Presence. That's the word to describe Rory Flack-Burghart, the 1986 U.S. junior bronze medalist, 1995 U.S. Open Champion, and 2000 American Open Pro Champion. I remember watching Rory on a television skating special several years ago and wondering, "Where did she come from? I've never seen her before, but she's amazing!" Did a little research and learned that in addition to her many skating accomplishments, she made her home in Alaska with Austrian champion Ralph Burghart and is also legendary singer Roberta Flack's cousin!
Rory, now 39, still skates in various shows and coaches in Anchorage. Recently, I watched her and her son, Remington, skate in the 2007 Kristi Yamaguchi Friends & Family special. Below is a 1997 performance by Rory, skating to Whitney Houston's "I Believe in You and Me" from The Preacher's Wife. Rory does a beautiful camel spin in both directions towards the beginning of her program -- that is very difficult to do. I've only seen Michelle Kwan and Robin Cousins execute it equally well. The entire program is a clinic on edge work and is simply beautiful to watch.
Rory also did the Russian slip and could touch her toes, something no other woman skater could do. She was a true athlete and great to see she's still skating in shows as recently as 2007!
Posted by: Frannie | June 21, 2008 at 09:24 AM
This is way back when I was just really getting into skating...I'd only been really watching skating hardcore for about two years but I remember this competition. Wasn't it in like three rounds where they kept eliminating ladies until they had four vie for the title...and here's where it gets really scary...wasn't it Denise Bielman, Yuka Sato, Caryn Kadavy, and Josee Chouinard who were the four finalist...and I believe (it's tragic now!) Yuka won.
But...big fan of Rory!
Posted by: Aaron Harris | June 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM
She is going though a tough time in her personal life right now.I know she was in Europe and just came back to Alaska.We see her now and then at comps and my kids are still in awe of her split jumps!
Posted by: skatemom | July 05, 2008 at 09:15 PM
rory flack is amazing on and off the ice, her personalty is like no other. i remeber in 1985 she taught me how to drive a stick shift car, it took me around two seeks to get it right. she had lots of patients. seeing rory skate in person and do a back flip on ice was truly amazing.
Posted by: david kooncs | January 31, 2012 at 09:24 AM