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Jenni Meno
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Jenni N. Meno (born November 10, 1970, in Westlake, Ohio)[1] is an American former competitive pair skater. With her husband Todd Sand, she is the 1998 World silver medalist, a two-time World bronze medalist (1995, 1996), and a three-time U.S. national champion (1994–96).
Key Information
Career
[edit]Meno first partnered with Scott Wendland and won two medals at the U.S. Championships. She began skating with her future husband Todd Sand in April 1992. They competed in two Olympics and won three national titles and three medals at the World Figure Skating Championships.[2][3]
Following their amateur career, the pair skated professionally in the Stars on Ice tour for six seasons. Meno also appeared in the 2006 FOX television program "Skating with Celebrities".
Meno and Sand were inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2010.
Meno works as a coach with her husband. They formerly coached John Baldwin / Rena Inoue,[4] Mary Beth Marley / Rockne Brubaker,[5] and Jessica Calalang / Zack Sidhu.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Meno and Sand became engaged the day of their short program at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. They were married July 22, 1995. They have two sons, Jack, born in 2004, and Matthew Kenneth, born on August 14, 2006.
Competitive highlights
[edit]Ladies' singles
[edit]| Event | 1989 |
|---|---|
| U.S. Championships | 10th |
Pairs
[edit]With Todd Sand
[edit]| International | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 |
| Olympics | 5th | 8th | ||||
| Worlds | 5th | 6th | 3rd | 3rd | 5th | 2nd |
| CS Final | 4th | WD | ||||
| CS Lalique | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | |||
| CS NHK Trophy | 5th | 1st | 2nd | |||
| CS Skate America | 2nd | |||||
| Prague Skate | 1st | |||||
| National | ||||||
| U.S. Champ. | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | WD |
| CS = Champions Series from 1995 to 1996 (later renamed Grand Prix) WD = Withdrew | ||||||
With Scott Wendland
[edit]| International | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | 1990–1991 | 1991–1992 |
| Olympics | 11th | |
| World Championships | 10th | 11th |
| Skate Canada | 5th | |
| National | ||
| U.S. Championships | 3rd | 2nd |
References
[edit]- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Jenni Meno". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ "Despite Foot Injury, Meno-sand Named To Nagano Pairs Team". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 1998-01-10. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ "Meno-sand Takes The Hard Road To Winter Games". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 1998-02-07. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ "Meno, Sand to coach Inoue, Baldwin". Icenetwork.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-05. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
- ^ Mary Beth Marley & Rockne Brubaker at the International Skating Union
- ^ Jessica Calalang & Zach Sidhu at the International Skating Union
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Jenni Meno
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Early life
Family background
Jenni Meno was born on November 10, 1970, in Columbus, Ohio.[5] She was raised in Columbus, a city known for its Midwestern family-oriented communities, before her family relocated to the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood during her high school years to support her intensifying skating training.[6] She attended Westlake High School.[7] Lakewood, an affluent suburban area approximately 6 miles west of downtown Cleveland, provided convenient access to local ice rinks such as the Winterhurst Ice Arena, affiliated with the Winterhurst Figure Skating Club, facilitating her early athletic pursuits.[3] Her family maintained a supportive environment that encouraged participation in sports, with her parents fostering an interest in physical activities from a young age, though specific professions or names remain undocumented in public records.[5] Notably, her grandfather played a key role by driving her to Cleveland for lessons beginning at age 10, underscoring the familial dedication to her development.[5] No public information details siblings or a family history in skating, highlighting Meno's individual drive and passion as central to her early motivations.[5] This nurturing home backdrop in Ohio laid the foundation for her transition to figure skating at age 8.[5]Introduction to skating
Jenni Meno was introduced to figure skating during her early childhood in Ohio, where she grew up in Columbus. She began pursuing the sport seriously at the age of eight while attending elementary school in her hometown, initially training as a singles skater at local facilities under coach Stephanie Miller.[5][8] From age 10, she trained with Carol Heiss Jenkins at the Winterhurst Ice Arena in Cleveland, living with a host family during the week while her grandfather drove her for lessons. To further support her developing interest, Meno's family relocated from Columbus to Lakewood, Ohio, enabling her to intensify her practice and participate in junior-level activities within the Winterhurst Figure Skating Club.[5][6] Meno's early development emphasized the core elements of singles skating, including jumps, spins, and footwork, building a strong technical base before any consideration of other disciplines. As a teenager, she transitioned to coach Kris Sherard, then moved to Kathy Casey at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs in the early 1990s to prepare for junior competitions. Her family's encouragement from their Ohio roots played a key role in sustaining her commitment to the sport during this formative period.[9][5]Competitive career
