Career
Kuchiki's parents taught her figure skating until the age of 8 and then asked Wendy Halber Olson to coach her in singles. Her parents initially opposed her wish to skate pairs, preferring she stay in singles, but once she showed them what she could do, they saw potential and let her continue in the discipline.
In 1986, Kuchiki teamed up with Richard Alexander. Training only two days a week, one session a day, the pair reached the 1987 U.S. Championships in Tacoma, Washington. Competing in junior pairs, they placed 11th in 1987, won the bronze medal in 1988 and silver in 1989. In March 1989, Kuchiki and Alexander ended their partnership. Kuchiki also finished 4th in novice ladies' at the 1988 U.S. Championships and competed in the junior ladies' event at the 1989 U.S. Championships.
In spring 1989, Kuchiki teamed up with Todd Sand. They won three senior pairs medals at the U.S. Championships, including gold in 1991, and competed at three World Championships, winning bronze in 1991. They also competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics, where they placed 6th. Kuchiki and Sand announced the end of their partnership in April 1992.
Kuchiki returned the following year to compete in the ladies' singles event at the 1993 U.S. Nationals, finishing 12th. In late 1993, she teamed up with Rocky Marval, with whom she finished fourth at the 1994 U.S. Championships, missing the 1994 Olympic team. Kuchiki retired from competitive skating in 1994.
Read more about this topic: Natasha Kuchiki
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