# Joshua Farris

Joshua Farris (born January 6, 1995) is a retired American competitive figure skater. He is the 2015 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2013 World Junior Championship gold medalist, a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final medalist (silver in 2012, bronze in 2011), and the 2010 U.S. Championship junior silver medalist.

## Personal life

Joshua Farris was born in Renton, Washington. At the age of eight, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, which may be connected with a concussion he sustained as a child.
Farris moved to Colorado Springs in mid-2007 and resides there to this day. He enjoys playing guitar, reading, hiking, and camping.

## Career
### Early years

Farris began skating at age five after his mother took him skating for his birthday. He moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in mid-2007 to train with Tom Zakrajsek and Becky Calvin.
Farris won his third national title when he won the novice gold medal at the 2009 U.S. Championships. He then competed at the 2009 International Challenge Cup in the Netherlands, where he won the silver medal at the junior level.
He made his ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) debut the following season. He was assigned to the JGP events in the United States and Turkey, where he placed fourth and fifth, respectively. At the 2010 U.S. Championships, he won the silver medal at the junior level.

### 2010–11 season

During the 2010–11 season, Farris was assigned to the JGP events in Romania and Great Britain, where he won the silver medal and the gold medal, respectively. This qualified him for the 2010-11 Junior Grand Prix Final, where he finished in sixth place.
Farris then decided to move up to the senior level nationally. At the 2011 U.S. Championships, Farris fell hard on his left hip while training during the second day of practice. The fall resulted in a torn abductor muscle, but he decided to compete despite the pain. He placed thirteenth after a shaky short program. On the day between the short program and the free skate, Farris went to a restaurant and suffered anaphylactic shock due to an allergic reaction. He was taken to the emergency room, where he stayed until 3 a.m. He decided to compete in the free skate, where he had several shaky landings and three falls. He finished in twenty-first place. He later learned that he had broken his fibula and sprained a tendon when he fell on his second triple Axel attempt. Following this competition, Farris decided to switch coaches to Christy Krall, with whom he had already worked, and Damon Allen.

### 2011–12 season

During the 2011–12 season, Farris was assigned to the 2011 JGP Poland, which he won. He then won the gold medal at his second event, the 2011 JGP Estonia, and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final, where he won the bronze medal. He finished sixteenth at the 2012 U.S. Championships. At the 2012 World Junior Championships, Farris won the short program and the silver medal. He also won the Youth Excellence in Sports award from The Denver Post in March 2012.

### 2012–13 season

During the 2012–13 season, Farris was assigned to JGP events in the United States and Slovenia. He won gold medals at both events and qualified for the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final in Sochi, Russia. There, he finished first in the short program and second in the free skate, winning the silver medal.
At the 2013 U.S. Championships, Farris placed third in the short program. He fell on his planned quadruple toe loop in the free skate, but managed to secure fourth place. He then won the gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championships with an overall score of 228.32 points. Farris' score was a new record set for men competing at the junior level.

### 2013–14 season

During the 2013–14 season, Farris made his senior Grand Prix debut at the 2013 Skate Canada, where he finished in fifth place. He then withdrew from his next assignment, the 2013 Cup of Russia.
At the 2014 U.S. Championships, Farris again finished in fourth place.

### 2014–15 season

During the 2014–15 season, Farris was assigned to the 2014 Cup of China and the 2014 NHK Trophy. However, he had to withdraw from the Cup of China due to a recurring right ankle injury, which had been a problem since 2011. At the NHK Trophy, he finished in eleventh place.
At the 2015 U.S. Championships, Farris won the bronze medal. In his free skate, he executed a double toe loop three times, losing credit for one of his jump combinations. Still, his placement was an improvement from the previous year. At the 2015 Four Continents Championships, he set new personal best scores in both the short program and the free skate, and won the silver medal. This was his first medal in a prominent senior-level international competition. At the 2015 WorldChampionships, he finished in eleventh place.

### 2015–16 season

Farris' Grand Prix assignments were the 2015 Skate Canada International and the 2015 NHK Trophy. However, he had to withdraw from both events after sustaining three concussions in three weeks. The first occurred when he fell while practicing a quadruple toe loop jump. Since a scan indicated nothing, he resumed training, but then sustained a second concussion, followed soon after by a third when he hit his head while entering a car. He did not compete during the season.

