Kurt Browning
Figure Skating Athlete - Inducted 1992
Kurt Browning began skating at the age of three and his debut as a figure skater came when he was six. Time, talent, and training in the following years contributed to his quick rise through the ranks of local, regional, provincial, and national events and his first Canadian Novice Championship in 1983. He first appeared in an international competition at the 1985 Coup d' Excellence in Montreal. More international events followed, and through much dedication, Kurt Browning emerged as a forerunner in men's figure skating. In 1988, he made his first Olympic appearance finishing eighth. Within a month of the Olympics, he made sports history and entered the Guinness World Book of Records by becoming the first skater to perform a quadruple jump in a competition in Budapest, Hungary. He went on to win both the Canadian and World Championships from 1989 to 1991. Kurt Browning was an outstanding competitor for Canada at the 1992 Winter Olympics with a sixth-place finish.
After Induction
Figure Skating has continued to dominate Kurt's life. He won his fourth World Championship gold medal, in Prague, Chechoslovakia in 1993. He retired in 1994 from amateur skating and began his professional career. Kurt has competed in many competitions open to professionals, winning three World Pro titles and Canadian Pro, four times. He also skates in many team competitions including "Ice Wars". Kurt joined the American Stars On Ice Tour and continues performing in the Canadian Stars On Ice Show as well. Touring North America over five months of the year, Kurt brings his varied styles of programs to life night after night. Kurt has appeared in many television skating specials: as a guest skater, host, and four times as the headliner.
His "Tall in the Saddle" special filmed in central Alberta in 1990 set the standard, showing Kurt and his Dad on their horses, Kurt as a rodeo clown, and skating freely on a frozen mountain lake. This special was surpassed in 1994 by "You Must Remember This", featuring Kurt performing Gene Kelly's memorable "Singing In The Rain", and as a Philip Marlowe-style detective, a rock star, a classically trained dancer, and a vaudeville entertainer. The show won five Gemini Awards including Best Variety Special.
"Kurt Browning's Gotta Skate" in 2001 and 2002 pushed the envelope of skating shows with the addition of live ballet (featuring his wife), renowned performers from stage and theatre, and live musical guests. Kurt has also made several videos. "Jump" was made early in his career and "Kurt By Request" includes a selection of his most requested programs from competition and exhibition performances.
Kurt has gone on to be a figure skater choreographer, commentator, host, co-host, and creator of television shows, and a mentor to Team Visa athletes training for Olympic Games competitions. He is the creator and sponsor of the annual Kurt Browning Junior Skating Awards.
He was a recipient of the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Kurt helped the Westerner Park celebrate its 125th anniversary on December 2, 2016, as he appeared in Holiday Festival on Ice at the Centrium and then had a “meet and greet” fundraiser with “Browning and friends” after the show.
A highlight of his career was performing for Queen Elizabeth in her Jubilee year at the International Skating Gala at Nottingham, England. Kurt is one of the best entertainers the sport has ever seen, his natural humour and rapport with the audience make him adored and admired wherever he goes.
“First” achievements:
• Quadruple toe-loop (Worlds, Budapest, Hungary: March 25, 1988)
• Two triple axels in the same original program (Worlds, Paris, France; 1989)
• Triple-salchow/triple-loop combo (Nations Cup, Belsenkirchen, West Germany; 1990)
• Three triple-triple combinations in one program (triple axel/triple toe loop, triple salchow/triple loop, triple flip/triple toe loop) Worlds, Munich, Germany; 1991)
• First to win Novice, Juniors, and Senior Canadian Championships
• First Canadian to win three consecutive Worlds
• Only person to win Worlds with and without figures.
Kurt’s repeats:
• Four-time World Champion
• Four-time Canadian Champion
• Three-time Olympian
• Three-time World Professional Champion
• Four-time Canadian Professional/Open Champion
• Two-time US Professional Champion
