Johnny Johns

Who is Johnny Johns?

Johnny Johns is an American retired competitive figure skater who currently works as a coach. As a pair skater, he competed with Melissa Militano and won the 1974 and 1975 United States Figure Skating Championships. They placed 8th at the 1974 World Figure Skating Championships and 6th in 1975. With partner Mary Campbell, he is the 1973 National Champion in ice dancing. Their highest placement at the World Championships was 6th, in 1973.

Johns, who is from the Detroit area, began skating at the age of 8 as a family activity. For some years he was splitting his time between skating and Little League Baseball, where he had developed the ability to pitch both left- and right-handed. Johns carried this ambidextrousness over to his skating and learned how to do jumps in both directions as well. He also early developed a very smooth stroking style.

When his former coach left the Detroit area, Johns began to work with Ronald Ludington, who insisted that he give up on baseball and concentrate of skating year-round. Ludington was responsible for pairing him up first with Mary Karen Campbell in dance, and then with Laurie Johnson in pairs.