Simon

Profile Name Simon Shnapir Nicknames Simone Birthdate August 20, 1987 Birthplace Moscow, Russia Hometown Sudbury, Massachusetts Home Club Colonial FSC

Biography

Simon Shnapir needed something to do on Saturdays.

So when he was six years old, his mom took him to the ice for the first time — and he choose figure skating because the other boys were playing hockey.

When he was 13, he ventured into pair skating with the encouragement of his coach Bobby Martin, a former pair skater who competed with Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan.

Simon paired with Marissa Castelli in June 2006. In their first season together, the pair finished fourth at the Eastern Sectional Championships, which qualified them for the 2007 U.S. Championships, where they placed ninth in novice pairs.

The team competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit the following season. At the sectional event, Marissa and Simon won the gold medal in novice pairs. They also won the bronze medal at the 2008 U.S. Championships.

"Medaling at nationals" is the most defining moment in his career, said Simon, who wears Jackson skating boots with Ultima Blades.

In the 2008-2009 season, Marissa and Simon were the only American pair to qualify for the Junior Grand Prix Final. They finished third in the junior event at the U.S. Championships, earning them a trip to the World Junior Championships.

Simon graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in 2005. Currently, he attends Emerson College in Boston, where he is pursuing his love of movie production by studying film, video and television.

His hobbies include playing football, reading, traveling and watching movies. He also enjoys hanging out with his friends.

Fast Facts

• "I speak Russian fluently."

• "I play tennis."

• "I can do the robot."

• "I like to do impersonations."

• "I'm a die hard New England sports fan."

• "I have a tattoo."

• "I'm one of the tallest skaters, 6-feet-4-inches tall."