Gordon McKellen

Who is Gordon McKellen?

Gordon "Gordie" McKellen Jr. is a former American figure skater. He found his career path early thanks to his father, Gordon "Tuffy" McKellen of the famous 1940's ice skating duo, the McKellen Brothers. He is the 1973-1975 United States national champion. He placed tenth at the 1972 Olympics. His highest placement at the World Figure Skating Championships was 5th, in 1975.

Although other skaters had practiced triple axels before then, Gordie McKellen was the first skater to attempt them in public performances. He landed several in exhibition in 1974-1975, as King of the Lake Placid Winter Festival exhibition and during the exhibitions following his third National championship win in Providence. The triple axel wasn't landed in competition until Vern Taylor did it in 1978.

McKellen married Kath Malmberg, World Figure Skating contender and Bronze medalist in the 1974-75 US Figure Skating Championships. He retired from competitive skating after the 1975 season after his coach, Slavka Kohout, left her position at the Wagon Wheel rink in Rockton, Illinois, where McKellen had been training. He was known as a good show skater and toured with Toller Cranston's "The Ice Show" company after turning professional.