One of the often-overlooked sports, Figure Skating, is gaining prominence thanks to the movie I, Tonya a film about one such figure-skater.
But, we are not here to talk about the movie or the great Tonya. The article focuses on another star, Jojo Starbuck.
It was an excellent occasion for ice skaters to finally perform the sport on an international level. Figure skating was the first Olympic Winter sport that came into existence in 1908.
Jojo Starbuck became a three-time United States pair skating champion and two-time Olympian. Even at the age of 70, the blonde promotes her love for the sport that changed her life.
Come, let’s a little more about the exciting life of Jojo. At the same time, I will impart some information on figure skating.
The article includes her early life, how she got into skating, Starbuck’s net worth, and some details on her personal life!
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name | Alicia “JoJo” Starbuck |
---|---|
Birthdate | February 14, 1951 |
Age | 71 Years Old |
Birthplace | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
Height | 5’7″ (1.75 m) |
Profession | Figure Skating, Actress |
Skating club | Arctic Blades FSC |
Net Worth | $500,000 |
Coach | John Nicks |
Spouse | Terry Bradshaw (Ex); Jeff Gertler (Current) |
Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
Merch | Autographed Photos, Skating Gears |
Last Update | August, 2022 |
Jojo Starbuck | Early Life, Education, & Parents
Alicia Jo Starbuck is the daughter of Hal Francis Starbuck Jr. and Alice Josephine PlunkettStarbuck and was born on February 14, 1951, in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A.
Dubbed the nickname after a childhood mispronunciation, the name would become synonymous with figure skating in the future.
Unfortunately, when Jo was just a little girl, her father collapsed from an apparent heart attack. Hence, Alice single-handedly raised little Alicia. At six years old, the Starbuck women moved to southern California.
Starbuck was eight years old when she first took up skating. In the same way, Kenneth Shelley and Jojo paired up under the tutelage of John Nicks for a particular show. With Nicks, Alicia first graced the ice ring at the Arctic Blades FSC in 1961.
After making her way up as a prominent skater, Jojo started participating in professional tournaments.
These stints added to her confidence, and with a qualification to the 1968 Winter Olympics, the rest we know is history.
Jojo Starbuck | Age, Height, & Body Measurements
Born in 1951, Starbuck is a happy 70-year-old woman. There is nothing unfulfilling about the life she led. If anything, people get inspiration and courage to go out more into the world.
On the other hand, the American stands at the height of 5’9″ (1.75 m) and weighs a proper 86 kg (190 lbs).
However, there is no information regarding her weight during her active career days. But, we can deduce that for a figure skater, one needs a flexible and agile body.
Furthermore, a figure skater occasionally reminds one of a ballet dancer. When Jojo was a young Olympiad possessed a leaner physique with toned legs.
As we immerse ourselves in her performance, we get to know that figure skating is a daunting task.
There is seldom room for error. A minute mistake might result in a career-ending injury. As a result, a skater needed to be strong physically while still owning a slimmer body.
Jojo Starbuck | Career: Figure Skating
Jojo and her skating partner Kenneth Shelley became the youngest to ever feature at the Olympics, representing the U.S. As children, the two loved skating together. Unfortunately, the ice rink in their hometown closed.
However, there was hope for their passion in Iceland. Jojo garnered an affinity towards ice dancing. With no background on the form, the coach dropped her as a student, and that’s where John Nicks came in.
Thus, Shelley and Jojo formed an inseparable partnership since then, having done it as kids and continued even as adults. Similarly, the two were the stars of the Ice Capades while also showing professional involvement.
Furthermore, Alicia appeared as an actor during her skating career. For instance, movies like Snow Queen, The Cutting Edge, and Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice featured the blonde skater.
Moreover, Shelley and Starbuck were such a successful duo in their time that the two managed to grab the United States Pair’s Champions title from 1970 to 1972.
