Oona Brown

Oona Brown
Born (2004-09-10) September 10, 2004 (age 20)
Long Island, New York
Height1.47 m (4 ft 10 in)
Figure skating career
Country United States
DisciplineIce dance
PartnerGage Brown
CoachInese Bucevica
Joel Dear
Romain Haguenauer
Patrice Lauzon
Skating clubSkating Club of New York
Began skating2008
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Tallinn Ice dance

Oona Brown (born September 10, 2004) is an American ice dancer. Competing with her brother, Gage Brown, she is the 2022 World Junior champion and a two-time U.S. national junior medalist (2021 silver, 2020 bronze).

Personal life

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Oona Brown was born on September 10, 2004, in Greenport, New York.[1] Her parents are Zhon Brown and Louis DeVirgilio. She has six siblings: Gage, who is her ice dance partner, Adira, Rowan, Tristan, Liam, and Morgant.[2]

She and Gage were previously home-schooled.[2]

Brown plays the drums and piano and plays the snare in two Irish marching bands. She also enjoys gardening, running, knitting, reading, and refereeing soccer.[2]

Career

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Early career

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Oona Brown started skating at age 4. She and her brother, Gage, were paired up as an ice dance team in 2016.[2] At the intermediate level, they placed 4th at their first Eastern Sectionals, and 12th at the 2017 U.S. championships.[3] They moved up to the novice level for the 2017–18 season, placing 1st their next sectional championships, and 5th 2018 U.S. championships.[4] They made their international debut at the 2018 Bavarian Open, where they competed in the advanced novice competition and placed 3rd.[5]

2018–19 season

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For the 2018–19 season, the Browns moved up to the junior level. They made their Junior Grand Prix debut at the 2018 JGP Lithuania, where they placed 9th.[6] They placed 8th at the 2018 JGP Armenia,[7] and won silver at the 2018 Eastern Sectionals.[8] They advanced to the 2019 U.S. championships, where they placed 4th at the junior level and won the pewter medal.[9]

2019–20 season

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The Browns began the 2019–20 season at the 2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance International, where they placed 4th.[1] For the 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix they were assigned to the 2019 JGP Russia and 2019 JGP Italy, where they placed 8th and 5th respectively.[10][11] They went on to place 4th at the 2020 Ice Dance Final,[12] and qualified for the 2020 U.S. championships where they won the bronze medal.[13] They were named to the 2020 World Junior Championships team,[14] where they placed 11th in the rhythm dance and 9th in the free dance, finishing 10th overall.[15]

2020–21 season

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the major international events for juniors during 2020–21 were canceled; this included the 2020–21 Junior Grand Prix.

In December, the Browns debuted their new free dance to Australian singer Marlisa's cover of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters, filmed by On Ice Perspectives, a skating cinematography company created by former U.S. skater, Jordan Cowan.[16] The free dance was performed at Bryant Park, and was uploaded to the On Ice Perspectives YouTube channel.[17] It quickly gained popularity and surpassed one-million views within its first week.

In September, the USFSA held the virtual ISP (International Selection Pool) Points Challenge, which allowed skaters to be judged by ISU-level judges.[18] The competition was used to give skaters byes to Nationals, which would usually be obtained through the Grand Prix series, and will also be used in the selection process for future international events. The Browns placed second overall in the junior event and qualified for the 2021 U.S. Championships.[19]

2021–22 season

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With the resumption of international junior competition on the Junior Grand Prix, the Browns were assigned to compete at the second stage of the French JGP in Courchevel. They placed second in the short program, narrowly behind the second American team present, Flores/Tsarevski, but won the free dance to take the gold medal, their first JGP medal.[20] At their second event, the 2021 JGP Austria in Linz, the Browns were second in the rhythm dance. Oona Brown fell on her twizzle sequence in the free dance; as a result, they were fifth in that segment but narrowly took the silver medal overall.[21] These results qualified them for the Junior Grand Prix Final, to be held in Osaka, but this was canceled as a result of restrictions prompted by the Omicron variant.[22]

Oona tested positive for COVID-19 in early January, as a result of which they were forced to withdraw from the 2022 U.S. Junior Championships. Despite this setback, they were named to the American team for the 2022 World Junior Championships, with Gage vowing that "we're going to put absolutely everything into this" after the many missed competitions as a result of the pandemic.[23]

The World Junior Championships were originally to be held Sofia, but were delayed from their traditional early March to mid-April in order to accommodate a move to Tallinn because of pandemic restrictions.[24] Due to invasion of Ukraine, all Russian and Belarusian skaters were banned from attending.[25] The Browns scored a new personal best in the rhythm dance, freedance, and total score. As Ted Barton said, "They did not look like leaders coming into the free[dance] and hoping to win; they had to earn it, so they didn't hold anything back. [They] just pushed all the way through it."[26] Gage said "the last time we competed was in October. Just to get actually out here and compete was an amazing feeling. We missed that feeling for six months."[27] They won the free dance as well to take the gold medal.[28]

