Jamie Sale and David Pelletier
(Calgary, AB) & (Sayabec, PQ)
Jamie and David have been skating together since early 1998. In previous partnerships, they saw world and Olympic ice, but never came close to the success that they're having with each other now. In their first season together, 1998-1999, they took home bronze medals from both Sunlife Skate Canada and the NHK Trophy in Japan. They also earned a spot on Canada's world team with a second place at Nationals, but had to withdraw because of an injury to David's back.
The 1999-2000 season saw Jamie and David come in with nothing to lose and everything to gain. What they did gain was astounding: an early win at Skate America (over the then-reigning world champions), a second place at Sparkassen Cup in Germany, competitiors at the Grand Prix Final, the most emotional Canadian pairs champions in history's memory, another win at the Osaka Four Continents Cup, and top 4 in the World rankings. What more could they do? Well, in two competitions, back to back, a total of 6 perfect marks came up in their presentation scores, they earned 5.9's as rookies at the world champions, and they proved that they have what it takes to eventually take them straight to the top. As Rod Black said during Jamie and David's debut event as a team: "Watch them. Nobody expected them to be this good, this soon."
2000-2001 Programs
Short Program: "Come Rain or Come Shine" by David Sanborn (Forget Paris)
Long Program: "Tristan and Isolde Fantasy" by Franz Waxman (A Place in the Sun)
Exhibition :
Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze
(Russia)
Together since 1996, Elena and Anton have built a skating partnership based on inspiration, trust, physical power, and unmatched grace and elegance. They are everything a pair team strives to be, and together they have been nothing short of champions.
Not long after Elena recovered from a serious head injury suffered when her first partner's (Oleg Shliakov) skate blade hit her head during a side-by-side spin, the tiny skater took the hand of the man who had saved her from a life of abuse and suffering at the hands of Oleg: junior world champion, Anton Sikharulidze. Together they built a partnership that became the most powerful team in the world.
In a fairy tale partnership, Elena and Anton have had their share of poison apples. But Prince Charming and his Princess always come out on top...on top of the world.
Elena and Anton have had many wins in their career; 3-time National champions, European Champions, World champions, and Olympic silver medalists (after only being together for 20 months). But they've also had the sad times: a withdrawl due to sickness and a drug test that came out positive for Elena after taking some over-the-counter cough syrup have been two of the bigger ones.
The 1999-2000 season started out a bit shakey for Elena and Anton. In their first competition, they were beat out by the new Canadian pair force, Sale and Pelletier, and the French champions, Abitol and Bernadis. At Skate Canada, they had a disatrous short program but managed to pull together to win in the long. Next they had a 3rd place finish at the Grand Prix Final, but bounced back to win their European crown. The European title was soon stripped due to the drug test, and Elena and Anton then withdrew from the 2000 Worlds. But they'll be back, and looking towards the 2002 Olympics, the road is shimmering with golden opportunities for the Russian pair of hearts.
2000-2001 Programs
Short Program:
Long Program:
On To Gordeeva and Grinkov...
copyright Crystal Jardine 2000