### Hiatus

Farris announced his retirement from competitive skating on July 1, 2016, after struggling with the aftereffects of the concussions and depression. He resumed skating in early November 2016, after his health had improved, and announced in February 2017 that he hoped to return to competition in the 2017–18 season. He trained at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, coached by Christy Krall and Damon Allen. However, the side effects from his brain injury did not go away, and he had to stop training again.

### Choreographing career

Following his competitive career, Farris began working as a figure skating choreographer at the Broadmoor Skating Club.
Farris' past clients have included:
* Camden Pulkinen
* Jimmy Ma
* Vincent Zhou
* Lee Si-hyeong

### Coaching career

Following his competitive career, Farris began working as a figure skating coach at the Colorado Springs World Arena Ice Hall. He became a resident coach with the Broadmoor Skating Club in 2022.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skate | Exhibition |
| 2005–06 | The Phantom of the Opera By Andrew Lloyd Webber | "Summer" From The Four Seasons By Antonio Vivaldi | — |
| 2006–07 | The Phantom of the Opera By Andrew Lloyd Webber | "Eleanor Rigby" By The Beatles Performed by the Boston Pops Orchestra | — |
| 2007–08 | "O Fortuna" From Carmina Burana By Carl Orff | Henry V By Patrick Doyle | — |
| 2008–09 | Leyenda By Isaac Albéniz | "Mars, the Bringer of War" From The Planets By Gustav Holst | — |
| 2009–10 | "Stardust" By Artie Shaw "Sing, Sing, Sing" By Louis Prima Arranged by Chris Boardman Choreo. by Tom Dickson | Warsaw Concerto By Richard Addinsell Performed by Patrik Jablonski and the Polish Radio Orchestra Choreo. by Tom Dickson | — |
| 2010–11 | "El Dron" By Pepe Habichuela Choreo. by Tom Dickson | Porgy and Bess By George Gershwin Choreo. by Tom Dickson | — |
| 2011–12 | Clair de Lune By Claude Debussy Choreo. by Damon Allen | Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor Op. 18 III: Allegro Scherzando By Sergei Rachmaninoff Performed by Van Cliburn & Fritz Reiner Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | "Gravity" By John Mayer |
| 2012–13 | Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major: Prelude By Johann Sebastian Bach Performed by Yo-Yo Ma Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor Op. 18 III: Allegro Scherzando By Sergei Rachmaninoff Performed by Van Cliburn & Fritz Reiner Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | "Ain't No Sunshine" Performed by Josh Hoge |
| 2013–14 | Libertango By Astor Piazzolla Performed by Anderson and Roe Piano Duo Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | Schindler's List By John Williams Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | "To Build a Home" By The Cinematic Orchestra "When I Was Your Man" By Bruno Mars |
| 2014–15 | "Give Me Love" By Ed Sheeran Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle | Schindler's List By John Williams Choreo. by Damon Allen & Joshua Farris | "When I Was Your Man" "Give Me Love" |

## Competitive highlights

* GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
* JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
Competition placements at senior level :
| Season | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014-15 |
| World Championships | | | | | 11th |
| Four Continents Championships | | | | 6th | 2nd |
| U.S. Championships | 21st | 16th | 4th | 4th | 3rd |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | 11th |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | 5th | |
| U.S. Classic | | | | 3rd | |
Competition placements at junior level :
| Season | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 |
| World Junior Championships | | | | 2nd | 1st |
| Junior Grand Prix Final | | | 6th | 3rd | 2nd |
| U.S. Championships | | 2nd | | | |
| JGP Estonia | | | | 1st | |
| JGP Great Britain | | | 1st | | |
| JGP Poland | | | | 1st | |
| JGP Romania | | | 2nd | | |
| JGP Slovenia | | | | | 1st |
| JGP Turkey | | 5th | | | |
| JGP United States | | 4th | | | 1st |
| Challenge Cup | 2nd | | | | |

## Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System :
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
| Total | TSS | 260.01 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Short program | TSS | 84.29 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Short program | TES | 44.53 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Short program | PCS | 39.76 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Free skating | TSS | 175.72 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Free skating | TES | 91.02 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
| Free skating | PCS | 84.70 | 2015 Four Continents Championships |
* 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.

