Gregory Merriman


Gregory Merriman, also known as Greg, is an Australian ice dancer. With partner Danielle O'Brien, he is a six-time Australian senior national champion and three-time junior national champion. They have competed at the World Championships and Four Continents Championships since 2008, and have competed at three World Junior Championships. They became the first Australian ice dancers to reach the free dance at a World Championships and the second Ice Dance couple from Australia to compete at the Winter Olympics.

Career

Merriman teamed up with Danielle O'Brien, who also skated at the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, in April 1998. They were coached by Australian ice dancing champion Monica MacDonald in Sydney, Australia. In the 2009–10 season, they trained with former World champion Victor Kraatz and Maikki Kraatz. O'Brien/Merriman withdrew from the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2010 Winter Olympics, due to Merriman's diagnosis of pericarditis, a viral infection in the sac surrounding the heart.
In the 2010–11 season, O'Brien/Merriman began training part-time in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan under coaches Anjelika Krylova, two-time World champion, and Pasquale Camerlengo. They relocated to Detroit to train there full-time in late 2011. Although Merriman's heel of his boot separated during the preliminary round at the 2012 World Championships, they placed eighth out of 23 couples and qualified for the short dance, where they placed 20th and qualified for the free. O'Brien/Merriman became the first Australian team to qualify for the free dance at a World Championships. They finished 20th overall.
In 2012–13, O'Brien/Merriman finished 7th at the US International Classic, 4th at the 2012 Ondrej Nepela Memorial, 8th at the 2012 NRW Trophy and 4th at the 2012 Ice Challenge. In January 2013, they became the first Australian ice dancers to medal at an International event when they took bronze at the Toruń Cup in Poland. In February, O'Brien/Merriman competed at the 2013 Four Continents Championships where they finished with a personal best placement of eighth. They did not qualify for the 2013 World Championships due to new TES requirements.
The 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy was the last chance to qualify for the Olympics; O'Brien/Merriman finished sixth and earned a place for Australia in the Olympic ice dancing event. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, they advanced to the free dance and finished 20th.
They retired from competition in April 2014.

Programs

SeasonShort danceFree dance
2013–2014

  • Quickstep: Cotton Club Stomp 1
by John Barry
  • Foxtrot: The Mooche
by John Barry
  • Charleston: Cotton Club Stomp 2
by Duke Ellington

performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band
  • Goofus
performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band
by Rufus Wainwright
  • The Southerner
performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band
2012–2013

  • Thunder and Blazes
  • Goofus
  • Complainte de la Butte
  • by Rufus Wainwright
    • The Southerner
    2011–2012
    by Latin Soul Syndicate
    • Samba: Ay Mama
  • In the Mood
  • by Glenn Miller
    performed by Frank Sinatra
    by Benny Goodman
    2010–2011

    • Waltz from Cousins
    by Erich Kuenzel
    by Barry Manilow

    • Boxes
    by Marvin Hamlisch
    • After Car
    by Marvin Hamlisch
    • Trust Me
    by Marvin Hamlisch
    • Golf
    by Marvin Hamlisch
    Original dance
    2009–2010
    Australian aboriginal music:
    • Yulara
    by Scott Wilson and James Drury
    • Warrama
    by David Hudson
    • Kikin Kooka's
    by Scott Wilson and James Drury

    by Jerry Lee Lewis
    • Love Potion No. 9
    by The Clovers
    by the Isley Brothers
    2008–2009

    • Lindyhop
    • Swing Sing, Sing, Sing
    by Louis Prima
    • This Business of Love

    by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • The Dark
    by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    • Ouverture
    by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
    2007–2008
    Australian Aboriginal music:
    • Forest Phunk
    by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara
    • Yulara
    by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara
    Mamma Mia musical
    by ABBA:
    • Overture, Prologue
    • SOS
    • Mamma Mia
    2006–2007
    • Argentinos
    by C. Novell
    by Birch and Morrisen

    • King Swing
    by Swing City Giants
    • This Business of Love

    • Hey Pachuco
    by Crown Review
    2005–2006

    • Mambo: Johnny's Mambo
    by Michael Lloyd
    • Cha Cha: Sway
    by Michael Buble
    • Samba
  • King Swing
  • by Swing City Giants
    • This Business of Love

    • Hey Pachuco
    by Crown Review
    2004–2005

    Henry Mancini
    White Stones
    by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland:
    • Steps
    • Windancer
    • Moving
    2003–2004 White Stones
    by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland:
    • Steps
    • Windancer
    • Moving

    Results