FILIPINO-AMERICAN WINTER OLYMPIC SKATER
Michigan, March 10, 1998 - Filipino-American ice dance skater Elizabeth Punzalan teamed with husband Jerod Swallow, is US National title winner and with her husband as partner, earned a Winter Olympics spot twice. Both Punzalan and Swallow earned a place in the 1994 U.S. Winter Olympics at Lillehammer. Norway. and they were at the Nagano Winter Olympics 98 in Japan last month.
Elizabeth Punzalan is the daughter of the late Filipino doctor Ernesto Punzalan and Irish-American Theresa McGowan. It was her mom, Theresa who introduced Elizabeth and her four athletic brothers and sisters to ice skating. Elizabeth persevered.
She eventually moved to Detroit, lived with a skating family and trained with the Detroit Michigan Sandra Hees School. In 1988, at age 18, Punzalan won the Junior National Championships. She then began skating with Jerod Swallow, dated after 4 years of being together and eventually tied the knot on Sept 4, 1993.
Two weeks before Jerod and Elizabeth were to leave for the Lillehammer, Norway Winter Olympics, Elizabeth's father was tragically killed, shot by her brother, 23-year-old Ricardo. Ricardo has been troubled with drug abuse and was diagnosed a schizophrenic and is presently committed at a high-security hospital. He was found not guilty of an aggravated murder by reason of insanilty. His father was 56 at time of death.
Elizabeth and Jerod went to Lillehammer in the 1994 Olympics representing the U.S.A. but took a spill in their free dance and finished in 15th place.
The couple now resides in Potomac, Michigan, both passionately committed to the sport and is getting more acquainted with the Filipino-American community. She was given the title "Most Outstanding Athlete of Filipino Descent" by the New York-based "Filipino American Human Services Inc.".
The perfect example of discipline and diligence, this beautiful young lady has all reasons to look for the brightest future in her career. Her future includes continuing in their Punzalan-Swallow ice-dance team professionally, starting a family and even complete a degree in industrial engineering while Swallow finishes up a degree in art history.
PHNO is proud to present to the world, ice-dance Olympic skater, Elizabeth Punzalan and partner Jerod Swallow!
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