Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Hometown: Caroline, Alberta
Married: Sonia Rodriguez
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Birthdate: June 18, 1966 Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Hometown: Caroline, Alberta Married: Sonia Rodriguez |
Award Highlights
1993 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame
1993 Sports Federation of Canada
"Top Male Athlete"
1991 Sports Federation of Canada
"Top Male Athlete"
1991 "Lionel Conacher Award"
Canadian Press Male
Athlete of the Year
1990 "Order of Canada"
Canada's most prestigious civilian award.
1990 Sports Federation of Canada
"Top Male Athlete"
1990 "Lou Marsh Award"
Canada's Outstanding Athlete
1990 "Lionel Conacher Award"
Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year
1989 Sports Federation of Canada
"Top Male Athlete"
One of the most prolific skaters in Canadian history, Kurt Browning is the son of a cowboy from the tiny foothills town of Caroline, Alberta. He took the world stage as a brash westerner with jumps labeled 'raw, confident and powerful.' He now holds the distinction of being the first athlete ever to successfully complete a quadruple jump in world competition. He accomplished this incredible feat during the 1988 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and is now listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
During his incredible career, Browning has earned four World Figure Skating Championships and four Canadian Championships. He won two world crowns when it was still necessary to perform compulsory figures. These honors have certainly provided validity for his decision at age 15 to forgo a career in ice hockey and pursue the sport which has become his passion.
During his competitive career, judges have always admired his excellence in pressure situations and the athletic, spontaneous and energetic way in which he skates. His natural rapport with the audience will be an obvious highlight of his show.
By the time he turned professional in 1994, Kurt had developed into one of the best entertainers the sport had ever seen. Skating fans will remember his memorable free skate program to Casablanca, when he played the Humphrey Bogart role of Rick.
Kurt has starred in three television specials, recreating Gene Kelly's 'Singing In The Rain' for the most recent program, 'You Must Remember This.' The production, which also included Browning as a Philip Marlowe-style detective, a sexy rock star, a classically trained dancer and a vaudeville entertainer, won five Gemini Awards including Best Variety Special. His first TV special was entitled 'Tall In The Saddle' and featured outdoor sets in his native Alberta. Kurt has also released his own home video, "JUMP." In 1993, Browning was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Browning turned professional in late 1994 paving the way for consecutive World Professional and Canadian Professional Championships in 1995 and 1996.
If I Could Live Anywhere in the World, It Would Be: "Close to friends, especially friends who love the sun and beach."
In 10 Years I See Myself Doing: "I will be skating using all of Scott's old costumes."
What Book Would You Recommend to Others?: "The Anne Rice vampire series."
Hobbies: "Pretending I know how to work my laptop. Leather tooling. Cheating at golf."
One Thing You Would Never Leave Home Without: "A sense of humor, you'll need it."
Person I Would Most Like To Meet: "My Grandfather who passed away before I was born."
Favorite Actor: Sean Connery
Favorite Actress: Lassie
Favorite Comedian: Robin Williams
If You Opened My Refrigerator, You Would Find: "Pretzels, peanuts, over priced beer, a couple of chocolate bars, something like the 'mini bar' in my hotel room."
Favorite Movies: 'Field of Dreams'
If You Were Not Skating Which Talent Would You Most Like to Have?: "The ability to fly."
Dream Car: "The DeLorean from 'Back to the Future' with time travel flux capacitor."
What Is Your Motto?: "Nothing dumb ever starts out stupid."
How Do You Prepare For A Show?: "Find my spot in the dressing room, sit and think about what exercises I should be doing and then go find catering."
Accomplishment I Am Most Proud Of: "Thinking I'll be able to do a triple at the age of 65."
Best or Worst Advice Your Parents Gave You: "Make your first car a big, sturdy one so that when you crash you come out OK. It worked."
What Other Occupation/Sport Would You Have Pursued?: "Golf. Thank God I didn't."
