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Jessica Dubé

Jessica Dubé
Dubé and Davison at 2008 Skate Canada International
Born (1987-10-29) October 29, 1987 (age 37)
Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
HometownVarennes, Quebec, Canada
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Figure skating career
Country Canada
Skating clubDrummondville CPA
Began skating1991
RetiredJanuary 9, 2013

Jessica Dubé (born October 29, 1987) is a Canadian former competitive figure skater who is best known for her pairs career with Bryce Davison. They are the 2008 World bronze medallists, the 2009 Four Continents silver medallists, and three-time Canadian national champions (2007, 2009, 2010). They represented Canada at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. With later partner Sébastien Wolfe, Dubé is the 2012 Canadian national silver medallist.

Career

Early years

Jessica Dubé began skating at age four.[1] She eventually took up pair skating and competed for a few seasons with Samuel Tetrault. During the 2002–03 season, they won silver at the Junior Grand Prix Final and also became Canadian junior champions.

Partnership with Davison

Dubé teamed up with Bryce Davison in July 2003.[1] The two had a successful junior career before moving up to the senior level in 2005–06. They placed 10th at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and 7th at the World Championships that same season. She has also competed in singles skating. Her highest finish in the senior ladies' event at the Canadian Championships was 6th in 2008; internationally, she was a medallist at two junior Grand Prix events.

In the summer of 2006, Dubé suffered an injury in practice and was removed from the ice on a backboard; she had knee surgery in September. They trained both short and long programs for nationals, while Jessica also trained a short program for the singles event. They won their first national crown in Nova Scotia at the 2007 Canadian Championships. After an on-ice accident at the 2007 Four Continents (see below), they made a comeback a month later at the World Championships, where they again finished seventh.

Dubé and Davison on the podium at 2008 Worlds

Dube and Davison had a breakthrough season in 2007–08. They won their first Grand Prix medals, including a gold at 2007 Skate America. They lost the national title to Anabelle Langlois and Cody Hay at the 2008 Canadian Championships, but two months later at the World Championships, they won the bronze medal after finishing second in the long program;[2] they set personal best scores in each segment of the event and overall.

The next two seasons did not prove as successful, and while they regained and then defended their national title, the pair were unable to repeat their success at the World Championships. Their top placement during this time was a second-place finish at the 2009 Four Continents Championships. Dube and Davison were part of Team Canada at the inaugural World Team Trophy in April 2009. In the 2009–10 Olympic season, they medalled at both Grand Prix events but did not qualify for the Grand Prix final. They were sixth at the Olympics and at Worlds.

Dubé and Davison withdrew from 2010 Skate Canada International after Davison suffered a knee injury.[3] Davison underwent season-ending surgery to reattach a broken piece of bone.[4]

Dubé elected to compete as a singles skater in 2010–11.[5] She qualified for Canadian Nationals, and competed in the ladies' event for the first time in three years, her last appearance being in 2008 when she finished 6th.[6][7] Despite falling ill with a virus on the morning of the free skate, she skated to a 6th-place finish in 2011.[8]

Dubé and Davison announced the end of their partnership on March 10, 2011.[9][10][11][12] Dubé said she intended to continue as a singles skater but did not rule out returning to pair skating in the future.[9]

Accidents

On February 8, 2007, Dubé was struck in the face by the blade of Davison's skate during the free skate segment at the Four Continents Championships in Colorado Springs. The pair were on their third rotation of a side-by-side camel spin, in which one leg is horizontal during the spin, when they began to drift towards one another, causing her face and his skate blade to connect. She immediately fell to the ice and clutched at her face as blood pooled on the ice. Davison comforted her as the medical staff put her on a stretcher and took her to Memorial Hospital.[13] She underwent surgery that night, receiving 83 stitches to repair a laceration on her left cheek and nose.[7][14] Her eye was not affected and nothing was broken. Both skaters were later treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, but by March 2007 they had returned to competition together.[15]