2022–23 season

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While the siblings had been debating for some time whether to remain at the junior level or move up to the senior ranks following their Junior World title, they decided to do the latter, with Gage calling it "the turning point for us, and it was great that it ended the way it did." They made their senior international debut on the Challenger circuit, finishing fifth at both the 2022 CS Nepela Memorial and the 2022 CS Budapest Trophy.[29] The Browns were then invited to make their Grand Prix debut at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, where they placed seventh. They were eighth at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo.[1]

In their senior national championship debut, the Browns finished ninth at the 2023 U.S. Championships.[1]

2023–24 season

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Following the 2023 national championships, the Browns began working with coaches at the Ice Academy of Montreal in February of that year. While remaining based primarily in New York, they travelled to Montreal periodically for additional assistance. The siblings cited Guillaume Cizeron and Zachary Donohue as people they valued the chance to collaborate with.[30] After winning the silver medal at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International, the Browns were seventh at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy.[1]

Initially with only one assignment on the Grand Prix, they were added to the 2023 Skate America as well before the series commenced.[31] They finished seventh there, setting a new personal best total score (177.21).[32] They fared better at their second assignment the following weekend, coming fourth overall at the 2023 Skate Canada International with another new personal best score (187.62), less than five points behind bronze medalists Reed/Ambrulevičius of Lithuania, and finishing ahead of two rival American teams, Zingas/Kolesnik and Pate/Bye.[33] Gage stated that the back-to-back competitions had been "tricky", but that "we know now that we can do it and we are ready to do it again in the future."[34]

2024–25 season

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The Browns started the season by winning silver medals at the Lake Placid Ice Dance International and the 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge. Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, they finished sixth at the 2024 Skate Canada International.[35]

Programs

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Ice dance with Gage Brown

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Season Rhythm dance Free dance Exhibition Ref.
2018–19 — [36]
2019–20
  • When I Get My Name in Lights
  • Everything Old is New Again
    From The Boy from Oz
 [1]
2020–21
2021–22 [37][20]
2022–23 [38][20]
2023–24 [39]
2024–25 [40]

Competitive highlights

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Ice dance with Gage Brown

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Competition placements at senior level [35]
Season 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
U.S. Championships 9th 8th
GP Finland 8th TBD
GP Skate America 7th
GP Skate Canada 4th 6th
GP Wilson Trophy 7th
CS Budapest Trophy 5th
CS Denis Ten Memorial 2nd
CS Finlandia Trophy 7th
CS Nepela Memorial 5th
Lake Placid Ice Dance 2nd 2nd
Competition placements at junior level [35]
Season 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
World Junior Championships 10th 1st
U.S. Championships 4th 3rd 2nd
JGP Armenia 8th
JGP Austria 2nd
JGP France 1st
JGP Italy 5th
JGP Lithuania 9th
JGP Russia 7th
Bavarian Open 4th
Lake Placid Ice Dance 4th

Detailed results

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Ice dance with Gage Brown

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ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [41]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 187.62 2023 Skate Canada International
Rhythm dance TSS 73.91 2023 Skate Canada International
TES 42.74 2023 Skate Canada International
PCS 32.54 2024 Skate Canada International
Free dance TSS 113.95 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge
TES 64.43 2023 Skate Canada International
PCS 49.94 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge

Senior level

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Results in the 2022–23 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 29 – Oct 1, 2022 Slovakia 2022 CS Nepela Memorial 6 59.48 5 101.14 5 160.62
Oct 13–16, 2022 Hungary 2022 CS Budapest Trophy 5 62.94 4 103.39 5 166.33
Nov 11–13, 2022 United Kingdom 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy 7 70.34 7 103.40 7 173.74
Nov 25–27, 2022 Finland 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo 9 65.71 8 100.99 8 166.70
Jan 23–29, 2023 United States 2023 U.S. Championships 9 72.80 8 109.09 9 181.89
Results in the 2023–24 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 1–2, 2023 United States 2023 Lake Placid Ice Dance International 1 75.26 2 105.40 2 180.66
Oct 4–8, 2023 Finland 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy 5 67.98 5 106.49 7 174.47
Oct 20–22, 2023 United States 2023 Skate America 7 71.34 7 105.87 7 177.21
Oct 27–29, 2023 Canada 2023 Skate Canada International 4 73.91 4 113.71 4 187.62
Jan 22–28, 2024 United States 2024 U.S. Championships 6 76.44 9 102.99 8 179.43
Results in the 2024–25 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
July 30–31, 2024 United States 2024 Lake Placid Ice Dance International 2 74.68 3 111.33 2 186.01
Oct 2–5, 2024 Kazakhstan 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge 3 73.01 2 113.95 2 186.96
Oct 25–27, 2024 Canada 2024 Skate Canada International 6 72.18 6 106.96 6 179.14

