Doug Mattis

Doug Mattis (April 26, 1966 – February 9, 2023) was an American figure skater. He was the 1985 Grand Prix International St. Gervais champion, 1985 Nebelhorn Trophy silver medalist, 1986 Novarat Trophy silver medalist, and 1985 U.S. national junior champion.

Doug Mattis
BornApril 26, 1966
Died (aged 56)
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
CoachRobin Cousins
Frank Carroll
Retired1991

Life and career

Mattis was born on April 26, 1966, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] He won the junior men's title at the 1985 U.S. Championships.[2]

From 1986 to 1991, Mattis competed in the senior men's division at the U.S. Championships. He won three international medals — gold at the 1985 Grand Prix International St. Gervais in France, silver at the 1985 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany, and silver at the 1986 Novarat Trophy in Hungary.[3] He never included the triple Axel in competition, having a low success rate in practice, but did perform a one-footed back flip.[2] In the later years of his Olympic-eligible career, he was coached by Robin Cousins and Frank Carroll.[4][2][5] He received financial support from the Foundation for International Ice Skating Advancement.[6] In the 1990–91 season, he also trained in pair skating; his partner was Liberte Sheldon and was coached by Irina Rodnina.[7] During his short program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1991, Mattis protested what he thought was underscoring from the judges by executing a backflip, an illegal movement in national and international competitions.[8]

Mattis retired from amateur competition at the 1991 U.S. Championships, where he finished 13th.[2] He then competed in professional events, including the U.S. Open Championships and World Professional Championships in Jaca, Spain.[9][10] Mattis unsuccessfully tried to return to amateur skating after Rudy Galindo won the U.S Nationals title in 1996, citing Galindo as an inspiration that openly gay skaters could win competitions.[11] He worked as a choreographer and coach.[12][13][14] He supported the Young Artists Showcase at the American Ice Theater.[15]

His programs included Hypnotized, Imitation, Nightmare/It's No Good, and Can't Cry Hard Enough.[12][9]

As a writer, he published poems, essays and short stories and worked for Disney and Universal Studios.

Mattis was openly gay and performed an exhibition at the 1994 Gay Games in New York.[16][2] He died on February 9, 2023, at the age of 56 in New York City.[1][17] His life partner was clarinetist, Neil Rynston.

Competitive highlights
International[3]
Event 81–82 82–83 83–84 84–85 85–86 86–87 87–88 88–89 89–90 90–91
International St. Gervais1st
Nebelhorn Trophy2nd
Novarat Trophy2nd
Prize of Moscow News4th
National
U.S. Championships6th N8th J3rd J1st J7th9th9th8th13th
U.S. Olympic Festival3rd
Pacific Coast Sectional4th
Eastern Sectional1st
Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

Professional career
International[9][10]
Event 1991 1994 1997 1998
U.S. Open Championships5th2nd4th
World Professional Championships (Jaca)14th

References
  1. Smith, Jackson (February 10, 2023). "Doug Mattis, PSA Master Rated Choreographer at Figure Skating has died at 56". snbc13.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023.
  2. Walker, Elvin (June 27, 2011). "Golden Skate Salutes Gay Pride Month". goldenskate.com.
  3. "Skating in America: The Road to Calgary (1985-1988)". U.S. Figure Skating.
  4. Kim, Lorrie (November 1995). "Hot Star on Ice". Philadelphia Gay News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2007.
  5. Mattis, Doug (1998). "Coming of Age: Recollections of the Skating World". International Figure Skating Magazine. Archived from the original on May 4, 1999.
  6. Le Batard, Dan (June 20, 1989). "A Place to Skate : Cousins Helps Develop Foundation to Ease Financial Burden of Competing". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
  7. Hersh, Phil (1 January 1991). "Death-spiral queen a legend in life". Chicago Tribune.
  8. Kestnbaum, Ellyn (2003). Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning. Middleton, Connecticut: Wesleyan Publishing Press. p. 194. ISBN 0-8195-6641-1.
  9. "US Open Figure Skating Championships". goldenskate.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023.
  10. "World Professional Figure Skating Championships (Jaca, Spain)". goldenskate.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022.
  11. Kestnbaum, p. 212
  12. "Interview With Doug Mattis". SkateGuard. March 10, 2013.
  13. "Episode #72: 2014 US Nationals". manleywoman.com. February 4, 2014. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022.
  14. "Grassroots to Champions Seminar". Southern Wisconsin Figure Skating Club. 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
  15. "Young Artists Showcase". American Ice Theatre. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
  16. "The brief history of gay athletes". espn.com. December 18, 1998. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
  17. "FGG mourns the passing of figure skater Doug Mattis". Gay Games. February 11, 2023. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
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