Alexa Knierim
A resilient pair skater who battled through personal and physical adversity to reach the pinnacle of the world stage.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American pair skater·Birthday: June 10·Millennials
Biography
Alexa Knierim's story in figure skating is one of breathtaking triumph forged in the fire of relentless hardship. Initially skating with her husband, Chris Knierim, she faced a life-threatening gastrointestinal illness that required multiple surgeries and left her relearning basic skills. The pair's emotional victory at the 2018 U.S. Championships and an Olympic team bronze in Pyeongchang were testaments to their grit. After Chris's retirement, she made the unprecedented decision to continue, forming a new partnership with Brandon Frazier. This bold move defied conventional wisdom in pair skating, but their connection was instantaneous and powerful. Under the guidance of coach Todd Sand, they evolved into a dominant force, their technical precision matched by a mature artistry. Their crowning achievement came at the 2022 World Championships, where they skated not just for gold, but as a symbol of perseverance, becoming the first American pair to win the world title in over four decades.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alexa was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Alexa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2022 World Championships with Brandon Frazier, the first U.S. pair to do so since 1979.
- Earned an Olympic gold medal in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
- Captured the U.S. national pairs title with two different partners (Chris Knierim in 2018, Brandon Frazier in 2023).
- Landed the first quadruple twist performed by an American pair team in international competition.
Did You Know?
She underwent three abdominal surgeries between 2016 and 2017 for a condition that caused her to lose over 20 pounds.
She and her first partner and husband, Chris Knierim, were the first U.S. pair to land a throw quadruple Salchow in competition.
She is known for her detailed and self-designed skating dresses, often working closely with a costume designer.
She and Brandon Frazier won the world title in their first season competing together at the World Championships.
“We've been through hell and back, and we're still standing.”
