# Max Aaron

Maxwell Theodore "Max" Aaron (born February 25, 1992) is an American former figure skater. He is the 2013 U.S. national champion, the 2015 Skate America champion, the 2011 U.S. national junior champion, and a three-time U.S. International Classic champion (2012, 2013, and 2014). Aaron announced his retirement from figure skating on April 19, 2018.

## Personal life

Maxwell Theodore Aaron was born in Scottsdale, Arizona. The second of three children born to Mindy, a nurse, and Neil, a pediatrician, he has two sisters, Madeline and Molly, both of whom have competed in pair skating. He is Jewish, and was raised in a traditionally Conservative Jewish home. He said:
   I grew up looking to all those Jewish athletes for inspiration. I always thought the list needed to be longer. We needed to have a stronger representation of Jewish athletes, and I’m so happy that I’m part of them now.
Aaron attended Chaparral High School in Scottsdale and later Cheyenne Mountain High School, graduating in 2010. He received the Principal's List Award and was on the honor roll for four years. He then began studying at Pikes Peak Community College and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, where he majors in finance with a minor in communication.

## Career
### Early years

Aaron began skating as a hockey player at age four, and took up figure skating at age nine to improve his skating skills. He competed in the USA Hockey nationals in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he played U16 AAA hockey and was chosen for the US National Team Development Program. He led his league in goals and penalties for two years.
In the US Championships for figure skating, Aaron finished in 5th in the novice category in 2007 and 13th in the junior category in 2008. He continued to compete in both sports until he fractured the right and left of his L5 lumbar vertebrae. He spent four months in a body cast and another four in physical therapy, and was required to stay off the ice for a year.
Aaron later moved from Scottsdale, Arizona, where he had skated at the Ice Den, to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to train at the Broadmoor Skating Club and the World Arena. There, he picked Tom Zakrajsek as his head coach and Christy Krall for additional technical advice.

### 2009–10 to 2010–11

Aaron won the bronze medal at the U.S. national junior championships.
The following season, he won a silver medal at the SBC Cup in Karuizawa, Japan. He then won the national junior title. He then competed in the 2011 World Junior Championships in Gangneung, South Korea, and placed 5th.

### 2012–13 season

Aaron won gold at the 2012 U.S. International Classic. He took silver at the 2012 Cup of Nice. At the age of 20, Aaron won the 2013 U.S. Championships. His West Side Story free skate helped him score a total of 255 points to win the gold, ahead of silver medalist Ross Miner and three-time winner Jeremy Abbott.

### 2013–14 season

Aaron made his Grand Prix debut at the 2013 Skate America. In sixth place after the short, he placed second in the free and pulled up to win the bronze medal behind winner Tatsuki Machida and silver medalist Adam Rippon. He placed 7th at the NHK Trophy.
At the 2014 U. Championships, he took the bronze medal and was named to the 2014 World Championships. His 8th-place result at Worlds with Jeremy Abbott's 5th-place finish allowed the U.S. to regain its third spot in the men's event.

### 2014–15 season

Aaron won gold at his first ISU Challenger Series (CS) event, the 2014 U.S. International Classic. Turning to the Grand Prix series, he won the bronze medal at the 2014 Skate Canada International and placed 7th at the 2014 Rostelecom Cup. He finished fourth at the 2015 U.S. Championships.

### 2015–16 season

Aaron began his season with silver at the 2015 Nebelhorn Trophy followed by gold at a Grand Prix event, the 2015 Skate America. At the 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard, he placed 7th in the short program, which became the final result after the event was cancelled due to the November 2015 Paris attacks. Later that month, he was awarded gold at the 2015 Tallinn Trophy.
Aaron won the silver medal at the 2016 U.S. Championships. At the 2016 World Championships in Boston, he ranked 8th in the short program and went on to set a new record for a United States male skater in the free skate, earning a total of 254.14 points, although this was broken a few minutes later by his teammate Adam Rippon. Aaron finished in eighth place.