Ladies' singles
| Year | Event | Location | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | U.S. Championships (juniors) | Denver, Colorado | 6th |
| 1989 | U.S. Championships | Baltimore, Maryland | 10th |
| 1990 | U.S. Championships (seniors) | Salt Lake City, Utah | 11th |
Partnership with Scott Wendland
Jenni Meno formed her first pairs partnership with Scott Wendland in late 1989, transitioning from ladies' singles after facing challenges in advancing at the senior level. A California native and experienced singles skater, Wendland's location necessitated Meno's relocation from the Cleveland area in Ohio to Costa Mesa, California, where the pair trained under coach John Nicks at the Ice Capades Chalet.[10] Their shared background in singles skating enabled a rapid adaptation to pairs elements, with Meno noting her long-standing interest in the discipline despite initial reluctance to leave her original coach and home. The duo debuted competitively at the 1990 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, securing third place, followed by a bronze medal in 1991 and silver in 1992. Internationally, they finished 10th at the 1991 World Championships in Munich and 11th at both the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 World Championships in Oakland.[11][3][12] The partnership emphasized synchronized side-by-side double axels and triple jumps, along with one-arm lifts, reflecting their strong individual jumping abilities as former singles competitors. They incorporated early throw jumps and side-by-side spins into their programs, though consistency in lifts proved challenging during their development as relative newcomers to pairs skating.[10] After three seasons, the partnership dissolved in March 1992, shortly after the World Championships, when Meno switched to partner Todd Sand, amid reports of a blossoming romance between Meno and Sand that led to the abrupt changes in both pairs.[13][14]Partnership with Todd Sand
Jenni Meno formed her partnership with Todd Sand in 1992, following the end of her collaboration with Scott Wendland after the 1992 Winter Olympics.[15] Sand, who had previously competed in singles for Denmark in the early 1980s before switching to pairs with Natasha Kuchiki—earning a 1991 World bronze medal—brought complementary experience in technical elements and international competition to the duo.[16] Their initial season together in 1992–93 showed immediate promise, as they captured silver at the U.S. Championships and placed fifth at the World Championships.[17] The partnership quickly became Meno and Sand's most successful, marked by dominance in American pairs skating. They won three consecutive U.S. Championships from 1994 to 1996, establishing themselves as the leading U.S. team during that period.[17] Internationally, they earned bronze medals at the World Championships in 1995 and 1996, followed by a silver medal in 1998—the highest finish for an American pair at Worlds since 1979.[15] At the Olympics, they finished fifth in Lillehammer in 1994 after a strong short program where Sand proposed to Meno, and eighth in Nagano in 1998 despite a challenging short program affected by judging inconsistencies.[18] Meno and Sand were known for their innovative and synchronized technical repertoire, which emphasized artistic expression alongside difficulty. They pioneered elements like the throw triple Salchow, which became a signature move in their programs, and incorporated variations of death spirals that highlighted their precise timing and strength.[19] Their routines often featured elaborate synchronized lifts and intricate footwork sequences, blending power with elegance to appeal to judges and audiences alike.[17] Throughout the mid-1990s, the duo faced significant challenges, including injuries such as Meno's ankle sprain from a throw triple Salchow landing in 1995 and judging controversies that impacted their placements, notably at the 1997 U.S. Championships where they received unexpectedly high technical marks despite errors, and at the 1998 Olympics where inconsistent scoring hindered their performance.[20][21][18] However, their strong on-ice chemistry, which extended to a personal relationship—they married in July 1995—helped them overcome these obstacles and maintain consistency.[19] The partnership concluded after their silver medal at the 1998 World Championships, as Meno and Sand retired to focus on starting a family and due to the physical demands of elite competition.[17] Their final season underscored their legacy as trailblazers in American pairs skating, having elevated the discipline's profile through medals and memorable performances.[15]Post-competitive career
