2006 Olympic Competitor and Ice Dancer Melissa Gregory

Year of Birth:

Melissa was born on May 22, 1981.

Partner:

Melissa's husband is her partner, Denis Petukhov.

Home Town:

Chicago, Illinois

Why Did Melissa Choose Ice Dancing?:

Melissa chose ice dancing because it emphasizes choreography and team-work.

First Major Accomplishment:

Melissa won a Gold Medal at the 1998 U.S. National Championships in Junior Dance.

Amazing Fact:

Melissa found her current partner via the internet. When they first began skating together, he could not speak English and she could not speak Russian. Not only did they become skating partners, but they fell in love! They were married in 2001.

Other Major Accomplishments:

In 2002, Melissa and Denis finished third in the U.S. Nationals. Then, for the next three years, the couple finished second in the same event. Their second-place finish in the 2006 Nationals earned them a trip to the Olympics in Torino.