Furthermore, the duo stunned the crowd at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. Eventually, the skating duo would be inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Jojo, as a performer, was utterly flawless. Figure skating is already an appealing sport and adds Starbucks’ charisma to it, and you will have a perfect mix. Further, Kenneth and Jo’s performance were something from wonderland.
Despite not succeeding in many competitions, the skating duo seldom made errors.
Yes, there were better skaters than Kenneth and Starbuck, but we can not undermine the fact that the Californians made their native America proud on the international stage.
On the other hand, upon retirement, Alicia had to devote part of her time to her children. As a result, the American Hall of Famer became a skating instructor mostly during the day hours.
Likewise, the 70-year-old is imparting the same core values she grew up with to the younger generations. During weekdays, Jojo conducts a class at the Rockefeller Center’s ice rink. So, fans can spot her there if you want to meet Jo.
Similarly, Starbuck avidly spends her time as an instructor wherein stay-at-home mothers come to the classes once a week to engage in something other than household chores.
Notwithstanding that, the blonde skating legend also undertook the role of Artistic Director for the Ice Capades. The organization’s main motive is to revitalize the joy and interest and inculcate a passion for America’s beloved sport.
Career Achievements And Highlights
In the World Championships,
- Bronze Medal in 1971 Lyon
- Bronze Medal in 1972 Calgary
In the North American Championships,
- Silver Medal in 1969 Oakland
- Gold Medal in 1971 Peterborough
Jojo Starbuck | Net Worth: Incomes & Endorsements
The versatile skating legend is not yet made public. However, the former skater expectedly amassed a net worth higher than $500k in her entire career. Additionally, the 70-year-old pockets a yearly $200k in remunerations.
Apart from her skating career, Jojo also committed as an actress. Though she never intended to go large, Starbuck’s films generated a mouth-watering revenue over the years.
In particular, Alicia’s movie New York Stories garnered a whopping $10.7 million. Added to that, the 1992 movie The Cutting Edge made $25.1 million at the box office.
Accordingly, the Tv movie Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice enjoyed considerable success, although the exact amount of revenue remains in the dark.
Moving on, Jo’s husband is an architect who makes $1 million annually, having a base salary of $108k. So, assumably, Starbuck, and her family enjoy an exquisite life with all the fortune collected throughout her working years.
Jojo Starbuck Quotes
- You have to stay the course and give yourself time to become great.
- Don’t be impressed by money, followers, degrees, and titles. Better be impressed by generosity, integrity, humility, and kindness.
- Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one.
- Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.
Jojo Starbuck Relationship | Husband & Kids
As of late, Jojo is married to a successful architect named Jeff Gertler. Together the pair shares two children, namely, Noah and Abraham. Noah is the older of the twins and went to Vanderbilt University.
Whereas the youngest, Abraham, is working hard to graduate from the reputed MIT institution. On the contrary, Starbuck previously married Terry Bradshaw, a famous NFL quarterback.
Initially, it was sports that united the two. After meeting in 1974, Bradshaw and Starbuck tied the knot in 1976.
While this may be true, the couple had a fallout, and the marriage ended in bitterness. Nonetheless, Jojo is now a happy woman with a loving husband in Jeff.
Jojo Starbuck | Social Media Presence
The gold medalist is quite active on various social media platforms. Below are some of her social media account details.
If you are interested in knowing more about her personal life and career, don’t forget to check her accounts.
Instagram – 1.2 thousand followers
Twitter – 487 followers
Facebook – 3.2 thousand followers
Common Queries:
How old is Jojo Starbuck?
As of February 14, 2021, the figure skater is 70 years old.
What happened to JoJo Starbuck?
After her figure skating career, Starbuck performed as an actress in New York Stories, The Cutting Edge, and the TV movie Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice.
Besides that, she coaches and choreographs at the Essex Skating Club of New Jersey. Furthermore, she lives a quiet life in Madison, New Jersey.
Who was JoJo Starbuck married to?
Initially, JoJo was married to American former professional football player Terry Bradshaw. He also works as an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday.