1 minute read

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

A Judging Flap



Did dishonest judging take place? Some thought so. "The result did nothing to improve the reputation of ice dancing, which is ridiculed by other skaters for its lack of jumps and rigged scoring," declared Linda Robertson in a Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service article. "Ripped off" was sports columnist Ann Killion's opinion. Writing for Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, Killion labeled the judges "Corrupt. Blind. Or both." As for the skaters, "we were a little surprised," Dean said to Robertson, before he amended his comment: "A lot." Torvill told Killion, "I'm glad we came back to perform."



Torvill and Dean's farewell tour, "Face the Music" traveled the world in the mid-1990s. They have appeared in several videos, including a comic turn by Torvill skating with actor Rowan Atkinson's bumbling "Mr. Bean" character in a Comic Relief presentation. She also appeared as a contestant on the British game show They Think It's All Over in June 2001

Between their Olympic appearances, Torville and Dean continued to represent their sport. Dean, in particular, made his mark as a choreographer, mapping out the routine of France's 1992 Olympians Isabelle and Paul Duchesnay (Dean was married to Isabelle from 1991-93). Dean later married 1990 World Champion skater Jill Trenary. The couple and their two sons live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they work as skating coaches. Torville married Philip Christensen, who manages her appearances. Torvill and Dean were honored by their country by being named Members of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981, and to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2000. One more unique honor came their way: the Torvill and Dean, a flower of orange, white, and pink hues, was named for them.

Additional topics

Famous Sports StarsFigure SkatingJayne Torvill and Christopher Dean Biography - Sport Or Art?, Bound For Sarajevo, A Challenge In Lillehamer, Chronology, Awards And Accomplishments - CONTACT INFORMATION, SELECTED WRITINGS BY TORVILL AND DEAN: