Elizabeth Punsalan

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameElizabeth•Punsalan
Used nameElizabeth•Punsalan
Born9 January 1971 in Syracuse, New York (USA)
Measurements165 cm / 50 kg
AffiliationsBroadmoor Skating Club, Colorado Springs (USA) / Detroit Skating Club, Bloomfield Hills (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

Elizabeth Punsalan was a two-time ice dancer at the Winter Olympics, competing in 1994 and 1998 with her partner and husband Jerod Swallow. The couple was US Champions in 1991, 1994, and 1996-98, and won Skate America in 1995 and 1998. They competed five times at the World Championships, finishing sixth in 1997 and 1998.

Punsalan and Swallow’s Olympic début was marred by a tragedy that occurred exactly two weeks before they first competed at Lillehammer. Her younger brother, Ricky, who had psychiatric problems, fatally stabbed their father on 4 February 1994. He was eventually found mentally unfit to stand trial. Despite this, Punsalan and Swallow competed at Lillehammer and finished 15th.

Punsalan and Swallow later competed together in ice shows before settling near Detroit and coaching figure skating at the Detroit Skating Club.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1994 Winter Olympics Figure Skating (Skating) USA Elizabeth Punsalan
Ice Dancing, Mixed (Olympic) Jerod Swallow 15
1998 Winter Olympics Figure Skating (Skating) USA Elizabeth Punsalan
Ice Dancing, Mixed (Olympic) Jerod Swallow 7

Olympic family relations