John Coughlin trivia: 80 unknown facts about the famous figure skater!

John Coughlin was a figure skater. He was, usually, part of pair skating and had many different partners! He committed suicide!

So let’s find out some more trivia and facts about his life and career!

1. His full name is John Patrick Coughlin
2. He was born on December 1, 1985
3. He died on January 18, 2019
4. He was an American pair skater
5. He partnered up with Caydee Denney
6. They were the 2012 Four Continents silver medalists
7. And 2012 U.S. national champions
8. With previous partner Caitlin Yankowskas, he was the 2011 U.S. champion
9. John Patrick Coughlin was born in Kansas City, Missouri
10. He was the son of a third-generation police officer
11. His mother, Stacy, died in February 2010
12. Due to a chronic illness
13. He had a sister, Angela Laune
14. Coughlin began skating at the age of six
15. Early in his career, Coughlin competed with Krista Smith, Kelsey Parker, and Lucy Galleher
16. He teamed up with Bridget Namiotka in late 2004
17. They were the 2006 junior national silver medalists
18. They announced the end of their partnership on July 3, 2007
19. Dalilah Sappenfield suggested Caitlin Yankowskas as a potential partner
20. And they had a tryout in early August 2007
21. Yankowskas/Coughlin trained under Sappenfield in Colorado Springs, Colorado
22. They placed sixth at the 2008 U.S. Championships
23. And made their Grand Prix debut at the 2008 Skate America
24. During the 2010-11 season, their Ave Maria long program was a tribute to Coughlin’s mother who died in February 2010
25. They finished fourth at 2010 NHK Trophy
26. And won the first Grand Prix medal, bronze, at Cup of China
27. At the 2011 U.S. Nationals, they placed first in the short program
28. And then won the free program
29. To earn their first national title
30. In April 2011, Yankowskas/Coughlin placed sixth in their debut at the World Championships
31. It was the best result by an American pair since 2006
32. However, on May 4, the pair announced that their partnership had ended
33. On May 17, 2011, Coughlin announced that he had teamed up with Caydee Denney
34. They trained under coach Sappenfield at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs
35. Denney and Coughlin had a height differential of 14 inches (36 cm)
36. They made their competitive debut at the Liberty Summer competition in July 2011
37. Winning the short program
38. At the Nebelhorn Trophy they won the bronze medal
39. They were assigned to the 2011 Skate America
40. And 2011 NHK Trophy
41. There they placed fourth and fifth respectively
42. Denney/Coughlin went on to win the 2012 US Championships
43. And were assigned to Four Continents and Worlds
44. They won the silver medal at the 2012 Four Continents
45. And placed eighth at 2012 Worlds
46. Denney/Coughlin made their season debut at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy
47. Winning the silver medal
48. They won bronze medals at both of their Grand Prix assignments
49. The 2012 Skate America and the 2012 Rostelecom Cup
50. On December 4, 2012, Coughlin underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip
51. As a result, the pair missed the 2013 U.S. Championships
52. But they submitted a petition to be considered for the U.S. team to the 2013 World Championships
53. They were named in the U.S. team to the event
54. But decided not to compete
55. Coughlin was off the ice for about nine weeks
56. Denney/Coughlin won silver at the 2013 U.S. Classic
57. Placed fourth at the 2013 Skate America
58. And won bronze at the 2013 Trophée Eric Bompard
59. They took the bronze medal at the 2014 U.S. Championships
60. Finishing behind champions Marissa Castelli / Simon Shnapir and silver medalists Felicia Zhang / Nathan Bartholomay
61. Denney/Coughlin did not receive one of the two American spots in the pairs’ event at the 2014 Winter Olympics
62. But were assigned to the 2014 World Championships
63. They withdrew due to Denney’s right ankle injury
64. Sustained in practice on March 19
65. Denney was expected to return to training after eight to twelve weeks
66. In June 2014, the pair stated they would not compete in the 2014 – 15 season
67. Coughlin was found dead from suicide on January 18, 2019
68. One day after being suspended from figure skating for unspecified allegations
69. On December 17, 2018, the U.S. Center for SafeSport listed his name with the note “Interim Measure – Restriction”
70. Following allegations that Coughlin denied
71. He subsequently resigned as U.S. brand manager for John Wilson Blades
72. On January 17, 2019, after SafeSport had changed Coughlin’s status to “interim suspension”, U.S. Figure Skating suspended him
73. The following afternoon, police were dispatched to his father’s home in Kansas City following a report of a suicide
74. The department confirmed Coughlin’s manner of death to be suicide
75. The incident report stated that he hanged himself
76. In February 2019, SafeSport closed the investigation
77. Saying that “[the Center] cannot advance an investigation when no potential threat exists.”
78. U.S. Figure Skating expressed disappointment
79. Stating: “The allegations and Coughlin’s death have left his family, those who reported the allegations, many in the figure skating community and survivors of abuse searching for answers”
80. Four months after his death, former skating partner Bridget Namiotka accused him of sexual abuse over a period of two years during the mid-2000s