Paul Duchesnay

Paul Duchesnay (born July 31, 1961 in Metz, France) is a retired ice dancer who represented France for most of his career. With his sister Isabelle Duchesnay, he is the 1991 World champion and the 1992 Olympic silver medalist.

Olympic medal record
Representing  France
Figure skating
1992 Albertville Ice dancing
Paul Duchesnay
The Duchesnays at an Exhibition in Berlin in 1989
Personal information
Country representedFrance
Former country(ies) representedCanada
Born (1961-07-31) July 31, 1961
Metz, France
Height5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m)[1]
Former partnerIsabelle Duchesnay
Retired1996

Career

The Duchesnays started skating at an early age in Canada 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 1984 Olympic champion Christopher Dean. After Skate Canada criticized their skating, they decided to leave the Canadian team. In 1985, they began skating for their mother’s homeland, France. They were coached by Martin Skotnicky, based out of Oberstdorf, Germany.

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 and they finished eighth overall.[2] 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.[3][4] They won the silver medal behind Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko. The Duchesnays then retired from amateur competition and competed professionally until Paul suffered a serious rollerblading accident in 1996.

In 1996, the Duchesnays were nominated for a Gemini Award in Best Performance - Performing Arts Program or Series for their performance in “The Planets”.[5][6] Paul Duchesnay is now a coach in the United States.

Personal life

Paul Duchesnay was born to a French mother and Canadian father.[3] He was born in France but his family moved to Aylmer, Quebec, Canada in 1962. He also had an elder brother, Gaston who died in 1991.[7]

Results

(ice dance with Isabelle Duchesnay)

International
Event 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92
Olympics8th2nd
Worlds12th9th6th3rd2nd1st
Europeans8th5th3rd3rd2nd
Skate America1st
Nebelhorn2nd
National
French1st1st1st1st
Canadian4th4th3rd

Amateur Career Programs
Season Original Set Pattern Dance Free Dance
1991-1992

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

1990-1991

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

1989-1990

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

1988-1989

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

1987-1988
  • Argentine tango

Choreographed by Christopher Dean
  • Savage Rites

Choreographed by Christopher Dean

1986-1987

References
  1. Sports Reference
  2. Swift, E.M. (7 March 1988). "So Much For Originality". Sports Illustrated.
  3. Janofsky, Michael (14 February 1992). "ALBERTVILLE; Duchesnays Try to Make Just as Striking an Exit". The New York Times.
  4. Swift, E.M. (24 February 1992). "Theater Of The Absurd: After making the bizarre the norm, the Duchesnays went conservative and lost". Sports Illustrated.
  5. "1995-1996 10th Gemini Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 15 May 2006.
  6. "The Planets". Bullfrog Films, Inc.
  7. Hersh, Phil (October 13, 1991). "Bittersweet life for Duchesnays". Chicago Tribune.
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