# Danielle O'Brien

Danielle O'Brien (born 7 February 1990) is an Australian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Gregory Merriman, she is a six-time Australian senior national champion and three-time junior national champion. They have competed at the World Championships and Four Continents Championships since 2008, and have competed at three World Junior Championships. They became the first Australian ice dancers to reach the free dance at a World Championships.

## Career

Danielle O'Brien teamed up with Gregory Merriman, who also skated at the Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, in April 1998. They were coached by Australian ice dancing champion Monica MacDonald in Sydney, Australia. In the 2009–10 season, they trained with former World champion Victor Kraatz and Maikki Kraatz. O'Brien/Merriman withdrew from the 2009 Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2010 Winter Olympics, due to Merriman's diagnosis of pericarditis, a viral infection in the sac surrounding the heart.
In the 2010–11 season, O'Brien/Merriman began training part-time in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan under coaches Anjelika Krylova, two-time World champion, and Pasquale Camerlengo. They relocated to Detroit to train there full-time in late 2011. Although Merriman's heel of his boot separated during the preliminary round at the 2012 World Championships, they placed eighth out of 23 couples and qualified for the short dance, where they placed 20th and qualified for the free. O'Brien/Merriman became the first Australian team to qualify for the free dance at a World Championships. They finished 20th overall.
In 2012–13, O'Brien/Merriman finished 7th at the US International Classic, 4th at the 2012 Ondrej Nepela Memorial, 8th at the 2012 NRW Trophy and 4th at the 2012 Ice Challenge. In January 2013, they became the first Australian ice dancers to medal at an International event when they took bronze at the Toruń Cup in Poland. In February, O'Brien/Merriman competed at the 2013 Four Continents Championships where they finished with a personal best placement of eighth. They did not qualify for the 2013 World Championships due to new TES requirements.
The 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy was the last chance to qualify for the Olympics; O'Brien/Merriman finished sixth and earned a place for Australia in the Olympic ice dancing event. At the 2014 Winter Olympics, they advanced to the free dance and finished 20th. They retired from competition on April 21, 2014.

## Programs

(with Merriman)
| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
| 2013–2014 | Quickstep: Cotton Club Stomp 1 by John Barry Foxtrot: The Mooche by John Barry Charleston: Cotton Club Stomp 2 by Duke Ellington Cotton Eye Joe Old Country Waltz | Thunder and Blazes performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band Goofus performed by Sounds of the Circus South Shore Concert Band Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright The Southerner performed by The Merle Evans Circus Band |
| 2012–2013 | Cotton Eye Joe Old Country Waltz | Thunder and Blazes Goofus Complainte de la Butte by Rufus Wainwright The Southerner |
| 2011–2012 | Mambo Mambo by Latin Soul Syndicate Samba: Ay Mama (Dance mix) | In the Mood by Glenn Miller Moonlight Serenade performed by Frank Sinatra Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman |
| 2010–2011 | Waltz from Cousins by Erich Kuenzel Quickstep: Dancing Fool by Barry Manilow | Boxes by Marvin Hamlisch After Car by Marvin Hamlisch Trust Me by Marvin Hamlisch Golf by Marvin Hamlisch |
| | Original dance | |
| 2009–2010 | Australian aboriginal music: Yulara by Scott Wilson and James Drury Warrama by David Hudson Kikin Kooka's by Scott Wilson and James Drury | Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis Love Potion No. 9 by The Clovers Shout by The Isley Brothers |
| 2008–2009 | Lindyhop Swing Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima This Business of Love (from The Mask) | Beethoven's Last Night Overture by Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Dark by Trans-Siberian Orchestra Ouverture by Trans-Siberian Orchestra |
| 2007–2008 | Australian Aboriginal music: Forest Phunk by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara Yulara by S. Wilson, J. Drury, Turtle on Yulara | Mamma Mia musical by ABBA: Overture, Prologue SOS Mamma Mia |
| 2006–2007 | Argentinos by C. Novell Hey Sexy Lady by Birch and Morrisen | King Swing by Swing City Giants This Business of Love (from The Mask) Hey Pachuco by Crown Review |
| 2005–2006 | Mambo: Johnny's Mambo by Michael Lloyd Cha Cha: Sway by Michael Buble Samba | King Swing by Swing City Giants This Business of Love (from The Mask) Hey Pachuco by Crown Review |
| 2004–2005 | George of the Jungle Pink Panther Henry Mancini | White Stones by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland: Steps Windancer Moving |
| 2003–2004 | | White Stones by Secret Garden, Rolf Lovland: Steps Windancer Moving |

## Results

(with Merriman)
Results :
| International |||||||||||
| Event | 04–05 | 05–06 | 06–07 | 07–08 | 08–09 | 09–10 | 10–11 | 11–12 | 12–13 | 13–14 |
| Olympics | | | | | | | | | | 20th |
| Worlds | | | | 27th | 25th | 25th | 27th | 20th | | 24th |
| Four Continents | | | | 10th | 10th | 10th | 9th | 9th | 8th | 7th |
| Ice Challenge | | | | | | | | | 4th | |
| Nebelhorn | | | | | | WD | 15th | | | 6th |
| NRW Trophy | | | | | | | | | 8th | |
| Ondrej Nepela | | | | | | | 10th | | 4th | |
| Skate Down Under | | | | | | | | | | 1st |
| Toruń Cup | | | | | | | | | 3rd | |
| U.S. Classic | | | | | | | | | 7th | |
| Volvo Cup | | | | | | | | | | 12th |
| International: Junior |||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | 26th | 23rd | 20th | | | | | | | |
| JGP China | 10th | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Japan | | 11th | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Taiwan | | | 10th | | | | | | | |
| National |||||||||||
| Australian Champ. | 1st J. | 1st J. | 1st J. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| JGP = Junior Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew |||||||||||