Themistocles Leftheris

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Themistocles Leftheris
Karen Kwan-Oppegard
Skating clubLos Angeles FSC

Themistocles Nicholas "Themi" Leftheris (born December 20, 1982) is an

pair skater. With partner Naomi Nari Nam, he is the 2006 Skate America bronze medalist and 2007 U.S. national bronze medalist. With partner Ji Min-ji, he is a two-time (2016, 2017) South Korean national
champion.

Personal life

Leftheris was born on December 20, 1982, in

Tarpon Springs, Florida.[1] He studied communications at Long Beach City College.[2]

Career

Early career

Leftheris started skating at age 12 and began pair skating at 15.[3] His first skating partner was Sarah Jo Damron-Brown.

With Jacqueline Jimenez, he became the

September 11, 2001
attacks.

Leftheris competed with Nicole Hartunian in the 2003-04 season. With partner Julian Burns, he placed 13th at the 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Partnership with Nam

Nam & Leftheris at the 2006 Skate America.

Leftheris had a tryout with Naomi Nari Nam in April 2005, two weeks after she decided to switch to pair skating.[2][4][5] After winning both Regionals and Pacific Coast Sectionals, the pair placed 5th at the 2006 U.S. Championships.

In the 2006–07 season, Nam and Leftheris won the bronze medal at their Grand Prix assignment, 2006 Skate America. They won the bronze medal at the 2007 U.S. Championships behind Rena Inoue / John Baldwin and Brooke Castile / Benjamin Okolski. They ranked 6th at the 2007 Four Continents Championships.

On August 24, 2007, Nam underwent surgery to remove a bone spur and to repair torn cartilage in her right hip.[6][7] She was on crutches for eight weeks and returned to the ice on October 19.[6] As a result, Nam/Leftheris withdrew from their Grand Prix assignments, 2007 Skate America and 2007 Cup of China.[7] They placed 7th at the 2008 U.S. Championships. Nam announced her retirement from competitive skating on October 10, 2008, citing her recurrent hip injury.[8]

Nam/Leftheris were coached by

Karen Kwan-Oppegard at the EastWest Ice Palace in Artesia, California.[4]

Later career

Leftheris began competing with new partner Angelyn Nguyen in 2009. They won the bronze medal at the 2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Championships.[9] They withdrew from the U.S. Championships before the event began.

With Lindsay Davis, he finished 8th at the 2011 U.S. Championships.

In 2015, Leftheris teamed up with Ji Min-ji to compete for South Korea. The pair won the 2016 South Korean national title.

Programs

With Ji

Season Short program Free skating
2016–2017
[1]

With Nam

Season Short program Free skating
2007–2008
[10]
2006–2007
[11]

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Ji Min-ji for South Korea

International[12]
Event 2015–16 2016–17
World Championships WD
Four Continents Champ. 14th
CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 7th
CS Lombardia Trophy 6th
National[12]
South Korean Champ. 1st 1st

With Nguyen and Davis for the United States

International[13]
Event 2009–10
(Nguyen) 		2010–11
(Davis)
Ice Challenge 4th
National[13]
U.S. Championships 7th
Pacific Coast Sectionals 3rd

With Nam for the United States

Nam & Leftheris on the podium at the 2006 Skate America.
International[14]
Event 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
Four Continents Champ. 6th
GP Cup of China WD
GP Skate America 3rd WD
National[10]
U.S. Championships 5th 3rd 7th
Pacific Coast Sectionals 1st
WD = Withdrew

With Damron-Brown, Jimenez, Hartunian, and Burns for the United States

International[15]
Event 1999–00
(Damron) 		2000–01
(Jimenez) 		2001–02
(Jimenez) 		2003–04
(Hartunian) 		2004–05
(Burns)
JGP Bulgaria 2nd
National
U.S. Championships 4th N 2nd N 6th J 13th
Eastern Sectionals 2nd J
Pacific Coast Sectionals 2nd J 2nd
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

References

  1. ^ a b "Minji JI / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Mittan, Barry (January 21, 2007). "Long Road to Success for Nam and Leftheris". Skate Today.
  3. ^ Mittan, Barry (January 23, 2002). "Jimenez and Leftheris Build Hope for the Future". Golden Skate.
  4. ^ a b "Meet Naomi Nari Nam & Themistocles Leftheris". figureskatersonline.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Duhaime, Jake (December 14, 2005). "Naomi Nari Nam Returns to U.S. Championships as a Pairs Skater". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on November 24, 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ a b Cunningham, Nicole (February 2008). "Naomi Nari Nam Undergoes Surgery, Hopes to Compete at Nationals". International Figure Skating. Vol. 14, no. 1. p. 58. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Interview with Naomi Nari Nam and Themistocles Leftheris". Golden Skate. October 8, 2007.
  8. IceNetwork.com
    .
  9. ^ "2010 Pacific Coast Sectional Championships 11/17/2009 - 11/22/2009 Senior Pairs Final Results". U.S. Figure Skating. Nov 20, 2009. Retrieved Nov 20, 2009.
  10. ^
    IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  11. ^ "Naomi Nari NAM / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 30, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ a b "Competition Results: Minji JI / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union.
  13. ^ a b "Competition Results: Lindsay DAVIS / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  14. ^ "Competition Results: Naomi Nari NAM / Themistocles LEFTHERIS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016.
  15. ^ "Jacqueline JIMENEZ / Themistocles LEFTHERIS: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 2, 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

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