Jerod Swallow

Jerod Swallow was a two-time ice dancer at the Winter Olympics, competing in 1994 and 1998 with his partner and wife Elizabeth Punsalan. 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.

Swallow started out skating both pairs and dance, skating at the 1985 World Junior Championships in both events, placing fourth in pairs skating with Shelly Propson and fourth in ice dancing with Jodie Balogh. He met Punsalan in mid-1989 and they teamed up to skate only dance.

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

Swallow and Punsalan later competed together in ice shows before settling near Detroit and coaching figure skating at the Detroit Skating Club. Swallow served as the managing director of the club.