Andrée Brunet

Infobox Figure skater
title= Andrée Brunet


caption=
country= FRA
dateofbirth= birth date|1901|9|16
dateofdeath= death date and age|1993|3|30|1901|9|16
partner= Pierre Brunet
formercoach=
formerchoreographer=
skating club=
retired= 1936

Andrée Brunet (also Andrée Joly, September 16, 1901 in Paris, France – March 30, 1993, Boyne City, Michigan, U.S.) was a French figure skater and two-time Olympic champion in pair skating.

Biography

Brunet and her partner Pierre Brunet are considered groundbreakers in early pair skating. They are credited with creating mirror skating, and new jumps, lifts, and spins. [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9125247 Andrée Brunet and Pierre Brunet at britannica.com] , accessed July 12, 2006.] At their first Olympic games, the 1924 Games in Chamonix, they performed more skills than any pair previously had. However, the judges thought they performed too many tricks, and they were awarded only the bronze. Other skaters took note though, and the Joly/Brunet style quickly became common in the sport. [http://www.skatefic.com/figure-skating-trivia/ Figure Skaters—Andrée Joly and Pierre Brunet] , accessed July 12, 2006.] Joly and Brunet continued to perform skills previously unseen in pair skating. Joly was also among the first female skaters to wear a black dress to match her partner's outfit, rather than the traditional white dress. [http://www.pairsonice.net/profileview.php?pid=100 Andrée Joly & Pierre Brunet at parisonice.net] , accessed July 12, 2006.]

Joly and Brunet soon became dominant in pair skating. They were French national champions from 1924 until 1935, and won four World Championships, competing in alternate years (1926, 1928, 1930, and 1932). They were Olympic champions in 1928 and 1932. They refused to defend their title at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936 Winter Olympics, however, in protest of Nazi Germany. [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/biobr.htm Great Olympians Biographies - BR] , accessed July 12, 2006.]

Joly and Brunet also competed in individual events--Joly placed 5th and 11th at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics, respectively. [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/biojo.htm Great Olympians Biographies - JO] , accessed July 12, 2006.] She was also the French women's champion from 1921 to 1931.

Pierre and Andrée were married in 1929 (and thereafter competed under the name "Brunet" instead of her maiden name "Joly"). In 1936 they turned professional at toured Europe and Canada. In 1940 they emigrated to the United States. They became coaches, and trained future Olympic champions Carol Heiss and Scott Hamilton. They coached in New York, Illinois, and Michigan until retiring in 1979.

The couple had a son, Jean-Pierre, who became the U.S. pairs champion with Donna Jeanne Pospisil in 1945 and 1946.

The Brunets were inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1976. [http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/Museum_HOF_Inductees.htm Hall of Fame inductees] , accessed July 12, 2006.]

References

External links

* [http://www.pairsonice.net/profileview.php?pid=100 Pairs on Ice: Andrée Joly & Pierre Brunet]

Persondata
NAME=Brunet, Andrée
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Brunet, Andree; Joly, Andrée; Joly, Andree; Brunet-Joly, Andrée; Brunet-Joly, Andree; Joly-Brunet, Andrée; Joly-Brunet, Andree
SHORT DESCRIPTION=French figure skater
DATE OF BIRTH=September 16, 1901
PLACE OF BIRTH=Paris, France
DATE OF DEATH=March 30, 1993
PLACE OF DEATH=Boyne City, Michigan