Matthew Savoie

Matthew Savoie (born September 12, 1980, in Peoria, Illinois), is an American former competitive figure skater. He is a three-time U.S. bronze medalist, the 2006 Four Continents bronze medalist, and competed at the 2006 Olympics.

Matt Savoie
Savoie in 2003.
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1980-09-12) September 12, 1980
ResidenceBoston, Massachusetts
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Former coachLinda Branan
Former choreographerTom Dickson
Former skating clubIllinois Valley FSC
Began skating1989
Retired2006
ISU personal best scores
Combined total206.67
2006 Olympics
Short program75.64
2006 Four Continents
Free skate137.52
2006 Olympics

Skating career

Matthew Savoie first gained prominence when he won the gold medal on the junior level at the 1997 U.S. Championships. He went on to place in the top five at every U.S. Nationals between 1999 and 2006, winning bronze medals in 2001, 2004, and 2006 and pewter medals (fourth place) in 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2005.[1]

Savoie won bronze medals at the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, the Grand Prix Final, and the World Junior Championships. He represented the United States three times at the World Championships.[2]

Savoie was the first alternate to the 2002 Olympic team. In 2004, he underwent knee surgery due to parallel tendonitis.[3] By winning the bronze at the 2006 U.S. Championships, Savoie earned a chance to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics.[4] He finished seventh overall.

Savoie was raised in Peoria, Illinois, and trained there with coach Linda Branan throughout his career.[5] He also worked with coach Gene Heffron, choreographer Tom Dickson, and modern dance teacher Kathy Johnson.[5][6]

In July 2006, Savoie was appointed as the athlete representative to the Single & Pair Skating Technical Committee of the International Skating Union.[7] He completed a four-year term.

Personal life and post-competitive career

Savoie graduated from Peoria High School (Peoria, Illinois) in 1998.[5] He graduated summa cum laude from Bradley University in 2002, with a major in political science[1] and a minor in biology. He went on to earn his master's degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2005 and received the AICP Outstanding Graduate Student Award for 2005.[1] He was admitted to the law school at Cornell University in 2005, but obtained a deferral for a year to focus on making the Olympic team. He joined the program in September 2006,[6] where he also served as secretary of the LAMBDA (LGBT) Law Students Association.[8] After graduating in 2009, Savoie worked as an associate at Choate Hall & Stewart law firm before leaving in 2014 to become a coach at The Skating Club of Boston.[9] His students include Curran Oi.[9]

Savoie married attorney Brian Boyle on October 7, 2012 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.[10]

Programs
Season Short program Free skating
2005–2006
[2]
2004–2005
[11]
  • Intro by B Tribe 5
    (from Higher Octava album)
    by The Brave
  • Earth from Xotica
    (from Cirque du Soleil) by Rene Dupere
  • Intro by B Tribe 5
  • Church Shootout
    (from Once Upon a Time in Mexico)
2003–2004
[12]
  • Mandala
    by Kitaro
  • Spirit of Taiko
    by Kitaro
2002–2003
[13]		 Cirque du Soleil:
2001–2002
[14]		 Cirque du Soleil:
  • Reveil
  • Quidam
    by Benoit Jutras
  • Toccata con Fuoco - Piano Concerto No. 1
    by Keith Emerson
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Age of Illusion
    by Joe Hisaishi
    New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Introspection
    by Bob d'Eith and Paul Schmidt
2000–2001
[15]
  • Passion and Power
    by J. Schlachter and A. Maek
  • Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra
    by George Gershwin

Competitive highlights
Results[1][2][13][15]
International
Event 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
Olympics7th
Worlds12th16th11th
Four Continents4th5th5th3rd
Grand Prix Final3rd
GP Cup of China8th7th
GP Cup of Russia3rd4th5th
GP NHK Trophy9th
GP Skate Canada3rd5th
GP Skate America5th6th3rd
GP Sparkassen3rd
Bofrost3rd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds4th3rd
JGP Final3rd6th
JGP China4th
JGP France2nd3rd
JGP Germany1st
Gardena1st J.
National
U.S. Champ.8th N.4th N.1st J.11th4th4th3rd4th5th3rd4th3rd
Midwest. Sect.3rd N.4th N.3rd J.3rd2nd
UGL Regionals3rd N.1st N.1st J.1st
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix
UGL = Upper Great Lakes

References
  1. "Matt Savoie". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  2. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 2, 2006.
  3. "Savoie, Matt". U.S. Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008.
  4. Wessler, Kirk (January 15, 2006). "An Olympian". Peoria Journal Star. Archived from the original on March 26, 2006.
  5. Wessler, Kirk (March 16, 2003). "Proud of his home ice". Peoria Journal Star. Archived from the original on December 20, 2004.
  6. Wessler, Kirk (February 12, 2006). "Deconstructing Savoie". Peoria Journal Star. Archived from the original on March 26, 2006.
  7. "Matt Savoie Appointed Athlete Representative to ISU Technical Committee". U.S. Figure Skating. July 21, 2006.
  8. "2006-2007: LAMBDA Law Students Association". Cornell University Student Activities Office.
  9. Wessler, Kirk (March 2, 2016). "Olympic skater Matt Savoie to be enshrined in Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame". Peoria Journal Star.
  10. Elfman, Lois (October 18, 2012). "Law of attraction: Wedding bells ring for Savoie". Icenetwork.
  11. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 16, 2005.
  12. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 5, 2004.
  13. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 8, 2003.
  14. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  15. "Matthew SAVOIE: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 15, 2001.
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