Professional skating
Following their successful competitive career with Todd Sand, which included three U.S. championships and multiple World medals, Jenni Meno transitioned to professional skating in 1998.[8] Meno and Sand joined the Stars on Ice tour starting in the 1998-99 season, performing together for six seasons until 2004.[8][22] Their professional routines often featured dynamic pairs elements, such as their 1998-99 performance to "Europa" by Santana, choreographed by Sandra Bezic.[23] These shows allowed them to showcase adapted versions of their competitive programs to live audiences across North America, maintaining their visibility in the figure skating community.[24] In addition to Stars on Ice, Meno and Sand made appearances in other professional ice shows, including Champions on Ice, where they performed post-retirement routines in 1998 and beyond.[25] These engagements highlighted their technical prowess in pairs skating and contributed to the appeal of professional tours during a period when such productions were popularizing the sport.[26] Meno also participated in media opportunities, competing as a professional skater paired with actor Todd Bridges on the Fox reality series Skating with Celebrities in 2006; they were the first duo eliminated.[27] She has taken on occasional judging roles within the Professional Skaters Association.[28]Coaching achievements
Meno and her husband Todd Sand began their coaching careers in the mid-2000s following their retirement from professional skating in 2004, initially based at East West Ice Palace in Artesia, California.[29] They formalized their coaching partnership there, focusing on pairs skating and drawing on their experiences as three-time U.S. champions and World medalists to guide emerging talents. Over time, they relocated their primary training to the Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena in Irvine, Orange County, California, where they continue to operate as of 2025.[30] Their coaching philosophy emphasizes a collaborative "village" approach, integrating input from specialists like Rafael Arutyunian for technical elements and Nina Mozer for artistic refinement, while prioritizing technical precision, injury prevention through balanced training, and artistic expression to prepare skaters for high-stakes international competition. This method has produced consistent results by fostering detailed preparation and holistic development, informed by their own career challenges and successes in overcoming height differences and refining lifts and throws.[31] In March 2023, Todd Sand suffered a serious heart attack while coaching at the World Junior Championships in Calgary, Canada; he underwent treatment and recovery, and the couple continued their coaching, with students dedicating performances to him at the 2023 World Championships.[32] Among their most notable students are Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, whom they co-coached to a gold medal in the U.S. team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (awarded in 2024 following doping reallocations), the 2022 World pairs gold—the first for a U.S. pair in 43 years—and the 2023 World pairs silver. Earlier successes include guiding Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson to the 2020 U.S. pairs silver medal and Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay to national placements, demonstrating their impact on elevating American pairs skating.[33][34][35][36][31] Meno and Sand's contributions earned them induction into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2010 alongside their competitive partnership. They received the Professional Skaters Association (PSA) Edi Award for Coaches of the Year in 2020 and again in 2023 (shared with colleagues Christine Fowler-Binder and Chris Knierim). In 2023, Meno was named the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Olympic Coach of the Year for their work with the Beijing Olympic team, and the pair led the PSA Coaches Hall of Fame class that year. As of 2025, they remain active in Orange County, mentoring both junior and senior pairs teams.[37][38][39][40][4]Personal life
Marriage and family
Meno's professional partnership with Todd Sand evolved into a romantic relationship, leading to their engagement during the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where Sand proposed to her on the day of their short program.[41][42] The couple married on July 22, 1995, in a church in suburban Cleveland, Ohio.[41][43] Following their retirement from competitive skating in 1998, Meno and Sand started a family, welcoming two sons: Jack Henry in 2004 and Matthew Kenneth in 2006.[15][44][45][46] The family has resided long-term in Orange County, California, near prominent training facilities like the Aliso Viejo Ice Palace.[47][48][32] Meno and Sand have balanced family life with their shared coaching careers, often working together while raising their children, with Sand actively involved in parenting responsibilities.[49][29]Later honors
