Mark Cockerell
Full nameMark Wayne Cockerell
Born (1962-04-24) April 24, 1962 (age 61)
Burbank, California
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Figure skating career
Retired1985
Medal record
Figure skating: Men's singles
Representing  United States
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1976 Megève Men's singles

Mark Wayne Cockerell (born April 24, 1962) is a former American figure skater. He is the 1976 World Junior champion, the 1978 Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalist, and a three-time U.S. senior national medalist (bronze in 1983 and in 1984, silver in 1985).

Personal life

Cockerell was born April 24, 1962, in Burbank, California.[1] He was married to Soviet figure skater Elena Kvitchenko, with whom he has a son and a daughter.[2][3] He later married a former student immediately after she turned 18.[4] He now lives in Nevada.

Career

Cockerell won gold at the World Junior Championships in the event's inaugural year, 1976.[5] After moving up to the senior level, he won silver at three international competitions – the 1978 Nebelhorn Trophy in West Germany, 1978 Grand Prix International St. Gervais in France, and 1980 Ennia Challenge Cup in the Netherlands.

Cockerell won his first senior national medal, bronze, at the 1983 U.S. Championships. He finished 14th at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

The following season, he won another national bronze medal and was named in the U.S. team to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.[6] There, Cockerell became the first man to execute a triple-triple jump combination at the Olympics, and finished 13th overall after placing 18th in compulsory figures, 17th in the short program, and tenth in the free skate. Concluding his season, he placed 13th at the 1984 World Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Cockerell was awarded the silver medal at the 1985 U.S. Championships, having placed second to Brian Boitano. He finished 8th at the 1985 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Coaching

Cockerell has previously coached at Quad City Sports Center (now River’s Edge) in Davenport, Iowa. In 2002, the Quad-City Times reported that he had stepped down from his position as a skating director following allegations that he had been living with his skaters and engaging in inappropriate relationships with them. He has spent time coaching in California, Florida, Ohio and Tennessee in addition to the Plex Hiwire Sports Center in Irmo, South Carolina.[4] He began coaching at Reno Ice in Reno, Nevada, in spring 2023. His independent contract with Reno Ice was terminated on February 3, 2024, in response to sexual assault allegations.[7]

Sexual abuse allegations

On February 8, 2024, Mark Cockerell was identified in a federal lawsuit filed by two South Carolina women against the coach and U.S. Figure Skating, alleging sexual abuse. The lawsuit claims that Cockerell's misconduct began in 2018 when one victim was 14, and asserts that earlier investigations could have prevented the abuse. A third victim came forward after the lawsuit was filed.[8] Further lawsuits were filed by a fourth victim, who was under the age of 18 at the time of the abuse, and two mothers of victims.[9] The lawsuits allege that Cockerell had been sexually abusing underage girls since the early 1990s.[4] The types of abuse detailed include rape, inappropriate touching, sexual comments, grooming, and emotional abuse.[4][10] Several victims said they had developed eating disorders as a result of bodyshaming comments made by Cockerell.[10]

Results

International
Event 75–76 78–79 79–80 80–81 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85
Olympics 13th
Worlds 14th 13th 8th
NHK Trophy 4th
Challenge Cup 2nd
Nebelhorn 2nd
St. Gervais 2nd
International: Junior[5]
Junior Worlds 1st
National
U.S. Champ. 8th 5th 3rd 3rd 2nd

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Mark Cockerell". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  2. ^ Wulf, Steve (March 7, 1994). "Cinderella Story". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  3. ^ "Bettendorf girl skates her way to Junior Nationals". Moline Dispatch & Rock Island Argus. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Ashworth, Caitlin (February 29, 2024). "U.S. Figure Skating failed to act on ex-Olympian abuse complaints, new lawsuit claims". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "World Junior Figure Skating Championships: Men" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "Historical Placements: US Olympic Figure Skating Team" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2011.
  7. ^ "Former Olympian and Nevada coach accused of sexual abuse at South Carolina ice rink". News 4. February 9, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  8. ^ Keith, Tony (February 8, 2024). "New victim comes forward after federal lawsuit filed against former Olympian and U.S. Figure Skating". KKTV. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Hemphill, Joseph (February 29, 2024). "South Carolina Figure Skating Club named in sexual abuse case". WIS. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Hansen, Victoria (February 2, 2024). "Former Olympic figure skater named as third student alleges sexual abuse at Irmo rink". South Carolina Public Radio. Retrieved March 3, 2024.

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