with An Ni and was a two-time medalist at the Chinese Championships on the senior level.

Grand Prix Series:
4th at Trophee Erin Bompard

Dubé and Davison teamed up in 2003 (Dubé previously teamed up with Samuel Tetrault, with whom she won two Canadian national titles). Dubé competed at the international junior level in singles skating; she finished third at the 2004 Junior Grand Prix in Harbin, China. Both partners are still competing in singles at the national level; in 2006, Dubé finished eighth, and Davison finished 15th in 2007. The couple missed the 2006-07 Grand Prix Series, as Dubé suffered a knee injury in the fall of '06. They withdrew during the free skate from the 2007 Four Continents Championship, after Davison accidentally hit Dubé in the face with his blade during their side-by-side camel spin. Dubé underwent plastic surgery the same night but recovered quickly and was back on the ice soon after the accident.

Grand Prix Series:
Silver at Skate Canada (Oct 30- Nov 2, 2008)

Duhamel and Buntin teamed up in spring 2007 following Buntin's long search for a new partner after the retirement of his former partner, Valerie Marcoux, with whom he was the Canadian pairs national champion from 2004-2006 and was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world. Duhamel has competed successfully in singles and pairs at the international level. Duhamel is the 2003 Canadian junior ladies national champion and ranked sixth at the senior level in 2007. Duhamel previously skated pairs with Ryan Arnold; their highest finish at nationals was sixth in 2006. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and baking (she works at a bakery when not practicing). In addition to scuba diving, unicycling, and swing dancing, Buntin also enjoys watching indie wrestling shows and playing the guitar.

Grand Prix Series:
4th at Skate America (Oct 24-26, 2008)
Bronze at Trophee Eric Bompard (Nov 14-16, 2008)

Inoue is a three-time Olympian; in her first two Olympic Winter Games she competed for Japan in singles and pairs. She previously competed in pairs with Tomoaki Koyama from 1987-92. Inoue began skating at age four when her doctor suggested it might help her asthma. Baldwin is a veteran of the U.S. Championships dating back to 1986 as a novice competitor. He claimed the U.S. novice title in 1987. He started to skate at age one because his parents were coaches. Inoue and Baldwin were previously coached by Jill Watson (five seasons). They landed the first throw triple Axel by any team in history, at the 2006 U.S. Championships. They were also the first team to land the throw triple Axel at the Olympic Winter Games (2006) and World Championships (2006). Baldwin proposed to Inoue on the ice after their free skate at the 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

In June 2006 the pair attended a state dinner at the White House to honor Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, with guests including President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, cabinet members, senators and representatives. They sang karaoke with NBC "Today Show"'s Katie Couric at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. In spring 2004 they donated all of the fees they earned while touring with the Champions on Ice Tour to the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund. The Memorial Fund provides qualified U.S. Figure Skating athletes who are in need of financial aid with monetary assistance to pursue their goals both on and off the ice. Both Inoue and Baldwin received aid from the program in the past. They appeared in a skating exhibition at the 2004 HBO All Star Family Sport Jam fundraiser for Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

In 1996, Inoue moved to the United States to train at the urging of her Father, who was undergoing treatment for lung cancer caused by second-hand smoke. He passed away in February 1997 at 45. In November 1998, at 19, Rena, too, was diagnosed with lung cancer: a malignant one-centimeter tumor; she underwent outpatient treatment and chemotherapy at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. She told no one what she was going through because she didn't want special treatment. In six months she was cancer-free and returned to ice in November 1999 and met Baldwin in December. She is a 1999 graduate of Waseda University in Tokyo with a degree in education and works part time at a Japanese restaurant in Santa Monica. She has one cat, Madonna and enjoys reading, finding new restaurants and biking. She has a passion for eating and collecting Tweety and Snoopy collectibles. Her biggest life-defining moment was when her father passed away. Says she talks a lot once someone gets to know her , describes herself as short, shy and a cat lover. After her skating career, she would like to get married and have a family. She would like to meet Johnny Depp because she is interested in everything about him as a person.