Junior level

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  • Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
  • At national events in the United States, pewter medals are awarded for fourth place.
Results in the 2018–19 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Sep 5–8, 2018 Lithuania 2018 JGP Lithuania 5 55.47 12 69.28 9 124.75
Oct 10–13, 2018 Armenia 2018 JGP Armenia 6 55.48 9 78.35 8 133.83
Jan 18–27, 2019 United States 2019 U.S. Championships (Junior) 3 63.34 4 90.33 4 153.67
Results in the 2019–20 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Jul 30 – Aug 2, 2019 United States 2019 Lake Placid Ice Dance International 5 53.66 4 79.30 4 153.47
Sep 11–14, 2019 Russia 2019 JGP Russia 8 52.45 6 88.88 7 141.33
Oct 2–5, 2019 Italy 2019 JGP Italy 8 54.81 2 91.34 5 146.15
Jan 20–26, 2020 United States 2020 U.S. Championships (Junior) 3 64.91 3 95.63 3 160.54
Feb 3–9, 2020 Germany 2020 Bavarian Open 4 59.90 4 91.16 4 151.06
Mar 2–8, 2020 Estonia 2020 World Junior Championships 11 59.50 9 92.55 10 152.05
Results in the 2020–21 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Jan 11–21, 2021 United States 2021 U.S. Championships (Junior) 2 66.20 2 96.71 2 162.91
Results in the 2021–22 season [35]
Date Event RD FD Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 25–28, 2021 France 2021 JGP France II 2 59.79 1 94.46 1 154.25
Oct 6–9, 2021 Austria 2021 JGP Austria 2 63.70 5 89.04 2 152.74
Apr 13–17, 2022 Estonia 2022 World Junior Championships 1 66.98 1 103.27 1 170.25

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Oona BROWN and Gage BROWN". International Skating Union.
  2. ^ a b c d "Oona Brown and Gage Brown". U.S. Figure Skating.
  3. ^ "2017 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Intermediate Free Dance Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  4. ^ "2018 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Novice Free Dance results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  5. ^ "Bavarian Open 2018, Advanced Novice - Free Dance Results". Bavarian Ice Sports Association.
  6. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Amber Cup 2018, Junior Ice Dance". International Skating Union.
  7. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Armenian Cup 2018, Junior Ice Dance Results". International Skating Union.
  8. ^ "2018 Eastern Sectional Championships, Novice Free Dance Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  9. ^ "2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Junior Free Dance Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  10. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Egna/Neumarkt 2019 - Junior Ice Dance Results". International Skating Union.
  11. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Chelyabinsk, Russia - Junior Ice Dance Results". International Skating Union.
  12. ^ "2020 U.S. Ice Dance Final, Junior Free Dance Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  13. ^ "2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Junior Free Dance Results". U.S. Figure Skating.
  14. ^ "U.S. Figure Skating announces selections for World Junior team". U.S. Figure Skating.
  15. ^ "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2020 - Junior Ice Dance Results". International Skating Union.
  16. ^ "About Jordan Cowan". On Ice Perspectives. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  17. ^ ""Nothing Else Matters" - Oona BROWN & Gage BROWN skate to @Metallic & @Marlisa". YouTube. December 6, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  18. ^ "Over 100 athletes to debut programs during international selection pools challenge". U.S. Figure Skating. September 9, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  19. ^ "2020 ISP Points Challenge - Overall, Junior Ice Dance" (PDF). U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c "Team US brings home three medals, dominates ice dance". U.S. Figure Skating. August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Skaters grab last spots for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Linz (AUT)". International Skating Union. October 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "Figure skating Grand Prix Final canceled over travel rules". CBC Sports. December 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Cloutier, Claire (April 11, 2022). "The Browns: "We're going to put everything into Junior Worlds"". U.S. Figure Skating.
  24. ^ "ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2022 allotted to Tallinn (EST)". International Skating Union. March 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "ISU Statement on the Ukrainian crisis – Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus". International Skating Union. March 1, 2022.
  26. ^ "Ice Dance Free Dance | ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships | Tallinn | #WorldJFigure". YouTube.
  27. ^ Slater, Paula (April 15, 2022). "Siblings Brown and Brown dance to lead at 2022 Junior Worlds". Golden Skate.
  28. ^ Slater, Paula (April 17, 2022). "USA's Oona Brown and Gage Brown 'overjoyed' with Junior World title". Golden Skate.
  29. ^ Sausa, Christie (November 10, 2022). "The Browns prepare for their first Grand Prix, U.S. Championships as Seniors". U.S. Figure Skating.
  30. ^ Dean, Taylor (November 10, 2022). "Browns Hope to Move the Audience in Second Senior Season". U.S. Figure Skating. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  31. ^ "2023 Grand Prix Selections Finalized for Team USA". U.S. Figure Skating. September 15, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Slater, Paula (October 23, 2023). "Chock and Bates win fourth Skate America gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "Browns, Thorngren Earn Career-Best Grand Prix Finishes at Skate Canada International". U.S. Figure Skating. October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  34. ^ Slater, Paula (October 29, 2023). "Gilles and Poirier win fourth consecutive Skate Canada title". Golden Skate. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "USA–Oona Brown/Gage Brown". SkatingScores.com.
  36. ^ "Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018.
  37. ^ "Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021.
  38. ^ "Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022.
  39. ^ "Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023.
  40. ^ "Oona BROWN / Gage BROWN: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024.
  41. ^ "Couple Records Oona Brown/Gage Brown (USA)". International Skating Union.
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