Eight-time British National Champion Steven Cousins is perhaps best known for his charismatic presence and sense of rhythm and style on the ice. He is a dynamic performer who has charmed legions of fans around the world with his entertaining and fun-loving attitude, on and off the ice. He is also an experienced competitor, having participated in eight World Championships and three Winter Olympic Games (1992, 1994 & 1998). He is the first Briton to land a triple axel in competition and the youngest male skater to win the senior British Nationals. He has also been named as one of International Figure Skating Magazine's "Top 10 Most Beautiful People in Skating." Steven is a well-rounded skater, with a balance of solid technique and captivating artistry on the ice.

Steven was born on May 24, 1972 in Chester, England, not far from Connah's Quay, Wales, where his family lived, and where his parents still reside for part of the year. His parents are Dave and Val Cousins and he has one brother, Paul, who is two years older. Paul is also involved in the sport of figure skating, working as a coach in Barrie, Parry Sound and Bracebridge, Ontario. Steven began skating at the age of 6 because his brother wanted to learn (Steven wanted to take guitar lessons!). During the first two years, he lost interest twice, but something pulled him back. (It probably didn't hurt that he grew weary of sitting in the cold ice rink watching his brother "have so much fun with all the girls.") As many boys involved with the sport do, Steven endured some teasing from his peers. With his usual good humor, Steven chalked it up to jealousy that he was able to spend so much time with pretty girls at the rink.

His first coach was Sue Willance, who trained him until he was nine years old, then Trish Molton coached him for the next three years. In 1984, at the age of 12, he began working with Donna Gately, who would remain his coach for six years. Also at age 12, Steven landed his first triple jump, a triple salchow. He won the Junior British Nationals for the first time in 1986, at the age of 14. He went on to recapture that title in 1988, and he won his first Senior British title the following year, at the age of 17. He went on to win seven more national titles, for a grand total of eight. In 1994, he became the first Briton to land a triple axel in competition when he landed the difficult jump in his short program at the Winter Olympics in Lillihammer, Norway. He has said that doing a triple axel is "an amazing feeling," but a bit like "stepping off of a cliff and hoping there's a ledge on the other side."

There were not many good training options in Britain for the talented young man, who sometimes had to skate in the middle of the night in order to get ice time. In 1990, Steven began training in the United States for a large portion of the year. He worked with Alex McGown (who coached Debi Thomas to her Olympic medal) in California and Sun Valley, Idaho until 1992. During those two years, he was coached by Steven Bigabance and Karen Barber when he was training at home, in the United Kingdom. While training in Sun Valley, Steven was lucky enough to meet and work with skaters such as Brian Boitano, Brian Orser and Scott Hamilton when they came to perform in Sun Valley's ice show. Scott would, in fact, become one of his closest friends.

His first Olympic competition was at the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville, France; he placed 12th. A year later, at the age of 20, Steven nearly gave up the sport of figure skating. His friends knew he was thinking of quitting, and encouraged him to continue. Elvis Yon Arrick, a skater for Norway, introduced him to Doug Leigh at the Mariposa School of Skating, in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Doug and Robert Tebby became, and would remain, his coaches. Steven relocated to Canada, and has lived and trained in Barrie ever since. The following year, at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, he finished in 9th place, and four years later, in Nagano, Japan, he placed 6th. Today, he still trains at the Mariposa School of Skating, and continues to train with Doug Leigh and Robert Tebby, as well as his brother, Paul Cousins.

Steven retired from eligible competition after the 1997-98 season, and began touring with Stars on Ice the following fall. From the beginning, Steven's charisma, entertaining style and warm personality charmed audiences throughout the U.S., as well as endearing him to his fellow cast members, and he has become a fixture in the Stars on Ice U.S. tour. Behind the scenes, his sense of humor helps keep the cast entertained while on the road. His warm personality, and friendly demeanor towards his fans are well known and often commented upon by those fortunate enough to have met him.

While Steven does not have many opportunities to skate in Great Britain, these days, in 2002 he was honored to skate for the Queen of England during her golden Jubilee, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. In September 2006, Steven will produce "Iced Energy", his own exhibition show in Nottingham, England. The cast will include skating luminaries from around the world.

In addition to his work as a performer, Steven has begun to work in other avenues of skating, such as choreography. He has choreographed the Mariposa Skating Club's annual show for the past five years, and recently choreographed competitive programs for several eligible skaters. He has also worked as the assistant choreographer for several shows produced by Disson Skating, including the 2004 & 2005 Holiday Celebration on Ice shows, and the Tribute to Kenny Loggins in 2004. Steven plans to continue his involvement in the sport of figure skating, in whatever avenues are available to him in the future, and he has hopes of one day returning to the Olympics as a coach.

In his spare time, Steven enjoys golf (his handicap index is 9), though his passion is football (or 'soccer' as his American fans would say). His favorite team is Liverpool. Steven plays football as often as he can, and he once entertained hopes of playing professionally. In the fall of 2002, while playing football, he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the major ligament supporting the knee. He was determined to return to skating, but the injury forced him to take a season off for surgery and recuperation. Steven currently resides in Barrie, Ontario, with his Irish Setter, Finnan (named after Steve Finnan, the only Irish footballer to play for Liverpool).

Fast Facts

Name: Steven Richard Cousins
Birthday: May 24, 1972
Birthplace: Chester, England
Hair Colour: Dark Brown
Eye Colour: Hazel
Height: 6' (183 cm)
Family: Mother - Val Cousins; Father - Dave Cousins; Brother - Paul Cousins (two years older)
Passion: Football ('Soccer' to his U.S. fans)
Favorite Football Team: Liverpool
Favorite Football (Soccer) Player: Steven Gerrard, Gary Speed.
Favorite Professional Golfer: Darren Clarke
Other hobby: Golf
Golf Handicap Index: 9
Began Skating: Age 6
Hardest Jumps Landed:
    In competition: Triple Axel
    In practice: Quad Salchow & Quad Toeloop
Favorite Books: The Day After Tomorrow by Alan Folsom and The Camulod Chronicals by Jack Whyte
Favorite Food: Indian Curry
Favorite Drink: Coke! (with Baccardi!)
Favorite Movie(s): Saving Private Ryan, Glory, 300
Favorite Quote(s):
    "The Law of Aerodynamics says a Bumble Bee shouldn't be able to fly……Someone forgot to tell the bee."
    "Football is not Life and Death... Its bigger than that." (Bill Shankly)
Favorite Skaters (each discipline): Yuka Sato, Jeff Buttle, Torvill and Dean, Gordeeva & Grinkov