Baldwin formerly skated with Tristan Collell. He was previously coached by Jill Watson (2000-04). He enjoys Rv'ing, cars, tennis, urban camping, poker, beach cruising, volleyball, sailing, architecture, design and cooking. Baldwin was voted the captain of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team. He owns a 41-foot RV. His Mother and Father are former national champions. He has a passion for the outdoors. His Motto is "Live for today." He is an avid outdoorsman but can't stand the cold. His biggest life-defining moment was making history by throwing Rena into a triple Axel and talking with the president and first lady at the White House. He started his own fishing and boat rental service in San Diego in 1997. Before teaming up with Inoue, Baldwin was a day trader, starting work at 5 a.m. He describes himself as competent, determined and organized. After his skating career, he would like to travel on his own schedule. He enjoys playing poker and architecture. His younger Brother (Don) and Sister (Donna) are former members of the national team. He currently works as a part-time auto wholesaler. He would like to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger because he admires what he has been through and his confident attitude. Baldwin went to Miramar College in San Diego from 1992-94.

Grand Prix Series:
5th at Skate America (Oct 24-26, 2008)

Kavaguti and Smirnov teamed up in the spring of 2006. They missed the 2007 Russian Championships and the 2007 European Championships after she broke her ankle in a fall in practice in December. Kavaguti competed internationally in singles for Japan before switching to pairs. With former partner Alexander Markuntsov, she became the first Japanese pairs skater to medal at an ISU championship (silver at 2001 World Juniors). Kavaguti competed for the U.S. with Devin Patrick from 2004-06. She has lived and trained in Russia since 2003.

Grand Prix Series:
Gold at Skate Canada (Oct 30- Nov 2, 2008)
Silver at the Cup of Russia (Nov 20-23, 2008)

Kemp and King paired up in 2003. Kemp started skating when she was six after watching Oksana Baiul in the 1994 Olympic Winter Games. King started skating when he was 10 after first trying it a friend's birthday party. He competed in slalom skiing from when he was seven until he was 14. Kemp took gymnastics for three years to help with her skating She switched coaches after the 2006-07 season and moved to Poland to train with European and world medalists Dorota and Mariusz Siudek. Since completing her studies in fashion and design, Kemp has designed all the team's costumes.

Krasilnikova and Bezmaternikh have been skating together since 2002. They won back-to-back world junior bronze medals in 2006 and 2007, and then won the world junior title in 2008. They are also the 2007 and 2008 Russian pairs junior national champions.

Iliushechkina and Maisuradze teamed up in April 2006 . Both were competitive singles skaters before they paired up. Iliushechkina's hobbies include reading and embroidery. Maisuradze's hobbies include billiards, fishing and computers.

Grand Prix Series:
4th at the Cup of Russia (Nov 20-23, 2008)

McLaughlin started skating at age 3 because her mother skated in shows and she "thought it was cool". She has one sibling, a younger Sister. She previously skated with Ethan Burgess and was previously coached by Jordan Bell. Her Hobbies include music, dancing, working out, hanging out with friends and baking. McLaughlin's biggest life-defining moment was getting her first medal at the U.S. Championships. Her most prized possessions are the four medals she has won at the U.S. Championships and U.S. Junior Championships. She has a passion for designing skating clothes and working out. She believes her intensity is what sets her apart from others. She would like to have her own line of skating apparel when her skating career is over. She once received 21 stitches for her left eyebrow after a fall on the ice. McLaughlin would like to meet Angeline Jolie. "I admire her support and efforts toward humanitarian causes." She listens to The Fray, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, The Beatles, Dashboard Confessional and Mariah Carey.

Brubaker started to skate at age 5 because his mom couldn't get a refund from the learn-to-skate program after he changed his mind about wanting to skate. He was formerly coached by Oleg Vassiliev. He has three siblings. His younger Brother, Collin, 19, is an ice dancer. Hee is studying business and criminal justice at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He coaches part time and is a part of the Big Brother/Big Sister program. His hobbies include cycling, hockey, softball and hanging out with his Brother. He and former partner Mariel Miller were the 2005 U.S. junior pairs champions. He has a passion for cycling and likes to build things out of wood. Not many people know he wants to buy a motorcycle. His Father was an All-American football player. After skating he would like to go into law enforcement. Brubaker skated with two bulging discs during the 2005-2006 season. Says his mom is his best friend. He would like to meet Lance Armstrong - "I, too, bike as a part of my cross training and to me he is one of the best, if not the best, athlete to ever live. What he overcame with his cancer and how mentally strong he is and was is amazing to me. I think that he has achieved far more than most ever will in their sport." He listens to all types of music on his iPod: rock, rap, metal, hip hop and country.