### Senior level

Results in the 2010–11 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Jan 22–30, 2011 | 2011 U.S. Championships | 13 | 60.91 | 22 | 90.82 | 21 | 151.73 |
Results in the 2011–12 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Jan 22–29, 2012 | 2012 U.S. Championships | 14 | 65.43 | 16 | 132.55 | 16 | 197.98 |
Results in the 2012–13 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Jan 19–27, 2013 | 2013 U.S. Championships | 3 | 79.78 | 4 | 165.04 | 4 | 244.82 |
Results in the 2013–14 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 11–15, 2013 | 2013 U.S. International Classic | 3 | 71.85 | 3 | 134.71 | 3 | 206.56 |
| Oct 24–27, 2013 | 2013 Skate Canada International | 8 | 69.14 | 4 | 147.58 | 5 | 216.72 |
| Jan 5–12, 2013 | 2014 U.S. Championships | 5 | 78.37 | 4 | 169.69 | 4 | 248.06 |
| Jan 20–26, 2014 | 2014 Four Continents Championships | 7 | 74.85 | 5 | 146.15 | 6 | 221.00 |
Results in the 2014–15 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Nov 28–30, 2014 | 2014 NHK Trophy | 11 | 58.35 | 11 | 111.53 | 11 | 169.88 |
| Jan 18–25, 2015 | 2015 U.S. Championships | 2 | 90.40 | 3 | 177.58 | 3 | 267.98 |
| Feb 9–15, 2015 | 2015 Four Continents Championships | 5 | 84.29 | 2 | 175.72 | 2 | 260.01 |
| Mar 23–29, 2015 | 2015 World Championships | 13 | 73.52 | 10 | 149.52 | 11 | 223.04 |

### Junior level

Results in the 2008–09 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Feb 4–8, 2009 | 2009 International Challenge Cup | 6 | 46.75 | 1 | 114.58 | 2 | 161.33 |
Results in the 2009–10 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 2–6, 2009 | 2009 JGP United States | 10 | 50.30 | 3 | 104.22 | 4 | 154.52 |
| Oct 14–18, 2009 | 2009 JGP Turkey | 2 | 62.50 | 7 | 99.33 | 5 | 161.83 |
| Jan 14–26, 2010 | 2010 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 4 | 58.24 | 1 | 136.79 | 2 | 195.03 |
Results in the 2010–11 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 8–11, 2010 | 2010 JGP Romania | 1 | 67.03 | 3 | 112.19 | 2 | 179.22 |
| Sep 29 – Oct 3, 2010 | 2010 JGP Great Britain | 1 | 59.79 | 1 | 127.95 | 1 | 207.67 |
| Dec 8–21, 2010 | 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final | 4 | 65.24 | 7 | 108.73 | 6 | 173.97 |
Results in the 2011–12 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Sep 14–17, 2011 | 2011 JGP Poland | 1 | 75.69 | 2 | 126.76 | 1 | 202.45 |
| Oct 12–15, 2011 | 2011 JGP Estonia | 1 | 74.55 | 1 | 133.12 | 1 | 207.67 |
| Dec 8–11, 2011 | 2011–12 Junior Grand Prix Final | 1 | 72.99 | 3 | 130.99 | 3 | 203.98 |
| Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2012 | 2012 World Junior Championships | 1 | 75.43 | 2 | 146.54 | 2 | 221.97 |
Results in the 2012–13 season :
| Date | Event | SP | SP | FS | FS | Total | Total |
| Date | Event | P | Score | P | Score | P | Score |
| Aug 30 – Sep 1, 2012 | 2012 JGP United States | 1 | 72.20 | 1 | 146.49 | 1 | 218.69 |
| Sep 27–29, 2012 | 2012 JGP Slovenia | 1 | 74.35 | 1 | 136.86 | 1 | 211.21 |
| Dec 6–9, 2012 | 2012–13 Junior Grand Prix Final | 1 | 74.53 | 2 | 136.84 | 2 | 211.37 |
| Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2013 | 2013 World Junior Championships | 1 | 75.84 | 2 | 152.48 | 1 | 228.32 |