In April 2009, at the gala exhibition of the 2009 World Team Trophy in Tokyo, Dubé accidentally struck Davison on the head during a triple twist; he was unable to catch her and she crashed to the ice, hitting her head.[16][17] Dubé and Davison were hospitalized as a precautionary measure, but neither was seriously injured.[18][19]

Partnership with Wolfe

On April 17, 2011, Dubé announced that she had teamed up with Sébastien Wolfe.[20][21] The pair made their competitive debut at the Liberty Summer competition in July, winning the free skate.[22] They were coached by Annie Barabe and also worked with John Zimmerman on pair elements.[23] Dubé and Wolfe made their international debut together at the 2011 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they finished 6th.[11] They competed at two Grand Prix events, 2011 Skate Canada International, where they finished 5th, and 2011 Trophee Eric Bompard, where they were 6th. Dubé and Wolfe won the silver medal at the 2012 Canadian Championships and were assigned to Four Continents and Worlds. At the 2012 Four Continents, they finished 8th.

In the 2012–2013 season, Dubé and Wolfe were assigned two Grand Prix events, the 2012 Skate America and 2012 Rostelecom Cup, but withdrew from both. Dubé had an injury to her right foot which affected their training.[24] After several months of consideration, Dubé and Wolfe announced on January 9, 2013 that they had both decided to retire from competition.[24] Dubé has completed her initial National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and begun coaching alongside Yvan Desjardins and Michelle Godbout.[24]

Personal life

Dubé has an older sister, Veronique, who competed at the national level.[1] Dubé lost part of a finger in a lawnmower accident at the age of four.[25] Following her competitive retirement, Dubé moved to Montreal to study communication at Concordia University.[24][26]

In June 2023, Dube and her partner, Dominique Blanchette, welcomed a daughter named Elsie.[26][27]

Programs

Dubé competing in the ladies' event at the 2011 Canadian Nationals

With Wolfe

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2012–2013
[28]
  • Three Hours Past Midnight
    by James Collin
2011–2012
[29]
Heroes
by Philip Glass:
  • Sense of Doubt
  • Neuköln
  • VS Schneider

With Davison

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2009–2010
[30]
2008–2009
[31]
2006–2008
[32][33]
  • Galicia Flamenca
    by Gino D'Auri
  • The Blower's Daughter
    by Damien Rice
2005–2006
[34]
2004–2005
[35]
2003–2004
[36][37]
  • Whose Woods These Are
    by David Tolk

Singles career

Season Short program Free skating
2010–2011

Competitive highlights

With Wolfe

Results[38]
International
Event 11–12 12–13
Worlds 12th
Four Continents 8th
GP Rostelecom Cup WD
GP Skate America WD
GP Skate Canada 6th
GP Trophée Bompard 5th
Nebelhorn Trophy 6th
National[39]
Canadian Champ. 2nd WD
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

With Davison

Results[40]
International
Event 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10
Olympics 10th 6th
Worlds 7th 7th 3rd 7th 6th
Four Continents WD 2nd
GP Final 4th
GP Bompard 2nd
GP Cup of China 4th
GP NHK Trophy 3rd 3rd
GP Skate America 6th 1st
GP Skate Canada 2nd 2nd 3rd
International: Junior
Junior Worlds 2nd 2nd
JGP Final 1st WD
JGP China 2nd
JGP Japan 1st
JGP Mexico 1st
JGP U.S. 1st
National
Canadian Champ. 1st J. WD 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 1st
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

With Tetrault

International
Event 01–02 02–03
Junior Worlds 9th
JGP Final 6th 2nd
JGP Canada 3rd
JGP Germany 1st
JGP Japan 2nd
JGP Netherlands 3rd
National
Canadian Champ. 1st N. 1st J.
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior
JGP = Junior Grand Prix

Singles

International
Event 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 10–11
JGP China 3rd
JGP Germany WD
JGP Mexico 3rd
JGP Poland 6th
International: Novice
Mladost Trophy 3rd
National
Canadian Champ. 2nd N 5th J 2nd J 8th WD 6th 6th
Levels: N. = Novice; J. = Junior
WD = Withdrew

