Nathalie Péchalat

Nathalie Péchalat

Péchalat and Bourzat at 2009 Skate Canada
Personal information
Full name	Nathalie Péchalat
Country represented	France
Born	December 22, 1983 (1983-12-22) (age 27) Rouen
Home town	Lyon, France
Residence	Detroit
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Partner	Fabian Bourzat
Former partner	Julien Deheinzelin Michael Zenezini
Coach	Anjelika Krylova Pasquale Camerlengo
Former coach	Alexander Zhulin Oleg Volkov Maxim Staviski Muriel Zazoui Romain Haguenauer Anne Sophie Druet
Choreographer	Pasquale Camerlengo Ilia Constantin Kader Belmoktar
Former choreographer	Alexander Zhulin Antonio Najarro Mourad Merzouki Julien Cottereau Laurie May Ayivigan
Skating club	Castres SG
Current training locations	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Former training locations	Moscow, Lyon
Began skating	1990
World standing	2 (As of 17 June 2011 (2011 -06-17)[update])[1]
Season's bests	3 (2010–2011)[2] 6 (2009–2010)[3] 6 (2008–2009)[4]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	194.39 2010 Worlds
Comp. dance	37.75 2010 Worlds
Short dance:	70.97 2011 Worlds
Free dance	100.49 2011 Europeans
Medal record Figure skating Ice dancing Competitor for  France European Championships Gold 2011 Bern Ice dancing

Nathalie Péchalat (born December 22, 1983 in Rouen) is a French ice dancer who competes with Fabian Bourzat. They are the 2011 European Champions, the 2010–2011 Grand Prix Final silver and 2009–2010 bronze medalists, 2010 Cup of China champions, 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard champions, and two-time French national champions (2009, 2011).

Career

Péchalat and Bourzat at the 2009 Europeans.

Early career

Nathalie Péchalat began skating at seven, originally as a single skater. At the age of ten, she switched to ice dancing after her coach, Anne Sophie Druet, suggested she was suited for the discipline and her son was looking for a partner.^[5]

In March 2000, Péchalat's then-partner left her, and her coach at the time, Muriel Zazoui, suggested she team up with Fabian Bourzat.^[5] The two did not get along well at first but gradually became friends.^[6] In a 2011 interview, Péchalat said that she and Bourzat have different personalities but that he is the ideal skating partner for her: "He is very gifted. He works through feeling and inspiration. As soon as he feels a move, he can reproduce it and interpret it. He does not need to intellectualize." According to Bourzat, "Nathalie is always pulling the couple ahead and pushing us to work. She brings her extraordinary capacity to work. She always wants to do everything perfectly."^[7]

They skated as juniors for two years, winning two Junior Grand Prix medals, before moving to seniors at the beginning of the 2002–03 season.

2003–2006

Péchalat and Bourzat won bronze medals at the 2003 and 2005 Winter Universiade. They made their Worlds debut in 2004, finishing 20th, and their Europeans debut in 2005, placing 12th. The duo competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they came in 18th.

2006–2008

In the post-Olympic 2006–07 season, Péchalat and Bourzat won their first senior Grand Prix medal, a bronze at the 2006 Skate America. They missed the 2007 Europeans after she injured her hand but were able to compete at Worlds, where they finished in 12th place.

2007–2008 season

In the 2007–2008 season, Péchalat and Bourzat finished 2nd at both Skate America and the Cup of Russia, and qualified for their first Grand Prix Final, where they finished 6th. They were forced to miss the 2008 French National Championships after Bourzat underwent knee surgery, but returned to the ice in time for the 2008 Europeans, finishing 5th. They were 7th at the 2008 Worlds. Following the season, Péchalat and Bourzat left long-time coaches Muriel Zazoui and Romain Haguenauer in Lyon, and moved to Moscow to train under Alexander Zhulin and his assistant Oleg Volkov.^[8][9] They said the move was difficult at first due to not knowing the Russian language and Moscow being a very expensive city to live in, however, from a skating perspective they felt it was a good move.^[6]

2008–2009 season

Péchalat and Bourzat's 2008–2009 Grand Prix events were Skate Canada and the NHK Trophy. They made some changes to their programs following their 3rd place finish at Skate Canada,^[10] and finished a close second at the NHK Trophy, winning both the original dance and the free dance. They did not qualify for the 2008–2009 Grand Prix Final. In December 2008, Péchalat and Bourzat won their first national title. At the 2009 Europeans, they were second in the free dance and fourth overall, missing out on a medal by less than half a point. They finished 5th at 2009 Worlds.