Grand Prix Series:
Silver at Skate America (Oct 24-26, 2008)
Bronze at Skate Canada (Oct 30- Nov 2, 2008)

Mukhotova and Trankov teamed up in 2003. Trankov moved from Perm to St. Petersburg at age 15 in order to find a new partner. Mukhortova started skating in Lipetsk but moved back to St. Petersburg to be a pairs skater. Switched coaches three times after the 2005-06 season, going from Nikolai Velikov to Tamara Moskvina, Moskvina to Artur Dmitriev in August 2006 and finally Dmitriev to Oleg Vasiliev (the 1984 Olympic pairs champion with Elena Valova) in December 2006. They missed the 2007 European Championships after Mukhortova picked into her foot with her own blade when landing a throw jump in practice.

Grand Prix Series:
Bronze at Skate America (Oct 24-26, 2008)
Silver at Trophee Erin Bompard (Nov 14-16, 2008)

Pang and Tong both started to skate as six-year-olds. She was a single skater until 1993, when coach Bin Yao teamed her up with Tong. After skating in singles, Tong went into ice dancing for two years because he felt his jumps weren't strong enough. He then switched to pairs because he thought it was more attractive than ice dancing. Pang and Tong trained without a coach from 1993 to 1997, because Yao had moved to Beijing, and they stayed back in Harbin. Their coach, Bin Yao, was on the first team that represented China in a world championship (Dortmund 1980).

Grand Prix Series:
Bronze at the Cup of China (Nov 6-9, 2008)

Savchenko is the 2000 world junior pairs champion (with Stanislav Morozov), competing for the Ukraine. She also finished 15th at the 2002 Olympics with Morozov. Szolkowy won the German national pairs title in 2001 with his second partner, Claudia Rauschenbach; they also finished ninth, their highest finish, at junior worlds that year. When her partnership with Morozov dissolved in 2002, Savchenko looked for a new partner; their current coach, Ingo Steuer, brought her to Germany for a try-out with Szolkowy in 2003; it went well, and Savchenko moved to Germany to begin training with her new partner. Savchenko and Szolkowy won the 2004 German nationals after skating together for just a few months. Savchenko received German citizenship in January 2006. They won their first world championship in 2008, capping off a nearly perfect season. Coach Steuer is the 1997 world pairs champion (with Mandy Wötzel).

Grand Prix Series:
Gold at Skate America (Oct 24-26, 2008)
Gold at Trophee Eric Bompard (Nov 14-16, 2008)

Glebov began skating when he was 7 ... The team was formerly coached by Anna Levandi ... Glebov's younger sister is Elena Glebova, the three-time Estonian national figure skating champion ... Sergejeva and Glebov's coach, Ekaterina Nekrassova, competed at the world level in pairs with Valdis Mintals.

Volosozhar and Morozov teamed up in 2004, after both skaters had worked with other parters (Volosozhar with Petr Kharchenko, Morozov with Aliona Savchenko). Morozov is the 2000 world junior pairs champion with Savchenko. He retired from skating in 2002 after battling recurring injuries but came back to compete with Volosozhar. He broke his ankle in November 2005 in a practice accident, but recovered in time for the Winter Olympic Games. The couple withdrew from the 2006-07 ISU Grand Prix Series, because Volosozhar was suffering from an infection in her leg.

Grand Prix Series:
Silver at Cup of China (Nov 6-9, 2008)
Bronze at the Cup of Russia (Nov 20-23, 2008)

Zhang and Zhang, who are not related to each other, teamed up in 1997. They performed a quadruple twist at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Oberstdorf; it was the first quadruple twist ever performed at junior worlds. The team has been practicing the quadruple throw Salchow. Dan Zhang sprained ligaments in her knee during a hard fall on the quad throw Salchow attempt at their free skate in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games; she nevertheless finished the performance.

Grand Prix Series:
Gold at Cup of China (Nov 6-9, 2008)
Gold at the Cup of Russia (Nov 20-23, 2008)

Are coached by Bin Yao, who also mentors Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao, Qing Pang & Jian Tong and Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang.

Grand Prix Series:
5th at Cup of China (Nov 6-9th, 2008)