Katherine Copely
Katherine Leigh Copely, M.D. (born January 9, 1988) is a former American-born Ice Dancer who competed internationally for Lithuania. With partner Deividas Stagniūnas, she is the 4 time Lithuanian National Champion with Bronze Medals at both Golden Spin of Zagreb and Nebelhorn Trophy. Together they qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada after placing in the top 20 at the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships in Los Angeles, California. She received her medical degree in 2018 from Central Michigan University College of Medicine.
| Katherine Copely | |
|---|---|
Copely and Stagniunas in 2009. | |
| Full name | Katherine Leigh Copely |
| Born | January 9, 1988 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Figure skating career | |
| Retired | 2010 |
Copely partnered with Duke Wensel in 2002. They competed until 2004 on the Novice and Junior levels. From 2004 to 2006, Copely skated at the Junior level with Patrick Connelly. She teamed up with Stagniunas in 2006 to compete for Lithuania. By the end of their partnership they were #10 in Europe and #14 in the World. Though they qualified, the team was subsequently prevented from competing at the 2010 Winter Olympics as Katherine was denied Lithuanian citizenship by then president Dalia Grybauskaitė
Her brother is American Ice Dancer/Coach/Choreographer Dean Copely. Her mother is the respected skating costume designer Sandra Copely. Katherine is currently training in Diagnostic Radiology, with a sub-specialty in Musculoskeletal Imaging.