Josée Chouinard
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Josée Chouinard (born on August 21, 1969 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian figure skater. Chouinard was a strong technical skater (with impressive jumps and spins), skated well-choreographed programs, and was both attractive and relatively charismatic, which led many observers to predict she would become a figure skating sensation. However, she was most noted for her inconsistency. Often, she would fall once or twice in a single performance despite being favoured to win. As a result, although she won the Canadian Ladies Championship three times, she never won a medal at the World Figure Skating Championships or the Winter Olympics. She did achieve some international success and recognition, however, as she routinely placed in the top 10 or top 5 in major skating competitions.
She is perhaps best remembered for having had the misfortune of skating after Tonya Harding's first attempt in the free skate at the 1994 Olympic Games. Tonya's skate lace broke and needed to be replaced. After a false start, she was granted a re-skate. Josée was then called out onto the ice prematurely and unexpectedly. Many observers felt her shaky performance was the result of being forced to skate before she had fully prepared herself.
She left the sport after the spring of 1994, only to return in the fall of 1995. She won the Skate International of France, defeating the current World Champion, Chen Lu, and qualified for the first Champions' Series Final, where she finished 3rd. She did not, however, qualify for the 1996 World Championships (held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada).
After retiring from the amateur ranks, she toured and competed as a popular professional. At the 2000 Sears Canadian Open, in a controversial decision, she defeated reigning World Champion Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hughes despite a fall on a triple jump.
Josée is married to fellow figure skater Jean-Michel Bombardier.
In January 2005, she gave birth to twins, Fiona and Noah.
She is currently the Head Coach of the Competitive Skating Program at the Granite Club in Toronto, Ontario.
She also hosts a series of advertisements on Canadian television entitled 'Zoot Review' -- commercials designed to appear as informal chat about products such as Hamburger Helper.
[edit] Results
2000 Sears Canadian Open, 1st
1996 Champion Series Final, 3rd
1995 Skate International of France, 1st
1994 World Championships, 5th
1994 Olympic Games, 9th
1993 Piruetten, 2nd
1993 World Championships, 9th
1993 Canadian Nationals, 1st
1992 World Championships, 5th
1992 Olympic Games, 9th
1991 World Championships, 6th
1990 Skate Canada, 1st
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