Career
McKellen is now providing "Virtual" coaching assistance to figure skating coaches with respect to teaching technical elements of figure skating through his website at www.gordiemckellen.com. He was selected to represent the United States at the 1972 Winter Olympics and finished tenth. His highest placement at the World Championships was 5th, in 1975.
Although other skaters had practiced triple axels before then, McKellen was the first skater to attempt them in public performances.
The triple axel was not landed in competition until Vern Taylor did it in 1978. McKellen 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 toured with Toller Cranston"s "The Ice Show" company after turning professional. He was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1998.
In 2001, McKellen was banned for life from United States. Figure Skating because of allegations of inappropriate behavior and actions with underage female skaters.