### 2016–17 season

Aaron decided to modify his approach to quad jumps, stating in August 2016: "I'm using an inside three turn (entrance). [...] It's kind of old school in a way, but it's been working. I wanted to try something new because obviously the three-turn wasn't working under pressure."
Aaron began his season with a pair of bronze medals, earned at the 2016 Autumn Classic International and 2016 Lombardia Trophy. He finished 4th at the 2016 Cup of China, 5th at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup, and 9th at the 2017 U.S. Championships.

### 2017–18 season

Aaron won silver at the 2017 U.S. International Classic and bronze at a Grand Prix event, the 2017 Cup of China. He placed 7th at his other Grand Prix assignment, the 2017 Internationaux de France, and 9th at the 2018 U.S. Championships.
U.S. Figure Skating did not select Aaron for the 2018 Winter Olympics but chose him for the 2018 Four Continents Championships and named him as a third alternate for the 2018 World Championships. He placed 5th in Taipei and was later called up to compete in Milan, where he finished 11th. He announced his retirement from competitive skating on April 19, 2018.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skate | Exhibition |
| 2005–06 | — | Les Misérables By Claude-Michel Schönberg | — |
| 2006–07 | — | The Sea Hawk By Erich Wolfgang Korngold | — |
| 2007–08 | Piano Concerto in A By Edvard Grieg Performed by Maksim Mrvica | Gladiator By Hans Zimmer | — |
| 2008–09 | In the Stone Drumline By Maurice White, David Foster & Allee Willis | "Speak Softly Love" (Love Theme from The Godfather) By Nino Rota | — |
| 2009–10 | Once Upon a Time | Concierto de Aranjuez By Joaquin Rodrigo Vidre | — |
| 2010–11 | "El Tango de Roxanne" From Moulin Rouge! | "Winter" "Summer" From The Four Seasons By Antonio Vivaldi Arranged by David Garrett | "Feeling Good" By Michael Bublé |
| 2011–12 | "Oblivion" By Ástor Piazzolla Performed by Lucia Micarelli | Tosca By Giacomo Puccini | — |
| 2012–13 | Tron By Daft Punk | West Side Story By Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim | "Black Betty" By Ram Jam |
| 2013–14 | Historia de un Amor By Perez Prado Choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | Carmen Performed by Rodion Shchedrin and the Boston Pops Orchestra Choreo. by Lori Nichol | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" By James Brown |
| 2014–15 | "Footloose" By Kenny Loggins Choreo. by Mark Pillay | Gladiator By Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard Choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo | "Black Betty" |
| 2014–15 | "Nessun dorma" By Giacomo Puccini Performed by Luciano Pavarotti Choreo. by Phillip Mills | Black Swan By Clint Mansell Choreo. by Phillip Mills | "Black Betty" |
| 2015–16 | "Nessun dorma" By Giacomo Puccini Performed by Luciano Pavarotti Choreo. by Phillip Mills | Black Swan By Clint Mansell Choreo. by Phillip Mills | "Thunderstruck" By AC/DC |
| 2016–17 | "Nessun dorma" By Giacomo Puccini Performed by Luciano Pavarotti Choreo. by Phillip Mills | The Lion King By Hans Zimmer Choreo. by Phillip Mills | "Black Betty" |
| 2016–17 | "La Virgen de la Macarena" By Arturo Sandoval | The Lion King By Hans Zimmer Choreo. by Phillip Mills | "Thunderstruck" |
| 2017–18 | Les Misérables By Claude-Michel Schönberg "Bring Him Home" "One Day More" Choreo. by Katherine Hill | The Phantom of the Opera By Andrew Lloyd Webber Choreo. by Katherine Hill | — |

