Jean-François Ballester (1 September 1965 – 2 December 2018) was a French figure skating coach. He is best known for his work with Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, who won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics, 2018 World Championships and 2017–18 Grand Prix Final.
| Jean-François Ballester | |
|---|---|
 Jean-François Ballester at the 2017 Skate America | |
| Other names | Jeff Ballester |
| Born | 1 September 1965 Rouen, France |
| Died | 2 December 2018 (aged 53) La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland |
| Figure skating career | |
| Country | France |
| Skating club | CP La Chaux-de-Fonds CP Biel-Bienne ACSEL Caen |
| Began skating | c. 1970 |
Personal life
editJean-François "Jeff"[1][2] Ballester was born on 1 September 1965,[3] in Rouen, France.[4] He died on 2 December 2018 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, following a heart attack at his home.[5][6]
His mother and sister have also worked as skating coaches.[7]
Career
editBallester started learning to skate as a five-year-old and was competing in junior pairs when he decided to retire at age 19.[7] He coached at ACSEL Caen (France) from 1994 to 2014.[7] He also worked in Switzerland, at CP La Chaux-de-Fonds and CP Biel/Bienne.[8]
Ballester coached:
- Bruno Massot, since Massot was seven years old.[7]
- Camille Foucher / Bruno Massot, from 2007 to 2009.[9]
- Daria Popova / Bruno Massot, from 2011 to 2014.[10]
- Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot (2018 Olympic, World, and Grand Prix Final champions), from 2014.[11][12][13]
- Alexandra Herbríková / Nicolas Roulet, from 2013 to 2017.[14]
- Ioulia Chtchetinina / Noah Scherer, from 2015 to 2017.[15]
- Ioulia Chtchetinina / Mikhail Akulov, from 2017.[16]
- Kevin Aymoz, until 2016.[17]
- Nicola Todeschini, from 2017.[18]
- Valtter Virtanen, from 2018.[19]
- Laurine Lecavelier, from 2018.[20]
- Miriam Ziegler / Severin Kiefer, from the summer of 2018.[21]
References
edit- ^ Briard, Gaëtan (4 April 2018). "Bruno Massot : " Je suis arrivé là où je voulais "". ouest-france.fr (in French).
- ^ "Jean-François Ballester, Co-Trainer im Team von Aljona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, ist tot" (in German). Deutsche Eislauf-Union. 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018.
- ^ "J.F. Ballester". pyeongchang2018.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ Quinio, Léa (4 December 2018). "Patinage artistique. Longtemps entraîneur à Caen, Jean-François Ballester est décédé". actu.fr (in French).
- ^ "Le professeur international Jean-François Ballester est décédé" [International coach Jean-François Ballester has died]. ArcInfo (in French). 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Patinage artistique : Jean-François Ballester est mort". L'Équipe (in French). 4 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d Chatel, Aline (14 February 2014). "Jean-François Ballester : la glace saveur passion". actu.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Entraîneurs" [Coaches]. sc-biel.ch (in French). Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Camille FOUCHER / Bruno MASSOT". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009.
- ^ "Daria POPOVA / Bruno MASSOT". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014.
- ^ "Aljona SAVCHENKO / Bruno MASSOT". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Jean-François Ballester : " Un moment magique "" (in French). Radio fréquence Jura. 15 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ Blimo, Jean-Pierre (3 April 2014). "Patinage artistique : la championne du monde Aliona Savchenko avec le Caennais Bruno Massot". francebleu.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Alexandra HERBRIKOVA / Nicolas ROULET". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017.
- ^ "Ioulia CHTCHETININA / Noah SCHERER". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017.
- ^ "Ioulia CHTCHETININA / Mikhail AKULOV". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Kevin AYMOZ". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016.
- ^ "Nicola TODESCHINI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Valtter VIRTANEN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Competition Results: Laurine LECAVELIER". International Skating Union.
- ^ "Competition Results: Miriam ZIEGLER / Severin KIEFER". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018.