Following the establishment of her family, Jenni Meno-Sand has received several honors recognizing her lasting impact on figure skating, particularly tied to her Ohio roots and overall contributions to the sport. In 2003, she was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame for her achievements as a world-class pairs skater.[8] In 2010, Meno-Sand and her husband Todd Sand were jointly inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, honoring their competitive legacy as three-time U.S. national champions, 1998 World silver medalists, and two-time Olympic participants.[37] More recently, in 2024, Meno-Sand was inducted into the Westlake Alumni Association Hall of Fame as a distinguished athletic alumna from Westlake High School (class of 1989), acknowledging her pioneering role in pairs skating and her representation of Ohio's skating heritage through multiple Olympic appearances and world-level success.[7] These inductions highlight Meno-Sand's enduring legacy in advancing pairs skating, including her contributions to elevating the visibility and technical standards of the discipline during and after her competitive era.Competitive highlights
Ladies' singles
| Year | Event | Location | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | U.S. Championships (juniors) | Denver, Colorado | 6th |
| 1989 | U.S. Championships | Baltimore, Maryland | 10th |
| 1990 | U.S. Championships (seniors) | Salt Lake City, Utah | 12th |
Pairs with Scott Wendland
Meno began her pairs career with Scott Wendland in 1990, achieving placements in several international and national competitions over the next two seasons.[3]| Year | Event | Location | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | NHK Trophy | Hiroshima, Japan | 4th | Short program: 4th; free skate: 4th.[50] |
| 1991 | U.S. Championships | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | 3rd | Bronze medal.[3] |
| 1991 | World Championships | Munich, Germany | 10th | Qualified as U.S. bronze medalists.[3] |
| 1992 | Skate Canada International | London, Ontario, Canada | 5th | Grand Prix event.[51] |
| 1992 | U.S. Championships | Orlando, Florida, USA | 2nd | Silver medal. |
| 1992 | Winter Olympics | Albertville, France | 11th | Short program: 12th; free skate: 9th (overall ordinals: 15.0). |
| 1992 | World Championships | Oakland, California, USA | 11th | Short program: 9th; free skate: 11th (overall ordinals: 15.5).[52] |
Pairs with Todd Sand
Jenni Meno and Todd Sand's partnership, which began in 1992, marked a dominant era for American pairs skating, culminating in three consecutive U.S. national titles from 1994 to 1996 and three World Championship medals. They qualified for two Olympic Games, finishing fifth in 1994 and eighth in 1998, while securing victories in key Grand Prix events that highlighted their technical prowess and artistic expression. Their achievements elevated U.S. pairs on the international stage during the mid-1990s.[17][15] The following table summarizes their major competitive results, focusing on national championships, Olympics, World Championships, and select Grand Prix events.| Year | Event | Location | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | U.S. Championships | Phoenix, Arizona, USA | 2nd | Silver medal.[53] |
| 1993 | World Championships | Prague, Czech Republic | 5th | Strong debut as a new team; earned U.S. a spot at the 1994 Olympics.[15] |
| 1993 | Prague Skate (Grand Prix) | Prague, Czech Republic | 1st | First international title together.[15] |
| 1994 | U.S. Championships | Detroit, Michigan, USA | 1st | First national title; short program to "Les Misérables," free skate to "Phantom of the Opera." |
| 1994 | Winter Olympics | Lillehammer, Norway | 5th | Best U.S. pairs Olympic finish since 1988; proposed marriage post-performance.[17][54] |
| 1994 | World Championships | Chiba, Japan | 6th | Improved from Olympic placement despite minor errors.[55] |
| 1995 | U.S. Championships | Providence, Rhode Island, USA | 1st | Defended title with six 6.0s for artistry in free skate. |
| 1995 | World Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 3rd | First World medal (bronze); scored 0.2 from gold.[15] |
| 1996 | U.S. Championships | San Jose, California, USA | 1st | Third consecutive national title.[17] |
| 1996 | World Championships | Edmonton, Canada | 3rd | Second consecutive bronze; total score 176.8 points.[15] |
| 1997 | U.S. Championships | Nashville, Tennessee, USA | 2nd | Ended title streak due to errors in short program but strong free skate.[56] |
| 1997 | NHK Trophy (Grand Prix) | Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | Won both short and free programs.[15] |
| 1997 | World Championships | Lausanne, Switzerland | 5th | Recovered from national setback; placed 4th in short, 5th in free. |
| 1998 | U.S. Championships | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | Withdrew | Injury withdrawal but named to Olympic team based on prior results.[57] |
| 1998 | Winter Olympics | Nagano, Japan | 8th | Final Olympic appearance; affected by injury.[58] |
| 1998 | World Championships | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | 2nd | Career-best silver medal; free skate to selections from "Carmen." Total score 181.0 points.[59][15] |
References
- https://en.wikipedia-on-ipfs.org/wiki/1991_NHK_Trophy