## Competitive highlights

* GP – Event of the Grand Prix
* JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
* CS – Event of the Challenger Series
* Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.
Competition placements at senior level :
| Season | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 |
| World Championships | | 7th | 8th | | 8th | | 11th |
| Four Continents Championships | | 4th | | | 7th | | 5th |
| U.S. Championships | 8th | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 2nd | 9th | 9th |
| World Team Trophy | | 1st (4th) | | 1st (8th) | | | |
| GP Cup of China | | | | | | 4th | 3rd |
| GP France | | | | | 7th | | 7th |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | 7th | | | | |
| GP Rostelecom Cup | | | | 7th | | 5th | |
| GP Skate America | | | 3rd | | 1st | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | 3rd | | | |
| CS Autumn Classic | | | | | | 3rd | |
| CS Lombardia Trophy | | | | | | 3rd | |
| CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 5th | | | | 2nd | | |
| CS Tallinn Trophy | | | | | 1st | | |
| CS U.S. Classic | | 1st | 1st | 1st | | | 2nd |
| Cup of Nice | | 2nd | | | | | |
| Philadelphia Summer | | | | | | | 3rd |
Competition placements at junior level :
| Season | 2007–08 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 |
| World Junior Championships | | | 5th |
| Junior Grand Prix Final | | | 4th |
| U.S. Championships | 13th | 3rd | 1st |
| JGP France | | | 3rd |
| JGP Japan | | | 2nd |
| Gardena Spring Trophy | | 2nd | |

## Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System :
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
| Total | TSS | 261.56 | 2017 CS U.S. International Classic |
| Short program | TSS | 87.03 | 2015 CS Tallinn Trophy |
| Short program | TES | 48.41 | 2017 CS U.S. International Classic |
| Short program | PCS | 40.71 | 2018 Four Continents Championships |
| Free skating | TSS | 176.58 | 2017 Cup of China |
| Free skating | TES | 96.60 | 2017 Cup of China |
| Free skating | PCS | 81.30 | 2015 Skate America |
* Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
* At national events in the United States, pewter medals are awarded for fourth place.
* Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.

