Nicole Bobek

American figure skater

Nicole Bobek (born August 23, 1977) is a retired American figure skater. She is the 1995 U. S. national champion and 1995 World bronze medalist. She also competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Bobek was raised by her Czech mother Jana and Jana's life partner Joyce Barron. In addition to Richard Callaghan and Carlo and Christa Fassi, Bobek's coaches included Debbie Stoery, Kathy Casey, Hoon Kim, Barbara Roles, Frank Carroll, Robin Cousins, and Mary and Evy Scotvold.

Bobek's skating successes led to a contract with Campbell's Soup. Along with fellow skaters Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski, Bobek appeared in a commercial during the winter of 1998; the spot featured all three performing at an ice rink. (Heat from the soup melts the ice, which leaves all three young women standing in ankle deep water.) She also appeared in a commercial of Panasonic's 1998 Winter Olympics campaign in Japan.

In 2006, Bobek added acting to her resume when she appeared in the film All the King's Men. Bobek was cast as a skater who fascinates governor Willy Stark in a scene directly from the original book.

In November 1994, Bobek was charged with first degree home invasion after she used an access code to enter a friend's garage and home in Michigan. She allegedly took cash from a purse, but was caught when the homeowner arrived, and Bobek returned the money. She claimed that she was granted permission by another member of the household to enter the house and retrieve the cash. Bobek was 17 years old and legally an adult under Michigan criminal law, but she was eligible for probation with the record of the offense sealed from the public record by pleading guilty under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, a special law for youthful first offenders. In January 1995, she was sentenced to two years of probation and a choice between 50 hours of community service and 30 days in jail. Information regarding her case soon spread widely through skating circles and was leaked to the news media. Under the Youthful Trainee Act, cases are to remain confidential, so in February 1995, Bobek filed for dismissal. Though some journalists and legal scholars have argued that Michigan law allows journalists to release information about juvenile criminals if there is "compelling public interest," which was arguable given Bobek's status as a world class figure skater, her motion for probation discharge was granted by the court. The appeals court reversed the decision of the trial court to terminate probation and remanded for a continuation of probation. In late 2006, Bobek's mother raised and then dropped a petition to have her undergo rehabilitation, worrying that her daughter would become estranged.