David Pelletier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Pelletier |
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Pelletier in 2015 coaching with the Edmonton Oilers
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| Personal information | |
| Country represented |  Canada |
| Born | November 22, 1974 Sayabec, Quebec, Canada |
| Residence | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Partner | Jamie Salé |
| Former partner | Caroline Roy, Julie Laporte, Allison Gaylor |
| Former coach | Jan Ullmark Richard Gauthier |
| Former choreographer | Lori Nichol |
| Skating club | CPA Pierrefonds |
| Retired | 2002 |
David Jacques Pelletier (born November 22, 1974) is a famous Canadian pairs figure skater. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics with his skating partner, Jamie Salé. They even shared their gold medal with another team after a big event at the Olympics.
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Early Skating Days
David grew up in Sayabec, Quebec, Canada. His mom made him take figure skating lessons if he wanted to play hockey. He started skating at a young age.
He was good at pairs skating early on. With his partner Julie Laporte, he won national titles. They also placed well at junior world championships. After that, he skated with Allison Gaylor. They won a silver medal in Canada in 1995. They also competed at the World Championships. David even tried skating by himself for a while.
Skating with Jamie Salé
David asked his coach to help him find a new partner. The coach suggested Jamie Salé. They tried skating together in February 1998. David said it felt "just great" right away. Jamie moved to Montreal to skate with him.
They quickly became a strong team. At their first big event, Skate Canada, they won a bronze medal. They also won another bronze at the NHK Trophy in Japan. These early successes made them popular.
Becoming Champions
In 1999, a choreographer named Lori Nichol helped them. She created their programs for the season. Their long program was set to music from the movie Love Story. This program became very famous.
They won their first Grand Prix event, Skate America, in 1999. They even beat the world champions! In 2000, they won the Canadian Championships. They also won the Four Continents Championships in Japan. At the 2000 World Championships, they finished fourth.
Winning World Gold
For the 2000–2001 season, they had new programs. They won Skate America and Skate Canada again. They also won the Canadian Championships. Then, they won the Four Continents Championships in Salt Lake City. This was important because the 2002 Olympics would be held there.
The 2001 World Championships were in Vancouver. Salé and Pelletier were top favorites. They won the gold medal! They were the first Canadian pair to win Worlds since 1993. It was also the first time a Canadian pair won Worlds in Canada since 1984. They were named Canada's best athletes in 2001.
The 2002 Winter Olympics
David and Jamie had a great start to the 2001–02 season. They won Skate America and Skate Canada. They also won the Grand Prix Final. This made them very confident for the Olympics.
The pressure for the Olympics was huge. Canada had not won a figure skating gold medal in a long time. Everyone hoped Salé and Pelletier would win. They skated their short program well. They placed second, just behind the Russian team.
In the long program, David and Jamie skated perfectly. The Russian team had a small mistake. Many people thought the Canadians had won. But when the scores came up, the Russian team was placed first. This caused a big stir. People in North America were upset.
Later, a judge admitted she was pressured to vote for the Russian team. This led to a big investigation. In the end, David and Jamie were also awarded gold medals. They shared the gold with the Russian team. This event led to big changes in how figure skating is judged.
Life After the Olympics
After the Olympics, David and Jamie became professional skaters. They toured North America with a popular show called Stars on Ice.
They were honored for their achievements. They were put into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2008. They also joined the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, they were inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Battle of the Blades
In 2011, David competed on a TV show called Battle of the Blades. This show pairs figure skaters with hockey players. David teamed up with hockey player Tessa Bonhomme. They won the show! They won $100,000 for their chosen charities.
Hockey Coach
After retiring from competitive skating, David became a coach. He teaches hockey players how to skate better. He has worked with many professional players.
In 2014, David was hired by the Edmonton Oilers. They are a professional hockey team in the National Hockey League. He works as their skating coach, helping the players improve their skills.
Personal Life
David Pelletier married Jamie Salé on December 30, 2005. They had a son together in 2007. They later decided to divorce in 2010 but continued to skate together until 2012. David married Russian figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva on July 25, 2020. They live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Images for kids
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Pelletier in 2015 coaching with the Edmonton Oilers
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Salé and Pelletier compete at the 2002 Grand Prix Final