### Senior level

Results in the 2011–12 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 21–24, 2011 | 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy | 8 | 65.64 | 3 | 138.53 | 5 | 204.17 |
| Jan 22–29, 2012 | 2012 U.S. Championships | 6 | 76.01 | 13 | 135.14 | 8 | 211.15 |
Results in the 2012–13 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 13–16, 2012 | 2012 U.S. International Classic | 1 | 74.69 | 1 | 156.58 | 1 | 231.27 |
| Oct 24–28, 2012 | 2012 International Cup of Nice | 2 | 75.95 | 3 | 143.67 | 2 | 219.62 |
| Jan 19–27, 2013 | 2013 U.S. Championships | 4 | 79.13 | 1 | 175.87 | 1 | 255.00 |
| Feb 8–11, 2013 | 2013 Four Continents Championships | 10 | 72.46 | 2 | 162.19 | 4 | 234.65 |
| Mar 11–17, 2013 | 2013 World Championships | 8 | 78.20 | 6 | 160.16 | 7 | 238.36 |
| Apr 11–14, 2013 | 2013 World Team Trophy | 6 | 77.38 | 3 | 159.24 | 1 (4) | 236.62 |
Results in the 2013–14 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 12–14, 2013 | 2013 U.S. International Classic | 1 | 81.49 | 1 | 157.72 | 1 | 239.21 |
| Oct 17–20, 2013 | 2013 Skate America | 6 | 75.91 | 2 | 162.45 | 3 | 238.36 |
| Nov 8–10, 2013 | 2013 NHK Trophy | 8 | 76.21 | 7 | 147.14 | 7 | 223.35 |
| Jan 5–12, 2014 | 2014 U.S. Championships | 4 | 86.95 | 3 | 173.49 | 3 | 260.44 |
| Mar 24–30, 2014 | 2014 World Championships | 9 | 78.32 | 8 | 147.34 | 8 | 225.66 |
Results in the 2014–15 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 11–14, 2014 | 2014 CS U.S. International Classic | 1 | 78.96 | 1 | 161.26 | 1 | 240.22 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 2, 2014 | 2014 Skate Canada International | 5 | 76.50 | 3 | 155.27 | 3 | 231.77 |
| Nov 14–16, 2014 | 2014 Rostelecom Cup | 6 | 77.09 | 6 | 135.51 | 7 | 212.60 |
| Jan 18–25, 2015 | 2015 U.S. Championships | 4 | 85.78 | 4 | 173.41 | 4 | 259.19 |
| Apr 16–19, 2015 | 2015 World Team Trophy | 7 | 76.08 | 8 | 151.43 | 1 (8) | 227.51 |
Results in the 2015–16 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 24–26, 2015 | 2015 CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 1 | 83.46 | 3 | 139.48 | 2 | 222.94 |
| Oct 23–25, 2015 | 2015 Skate America | 1 | 86.67 | 2 | 172.28 | 1 | 258.95 |
| Nov 13, 2015 | 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard | 7 | 72.91 | — | — | 7 | — |
| Nov 18–22, 2015 | 2015 CS Tallinn Trophy | 1 | 87.03 | 1 | 165.13 | 1 | 252.16 |
| Jan 16–24, 2016 | 2016 U.S. Championships | 1 | 91.83 | 3 | 177.72 | 2 | 269.55 |
| Feb 16–21, 2016 | 2016 Four Continents Championships | 8 | 69.48 | 6 | 151.46 | 7 | 220.94 |
| Mar 28 – Apr 3, 2016 | 2016 World Championships | 8 | 81.28 | 7 | 172.86 | 8 | 254.14 |
Note: The 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard was cancelled after the November 2015 Paris attacks. The short programs had been completed on November 13, but the free skating was to be held the next day. On November 23, the International Skating Union announced that the short program results would be considered as the final results for the competition.
Results in the 2016–17 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 8–11, 2016 | 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy | 3 | 72.93 | 3 | 145.80 | 3 | 218.73 |
| Sep 29 – Oct 1, 2016 | 2016 CS Autumn Classic International | 5 | 70.74 | 2 | 155.39 | 3 | 226.13 |
| Nov 4–6, 2016 | 2016 Rostelecom Cup | 8 | 73.64 | 4 | 161.94 | 5 | 235.58 |
| Nov 18–20, 2016 | 2016 Cup of China | 5 | 81.67 | 3 | 161.07 | 4 | 242.74 |
| Jan 14–22, 2017 | 2017 U.S. Championships | 12 | 72.54 | 6 | 155.26 | 9 | 227.80 |
Results in the 2017–18 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Aug 3–5, 2017 | 2017 Philadelphia Summer International | 3 | 74.00 | 4 | 135.37 | 3 | 209.37 |
| Sep 13–17, 2017 | 2017 CS U.S. International Classic | 2 | 86.06 | 2 | 175.50 | 2 | 261.56 |
| Nov 3–5, 2017 | 2017 Cup of China | 5 | 83.11 | 1 | 176.58 | 3 | 259.69 |
| Nov 17–19, 2017 | 2017 Internationaux de France | 8 | 78.64 | 6 | 158.56 | 7 | 237.20 |
| Dec 29, 2017 – Jan 8, 2018 | 2018 U.S. Championships | 12 | 74.95 | 10 | 149.25 | 9 | 224.20 |
| Jan 22–28, 2018 | 2018 Four Continents Championships | 6 | 84.15 | 4 | 171.30 | 5 | 255.45 |
| Mar 19–25, 2018 | 2018 World Championships | 15 | 79.78 | 10 | 161.71 | 11 | 241.40 |

### Junior level

Results in the 2007–08 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Jan 20–27, 2008 | 2008 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 13 | 49.52 | 14 | 97.46 | 13 | 146.98 |
Results in the 2009–10 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Jan 14–24, 2010 | 2010 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 1 | 62.17 | 3 | 129.69 | 3 | 191.86 |
| Apr 1–3, 2010 | 2010 Gardena Spring Trophy | 3 | 53.84 | 2 | 105.03 | 2 | 158.87 |
Results in the 2010–11 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Aug 25–28, 2010 | 2010 JGP France | 2 | 64.31 | 3 | 113.69 | 3 | 178.00 |
| Sep 22–26, 2010 | 2010 JGP Japan | 1 | 66.28 | 5 | 113.54 | 2 | 179.82 |
| Dec 8–12, 2010 | 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final | 5 | 63.78 | 4 | 117.50 | 4 | 181.28 |
| Jan 22–30, 2011 | 2011 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 2 | 62.95 | 1 | 125.72 | 1 | 188.67 |
| Feb 28 – Mar 6, 2011 | 2011 World Junior Championships | 5 | 66.96 | 4 | 126.96 | 5 | 193.92 |