Background
Jerod Swallow was born October 18, 1966 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jerod Swallow was born October 18, 1966 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Early career Swallow competed in two disciplines at the 1985 World Junior Championships, placing fourth in pair skating with Shelly Propson and fourth in ice dancing with Jodie Balogh. He and Propson withdrew from the 1986 United States. Championships after an accident in a practice session. She hit her head when she fell from a lift and was taken to hospital where she recovered quickly.
Partnership with Punsalan Swallow teamed up with Elizabeth Punsalan in mid-1989.
They were initially coached by Sandy Hess in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They placed 7th at 1989 Skate America and 5th at the 1990 United States. They were one of the favorites for the 1992 Olympic team but at the 1992 United States. Championships, Swallow fell during the free dance and they finished in third.
Swallow was ready to leave competition for show skating but Punsalan persuaded him to continue. In 1992, Punsalan/Swallow began working with Igor Shpilband for choreography in Detroit.
By the 1993-1994 season, he had become their head coach.
The couple developed a rivalry with Renee Roca / Gorsha Sur, who had earlier choreographed a program for them and trained alongside them. The United States. had a single berth to the ice dancing event at the 1994 Winter Olympics. Punsalan and Swallow were involved in a letter-writing campaign to Congress to prevent Sur from receiving expedited citizenship, which would allow him to compete at the 1994 Olympics.
At the United States. Championships in January 1994, Punsalan and Swallow placed first in the original dance, ahead of their injured rivals in second.
They competed at the 1994 Olympics only two weeks after her father"s death, finishing 15th. They placed 7th at the 1998 Winter Olympics and 6th at the 1998 World Punsalan/Swallow ended their eligible career in 1998 and continued to skate in shows for a number of years.
Swallow is managing director at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Ice dancing with Punsalan Ice dancing with Balogh Pair skating with Propson.