2009–2010 season

For the 2009–10 season, Péchalat and Bourzat were assigned to the Trophée Eric Bompard and Skate Canada as their Grand Prix events. They finished in second place, behind Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, in both events. These results qualified them for their second Grand Prix Final. Prior to the final, Bourzat suffered an ankle injury, but they were able to skate well enough to earn their first GPF medal, a bronze.^[11] Following a second consecutive 4th place finish at Europeans and a 7th place at the Vancouver Olympics, Pechalat and Bourzat elected to return to their Circus free dance from the 2008–9 season. They then finished 4th at 2010 Worlds with new personal best scores in the compulsory dance, the free dance, and overall. They won the small bronze medal for the free dance.^[12]

2010–2011 season

Péchalat and Bourzat compete at the 2011 Europeans.

Péchalat and Bourzat began the 2010–11 season with wins at the Nebelhorn Trophy and the Finlandia Trophy; the former was their first international gold medal at any level. They initially used Amélie for their short dance but replaced it with Doctor Zhivago prior to the 2010 Cup of China, which they won by a large margin. They won their second Grand Prix title at the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard. Their results qualified them for the Grand Prix Final, where they won the silver medal. They followed this by winning French nationals for the second time in their career. Péchalat and Bourzat went on to win the 2011 Europeans, finishing first in both the short dance and the free dance,^[13][14][15] and breaking the 100-point barrier in the free dance for the first time in their career. It was their first ever medal at an ISU Championship. They produced France's fifth ice dancing European title.^[16]

In mid-February 2011, Péchalat and Bourzat performed in galas in North Korea along with other international skaters. Bourzat said, "Traveling there was not a political act at all. We came as open-minded people, who wanted to discover and exchange."^[17]

At the 2011 Worlds, Péchalat and Bourzat set a new personal best in the short dance and were in bronze medal position going into the free dance.^[18] They dropped to fourth overall after Bourzat tripped and both fell during a step sequence.^[19][8] Following the event, reports surfaced that Péchalat and Bourzat would move to Michigan to train with Anjelika Krylova and Pasquale Camerlengo.^[8][20]

2011–2012 season

Pechalat and Bourzat confirmed their move to the U.S. for the 2011–2012 season,^[21] saying that Camerlengo was the only coach they considered, based on their past experience of working with him during their time as juniors at Lyon,^[22] as well as wanting to continue the technique they learned under Zhulin: "[Krylova] is exactly in Zhulin's footsteps as she perpetuates the basics and technique he taught us."^[23] They also spent time during the summer in Lyon to work with choreographer Kader Belmoktar on their new Egypt-themed free dance.^[24] They took up the new option of competing at three Grand Prix events and were assigned to 2011 Skate America, 2011 Skate Canada, and 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard.^[25] Although Bourzat was ill with bronchitis, they were able to win the silver medal at Skate America.^[26][27][28] They withdrew from Skate Canada due to Bourzat's bronchitis.^[29]

Coaches and choregraphers

Pechalat and Bourzat were coached by Muriel Boucher-Zazoui and Romain Haguenauer from 2000 to mid-2008 in Lyon, France. From 2000 to 2003, they also worked with Pasquale Camerlengo.^[22] In 2007, they spent a few weeks with Alexander Zhulin, and from July 2008 to April 2011, he was their full-time coach, along with Oleg Volkov, in Moscow, Russia.^[6] Since May 2011, they are coached by Anjelika Krylova and Pasquale Camerlengo at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in the U.S.^[21][23] They remain on good terms with Zhulin and Volkov.^[25]

Their choreographers have included Laurie-May Ayvigan, Mourad Merzouki, Kader Belmoktar and Julien Cottereau.^[30][31] Alexander Zhulin choreographed their Chaplin free dance.^[32] Belmoktar provided the movements and some transitions in their Egypt free dance, while Camerlengo and Krylova took it to the ice and did the steps; they also choreographed the short dance that season.^[33]