References

  1. ^ a b c Mittan, Barry (June 5, 2004). "Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison: 'We'll Be Back' Say Dube and Davison". GoldenSkate. Archived from the original on June 5, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  2. ^ "Dube, Davison skate to bronze at worlds". CBC.
  3. ^ "Dube, Davison out of Skate Canada". The Canadian Press. October 25, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  4. ^ Care, Tony; Hicks, Brandon (October 28, 2010). "Figure skater Davison has surgery, out indefinitely". CBC Sports. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  5. ^ "Canada's Bryce Davison out for season". The Canadian Press. CBC Sports. November 8, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  6. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (November 15, 2010). "Dube, Davison plotting road to comeback". IceNetwork. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "While pairs partner recovers, Dube to skate singles". The Canadian Press. TSN. January 17, 2011. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011.
  8. ^ Smith, Beverley (March 10, 2011). "Dube, Davison to split after nine years skating as pair". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Dube, Davison ending skating partnership". Postmedia News. nationalpost.com. March 10, 2011. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  10. ^ Ainsworth, Alexa (March 10, 2011). "Comments from Dube, Davison on split". universalsports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  11. ^ a b DiManno, Rosie (October 27, 2011). "DiManno: Jessica Dubé returns to Skate Canada with new partner". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  12. ^ "Reportage du samedi 27 mars 2010: Ménage à trois sur la glace" [Feature of Saturday, March 27, 2010: Menage a trois on ice]. Radio-Canada (in French). March 27, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  13. ^ "Statement About Condition of Canadian Pairs Skater Jessica Dube". U.S. Figure Skating. February 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  14. ^ Burkholder, Amy (April 23, 2007). "Journey back to the ice: Skaters recover after slash". CNN. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012.
  15. ^ "Skaters recover from slash, ready to defend title". CTV. January 16, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008.
  16. ^ Ritoss, Robin (April 18, 2009). "Dube Sustains Nasty Fall at World Team Trophy". Skate Today. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  17. ^ Ritoss, Robin (April 19, 2009). "Update on Dube and Davison". Skate Today. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  18. ^ "Canadian pairs team Dube, Davison hospitalized after fall". The Canadian Press. The Toronto Star. April 19, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  19. ^ Ritoss, Robin (April 20, 2009). "Dube and Davison to Return to Canada". Skate Today. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  20. ^ Habashi, Jonathan (April 17, 2011). "Jessica Dubé se déniche un nouveau partenaire: Sébastien Wolfe" [Jessica Dubé finds herself a new partner: Sébastien Wolfe]. journalexpress.ca (in French). Archived from the original on March 12, 2012.
  21. ^ Taillon, Jacinthe (May 9, 2011). "Dubé et Wolfe, la chimie" [Dubé and Wolfe have chemistry]. Radio-Canada (in French). Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  22. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (July 16, 2011). "Dube, Wolfe unveil free skate and win". icenetwork. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  23. ^ Ainsworth, Alexa (July 16, 2011). "Comeback kids golden at Liberty". Universalsports.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  24. ^ a b c d "Jessica Dubé and Sébastien Wolfe retire from competitive figure skating". Skate Canada. January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013.
  25. ^ "Dube, Davison aim to compete at worlds". The Canadian Press. The Toronto Star. February 9, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  26. ^ a b Rice, Lilyanne. "Jessica Dube now – Everything about the former skater's post-retirement life". The Netline. The Netline. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  27. ^ Dube, Jessica. "Elsie Blanchette". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Sebastien WOLFE: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014.
  29. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Sebastien WOLFE: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012.
  30. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010.
  31. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009.
  32. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008.
  33. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007.
  34. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006.
  35. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005.
  36. ^ "Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 13, 2004.
  37. ^ "2004 World Junior Figure Skating Championships: Pairs Highlights". Golden Skate. March 6, 2004.
  38. ^ "Competition Results: Jessica DUBE / Sebastien WOLFE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014.
  39. ^ "Jessica Dubé / Sébastien Wolfe". Skate Canada. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.
  40. ^ "Competition Results: Jessica DUBE / Bryce DAVISON". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.