Introduction
Elizabeth "Liz" Coates is a British ice dancing coach and former competitor. With Alan Abretti, she is the 1986 Fujifilm Trophy silver medalist and a two-time British national silver medalist.
Life and career
Coates grew up in south London, with her brother Gary, and trained at the ice rink in Streatham. Competing with Alan Abretti, she won silver medals at the 1985 and 1986 British Championships and at the 1986 Fujifilm Trophy. The duo placed 16th at the 1986 World Championships and competed at two European Championships, achieving their highest placement, 11th, in 1986.
Having begun her coaching career in England, Coates relocated to the United States in 1992. With former coaching partner Igor Shpilband, she was awarded the 1998 United States Olympic Committee "Coach of the Year" for Figure Skating. In 2000, Coates was awarded the "Coach of the Year" by the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) She has returned to England and currently works as a coach in London.
Her former students include:
- Tanith Belbin / Benjamin Agosto
- Eve Chalom / Mathew Gates
- Jessica Joseph / Charles Butler
- Naomi Lang / Peter Tchernyshev
- Elizabeth Punsalan / Jerod Swallow
- Jamie Silverstein / Justin Pekarek
- Megan Wing / Aaron Lowe
- Skatabase-World Championships-Ice Dance 1980-1989 Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- Skatabase-European Championships-Ice Dance 1980-1989 Archived September 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
Competitive highlights
(with Abretti)
| International | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | 1985–86 | 1986–87 |
| World Champ. | 16th | |
| European Champ. | 11th | 12th |
| Skate America | 5th | |
| Fujifilm Trophy | 2nd | |
| NHK Trophy | 6th | |
| National | ||
| British Champ. | 2nd | 2nd |