Personal life

Péchalat has an older brother and two sisters. She dated Bourzat in the past,^[16] and is currently in a relationship with Czech skater Tomáš Verner.^[34]

Péchalat obtained a B.Sc. degree in sports management and later pursued graduate studies at Management School of Lyon.^[35][5] While training in Moscow, she studied at the Finance University under the Government of the Russian Federation, a prestigious Russian university for economics and finance.^[32]

Programs

Season	Short dance	Free dance	Exhibition
2011–2012[36]	"Carnival in Rio" Mas que Nada composed by Jorge Ben performed by Sérgio Mendes Batucada by Abacaxi Real In Rio by Sérgio Mendes choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo, Anjelika Krylova[33]	"Mummy and Pharaoh" Passion by Peter Gabriel In The Garden by Narada World Le retour de Punt by Bernard Becker Alf Layla Wa Layla by Ahmad Sidqi choreo. by Kader Belmoktar,[24] Pasquale Camerlengo, Anjelika Krylova[33]
2010–2011[37]	Lara's Theme from Doctor Zhivago soundtrack by Maurice Jarre Amélie soundtrack by Yann Tiersen Fuga y Misterio by Ástor Piazzolla choreo. by Antonio Najarro[32]	City Lights medley performed by London Symphony Orchestra choreo. by Alexander Zhulin[32]	George of the Jungle
	Original dance
2009–2010[38]	Thank God, I'm a Country Boy by Roy Rivers and Dolly Parton It's not over now by Dale Watson choreo. by L. May, P. Narboux	Kika by Ezekiel Requiem for a Dream by Clint Mansell Time by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by Kader Belmoktar "Circus" theme: La Notte di Favola by Nicola Piovani La Marche des Gladiateurs Jonglage by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by J. Cottereau[39]	"Circus" theme: La Notte di Favola by Nicola Piovani La Marche des Gladiateurs Jonglage by Maxime Rodriguez Andy by Les Rita Mitsouko
2008–2009[39]	It Don't Mean a Thing by Puppini Sisters choreo. by L. May, S. Olive	La Notte di Favola by Nicola Piovani La Marche des Gladiateurs Jonglage by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by J. Cottereau	Mummy by Claude Challe Andy by Les Rita Mitsouko
2007–2008	Le Gitare al viento Blanca de Plata by Guadiana Imagen del recuerdo by José Mercé	Organ Donor by DJ Shadow Marla Space Monkeys by Michael Simpson and John King	Mummy by Claude Challe
2006–2007	Mi Buenos Aires Querido by Carlos Libendinsky Escualo by Ástor Piazzolla	Four Seasons by Assen Merzouki	La Majorette by Bénabar
2005–2006	Latin mix	Les Misérables (musical)	Mon cinema by Claude Nougaro
2004–2005	Slow fox and Charleston	Cats (musical) by Andrew L. Webber	Mon cinema by Claude Nougaro
2003–2004	Swing Brother Swing by C. MacGill If Can't Have You by E. James	Babalu by Chano Dance of the Soldiers by Red Army Choir Hasta Siempre by S. Brave Demasia da Corazon by W. de Ville
2002–2003	Masquerade by Aram Khachaturian Tritsch Tratsch Polka by Johan Strauss	Elveda[citation needed] by Metin Arolat Asla Vazgecemem by Tarkan version performed by an unknown artist

Competitive highlights

Péchalat and Bourzat at the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard gala.

Péchalat and Bourzat after winning their first Grand Prix, the 2010 Cup of China

(with Bourzat)

Event	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12
Winter Olympic Games						18th				7th
World Championships				20th	19th	15th	12th	7th	5th	4th	4th
European Championships					12th	11th		5th	4th	4th	1st
World Junior Championships	8th	6th
French Championships	1st J.	1st J.	3rd	3rd	2nd	2nd	2nd		1st		1st
French Masters	1st J.	1st J.	2nd	3rd	1st	2nd		2nd	2nd	1st	1st
Grand Prix Final								6th		3rd	2nd
Trophée Eric Bompard			9th	8th	8th	5th	7th			2nd	1st	TBD
Cup of China				7th	7th						1st
Skate Canada			11th						3rd	2nd		WD
NHK Trophy									2nd
Skate America							3rd	2nd				2nd
Cup of Russia						5th		2nd
Finlandia Trophy											1st
Nebelhorn Trophy											1st
Winter Universiade			3rd		3rd
Junior Grand Prix Final		7th
Junior Grand Prix, Japan		2nd
Junior Grand Prix, Netherlands		4th
Junior Grand Prix, France	6th
Junior Grand Prix, China	2nd

