Isabelle Duchesnay
Encyclopedia
Isabelle Duchesnay (born December 18, 1963, Aylmer, Quebec
, Canada
) is an ice dancer
who competed for both Canada
and France
. She and her brother Paul Duchesnay
were successful ice dance partners in figure skating, winning a world championship
in 1991 and an Olympic silver medal
in 1992.
Raised in Canada
, the Duchesnays started skating at an early age as a couple in pairs. Their first major success came at the 1982 Canadian Nationals, where they placed second in the junior competition. After a serious accident where Isabelle hit her head, they switched to ice dancing.
Over time, the Duchesnays' skating became more innovative and revolutionary with help from Olympic 1984 gold medalist Christopher Dean . After the Canadian Federation of Figure Skating criticized their skating, they decided to leave the Canadian team. In 1985, they began skating for their mother's homeland of France
instead.
The Duchesnays' 1988 Winter Olympics
programs were considered unusual. Their free dance, a jungle-inspired dance set to drums, was not well received by judges. The pair placed 8th overall.
Despite the judges' reactions, the Duchesnays continued skating in their unusual and innovative style. They placed third and second in the 1989 and 1990 World Championships, respectively. They won their only World title at the 1991 Worlds in Munich, Germany.
The Duchesnays were favoured to win gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics
in Albertville, France. Facing stiff competition from the Russian pair of Marina Klimova
and Sergei Ponomarenko
, they faltered and finished second. This would be the pair's last amateur competition. They competed professionally until Paul suffered a serious rollerblading accident in 1996.
Isabelle Duchesnay married Christopher Dean
, a fellow ice dancer, in 1991. They divorced in 1993.
In 1996, the Duchesnays were nominated for a Gemini Award
in Best Performance - Performing Arts Program or Series for their performance in "The Planets". http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1995/1995_1996gemini.htm http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/planet.html
Duchesnay wrote a book, Notre passion (Sports pour tous), in 1992. http://www.amazon.com/dp/2221074084/
)
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is an ice dancer
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
who competed for both Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She and her brother Paul Duchesnay
Paul Duchesnay
Paul Duchesnay was an ice dancer who competed for both Canada and France. He and his sister Isabelle Duchesnay were a successful pair in the sport, winning a world championship in 1991 and an Olympic silver medal in 1992.Raised in Canada, the Duchesnays started skating at an early age...
were successful ice dance partners in figure skating, winning a world championship
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
in 1991 and an Olympic silver medal
Figure skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics
Referee:* Benjamin T. WrightAssistant Referee:* Monique GeorgelinJudges: Reinhard Mirmseker Mary Pearson Yang Jiasheng Monique Petis Mieko Fujimori Ingelise Blangsted Igor Prokop Vanessa Riley* Marina Sanaya Maragaret Ann Wier...
in 1992.
Raised in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Duchesnays started skating at an early age as a couple in pairs. Their first major success came at the 1982 Canadian Nationals, where they placed second in the junior competition. After a serious accident where Isabelle hit her head, they switched to ice dancing.
Over time, the Duchesnays' skating became more innovative and revolutionary with help from Olympic 1984 gold medalist Christopher Dean . After the Canadian Federation of Figure Skating criticized their skating, they decided to leave the Canadian team. In 1985, they began skating for their mother's homeland of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
instead.
The Duchesnays' 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
programs were considered unusual. Their free dance, a jungle-inspired dance set to drums, was not well received by judges. The pair placed 8th overall.
Despite the judges' reactions, the Duchesnays continued skating in their unusual and innovative style. They placed third and second in the 1989 and 1990 World Championships, respectively. They won their only World title at the 1991 Worlds in Munich, Germany.
The Duchesnays were favoured to win gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
in Albertville, France. Facing stiff competition from the Russian pair of Marina Klimova
Marina Klimova
Marina Vladimirovna Klimova is an ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union and the Unified team. With skating partner and husband Sergei Ponomarenko, she is the 1992 Olympic champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion, and four-time European...
and Sergei Ponomarenko
Sergei Ponomarenko
Sergei Vladilenovich Ponomarenko is a Russian ice dancer who competed for the Soviet Union and the Unified team. With skating partner and wife Marina Klimova, he is the 1992 Olympic champion, 1988 Olympic silver medalist, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion, and four-time...
, they faltered and finished second. This would be the pair's last amateur competition. They competed professionally until Paul suffered a serious rollerblading accident in 1996.
Isabelle Duchesnay married Christopher Dean
Christopher Dean
Christopher Colin Dean, OBE is a famous British ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill...
, a fellow ice dancer, in 1991. They divorced in 1993.
In 1996, the Duchesnays were nominated for a Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
in Best Performance - Performing Arts Program or Series for their performance in "The Planets". http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1995/1995_1996gemini.htm http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/planet.html
Duchesnay wrote a book, Notre passion (Sports pour tous), in 1992. http://www.amazon.com/dp/2221074084/
Results
(ice dance with Paul DuchesnayPaul Duchesnay
Paul Duchesnay was an ice dancer who competed for both Canada and France. He and his sister Isabelle Duchesnay were a successful pair in the sport, winning a world championship in 1991 and an Olympic silver medal in 1992.Raised in Canada, the Duchesnays started skating at an early age...
)
| Event | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 | 1986-87 | 1987-88 | 1988-89 | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
8th | 2nd | ||||||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
12th | 9th | 6th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | ||||
| European Championships European Figure Skating Championships The European Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition in which figure skaters compete for the title of European Champion... |
8th | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | |||||
| French Championships French Figure Skating Championships The French Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of France. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. Skaters compete at the senior level... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||||||
| Canadian Championships Canadian Figure Skating Championships The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has... |
4th | 4th | ||||||||
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
1st | |||||||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy Nebelhorn Trophy The Nebelhorn Trophy is an international senior-level figure skating competition organized by the Deutsche Eislauf-Union and held annually in Oberstdorf, Germany. The competition is named after the Nebelhorn, a nearby mountain.... |
2nd |