• J = Junior level

References

1. ^ "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance : Ice Dance". International Skating Union. June 17, 2011. http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wsdance.htm. Retrieved June 17, 2011. 
2. ^ "ISU Judging System - Season Bests Total Scores 2010/2011 : Ice Dance". International Skating Union. April 30, 2011. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2010-11/sbtsdto.htm. Retrieved June 17, 2011. 
3. ^ "ISU Judging System - Season Bests Total Scores 2009/2010 : Ice Dance". International Skating Union. March 26, 2010. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2009-10/sbtsdto.htm. Retrieved June 17, 2011. 
4. ^ "ISU Judging System - Season Bests Total Scores 2008/2009 : Ice Dance". International Skating Union. April 18, 2009. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/sb2008-09/sbtsdto.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Dobor, Helga (2005). "Figure skating is a way to express yourself!". AbsoluteSkating.com. http://absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2005pechalatbourzat. Retrieved February 7, 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Interview with Nathalie Pechalat/Fabian Bourzat, NHK Trophy, December 2008". figureskating-online. March 2, 2009. http://www.figureskating-online.com/pechalat-bourzat.html. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
7. ^ Berlot, Jean-Christophe (March 12, 2011). "Pechalat, Bourzat: 'We will give them all we have'". IceNetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110312&content_id=16920690&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} Nony, Céline (30 April 2011). "Désillusion pour Péchalat-Bourzat [Disappointment for Pechalat-Bourzat]" (in French). L'Équipe. http://www.lequipe.fr/Ski/breves2011/20110430_195850_pechalat-bourzat-4es.html. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
9. ^ Berlot, Jean-Christophe (October 11, 2008). "Pechalat, Bourzat start fresh in Moscow". IceNetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081011&content_id=52910&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved November 8, 2010. 
10. ^ Flade, Tatiana (January 11, 2009). "Detour via Moscow on the way to the top for French dance team". GoldenSkate.com. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2008/011109.shtml. Retrieved November 8, 2010. 
11. ^ Stevenson, Alexandra (December 4, 2009). "Davis, White break new ground with win". IceNetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091204&content_id=7755522&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved November 8, 2010. 
12. ^ Kondakova, Anna (March 26, 2010). "Olympic ice dance champs nab first World title". GoldenSkate.com. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2009/w_fd.shtml. Retrieved November 8, 2010. 
13. ^ Flade, Tatiana (January 26, 2011). "Pechalat and Bourzat grab lead in the Short Dance". Goldenskate.com. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2010/euros_sd.shtml. Retrieved March 31, 2011. 
14. ^ Flade, Tatiana (January 29, 2011). "Pechalat and Bourzat dance to first European title". Goldenskate.com. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2010/euros_fd.shtml. Retrieved March 31, 2011. 
15. ^ Pechalat, Bourzat take ice dance gold at Europeans
16. ^ ^{a b} Chenaille, Louis (29 January 2011). "Péchalat-Bourzat touchent au but [Péchalat-Bourzat reach their goal]" (in French). rmc.fr. http://www.rmc.fr/editorial/145538/pechalat-bourzat-touchent-au-but/. Retrieved 29 January 2011. 
17. ^ Peret, Paul (May 31, 2010). "Gala Affairs for Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat". International Figure Skating Magazine. http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/519-gala-affairs-for-nathalie-pechalat-and-fabian-bourzat. Retrieved June 2, 2011. 
18. ^ Flade, Tatiana (April 29, 2011). "Virtue and Moir lead ice dancing". GoldenSkate. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2010/w_sd.shtml. Retrieved April 30, 2011. 
19. ^ Flade, Tatiana (April 30, 2011). "Davis and White capture World title". GoldenSkate. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2010/w_fd.shtml. Retrieved May 21, 2011. 
20. ^ "Les Russes ne veulent plus préparer les Français à la victoire" (in French). Agence France-Presse. Yahoo. 1 May 2011. http://fr.sports.yahoo.com/01052011/1/01052011155308.html. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
21. ^ ^{a b} "Off Season chat with Nathalie Péchalat and Fabian Bourzat". Annecy-Infosports. May 26, 2011. http://www.annecy-infosports.com/?p=205. Retrieved June 22, 2011. 
22. ^ ^{a b} Kany, Klaus-Reinhold; Rutherford, Lynn (August 19, 2011). "Summer Notebook: Rockin' the ice in Detroit". icenetwork. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110819&content_id=23430386&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved August 20, 2011. 
23. ^ ^{a b} Peret, Paul (July 4, 2011). "Nathalie Péchalat, Fabian Bourzat and Florent Amodio Leave Russia". IFS Magazine. http://www.ifsmagazine.com/articles/552-nathalie-p-chalat-fabian-bourzat-and-florent-amodio-leave-russia. Retrieved August 2, 2011. 
24. ^ ^{a b} "A l’assaut de la pyramide [Tackling the pyramid]" (in French). Le Progrès. 28 July 2011. http://www.leprogres.fr/sports/2011/07/28/a-l-assaut-de-la-pyramide. Retrieved 28 July 2011. 
25. ^ ^{a b} Berlot, Jean-Christophe (November 16, 2011). "Changes abound for Pechalat, Bourzat". Icenetwork. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111017&content_id=25695648&vkey=ice_news. 
26. ^ Walker, Elvin (October 22, 2011). "Davis and White dance to easy lead at Skate America". GoldenSkate. http://www.goldenskate.com/2011/10/davis-and-white-dance-to-easy-lead-at-skate-america/. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
27. ^ Pucin, Diane (October 22, 2011). "White, Davis win second Skate America ice dance title". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/10/white-davis-win-second-skate-america-ice-dance-title.html. Retrieved October 22, 2011. 
28. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (October 22, 2011). "Davis, White waltz away with dance crown: World champions fly to Die Fledermaus; French struggle through illness". Icenetwork. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111022&content_id=25753100&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved October 26, 2011. 
29. ^ "Péchalat/Bourzat forfait [Péchalat/Bourzat withdraw]" (in French). L'Équipe. October 26, 2011. http://www.lequipe.fr/Ski/breves2011/20111026_113553_pechalat-bourzat-forfait.html. Retrieved October 26, 2011. 
30. ^ "Patinage Artistique – Interview Nathalie Péchalat et Fabian Bourzat (English version)". Annecy-Infosports. April 13, 2010. http://www.annecy-infosports.com/afficher_article.php?id=64437&id_rubrique=55942. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
31. ^ Flade, Tatjana (August 1, 2010). "Challenging for the gold: Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat". GoldenSkate.com. http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2010/080110.shtml. Retrieved November 29, 2010. 
32. ^ ^{a b c d} Berlot, Jean-Christophe (November 3, 2010). "Pechalat, Bourzat look to keep winning". IceNetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101103&content_id=15983488&vkey=ice_news. Retrieved November 8, 2010. 
33. ^ ^{a b c} Golinsky, Reut (November 13, 2011). "Pasquale Camerlengo: "I don't like normal programs"". http://absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2011camerlengo. Retrieved November 14, 2011. 
34. ^ "Chaplin inspires French pair to dance title". Agence France-Presse (canada.com). January 28, 2011. http://www.canada.com/sports/Chaplin+inspires+French+pair+dance+title/4187515/story.html. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
35. ^ Mittan, Barry (March 5, 2007). "Pechalat and Bourzat Try Not to be Boring". SkateToday. http://www.skatetoday.com/2007/03/05/pechalat-and-bourzat-try-not-to-be-boring/. Retrieved August 8, 2011. 
36. ^ "Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63CXq6zLv. 
37. ^ "Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110519104304/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004833.htm. 
38. ^ "Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100507164711/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004833.htm. 
39. ^ ^{a b} "Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090616120013/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00004833.htm. 

External links

• Official site
• Additional website
• Nathalie Péchalat & Fabian Bourzat at the International Skating Union
• "Nathalie Péchalat & Fabian Bourzat". IceNetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=38873&mode=P. 

Persondata
Name	Pechalat, Nathalie
Alternative names
Short description	French ice dancer
Date of birth	December 22, 1983
Place of birth	Rouen
Date of death
Place of death