Alban Préaubert (born 20 September 1985) is a French former competitive figure skater. He won six ISU Grand Prix medals and five French national bronze medals (2006, 2008–11).
Personal life Alban Préaubert was born on 20 September 1985 in Grenoble, France. His studies focused on economy and management. He graduated with an MBA from ESCP Europe in May 2010. He expressed interest in sports management. As of 2011, he works for an asset management company in Paris. He has a red belt in judo.
Skating career Préaubert began skating in 1991. He was immediately attracted to skating after his father brought him to an ice rink to improve his balance for skiing.
Early in his career, he trained with Elena Issatchenko, champion of the USSR in 1965 and 1966, at Charleville-Mezieres. He later moved to work with coach Annick Dumont. Préaubert won the French junior national title and a medal on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. He skated at both junior and senior events in 2004–05.
2005–06 season Préaubert had a successful season in his first full year as a senior, with a podium finish at the 2006 French nationals, a 6th place showing at his first Europeans, and an 8th place in his World Championships debut.
2006–07 season For the 2006–07 Grand Prix season, Préaubert was assigned to 2006 Skate America and the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard; he won the bronze and silver medals, respectively, qualifying him for the Grand Prix Final, where he finished fourth. He again finished sixth at the European Championships, but dropped out of the top ten at Worlds.
2007–08 season In 2007–08, Préaubert was again assigned to Skate America and the Trophée Eric Bompard; a fifth-place finish at Skate America dropped him out of contention for the Grand Prix final. He was tenth at the European Championships and was forced to withdraw from Worlds due to a back injury.
2008–09 season Préaubert began the 2008–09 season by defeating his countryman Brian Joubert at the French Masters and winning his third Trophée Eric Bompard medal, a bronze. He also won the bronze at the Cup of Russia and was an alternate for the Grand Prix Final. He finished third at French Nationals and was selected to go to Europeans, where he finished in fifth place, but was only third among the French skaters. As a result, Préaubert was not chosen to compete at the World Championships.
2009–10 season
In the 2009–10 season, Préaubert again medalled on the Grand Prix circuit, winning bronze at Skate Canada. He again finished third at French nationals. The French men were competing for only two spots at the Olympics, and Préaubert, along with runner-up Yannick Ponsero, were selected for the European Championships only. There, Préaubert came in 7th. In March 2010, he participated in a French federation test skate to determine the second entry for the World Championships; Brian Joubert was eventually chosen.
2010–11 season Préaubert finished fifth and sixth at his two Grand Prix assignments in 2010–11, and followed this with his fifth bronze medal at French nationals. It was his final competitive season.
Programs
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2010–11 Turtle shoes Three Piano Pieces No. 2 in E-flat major Twist and Shout When a Man Loves a Woman Shout 2009–10 Orange Mecanique Medley El Tango 2008–09 Exit Music Kalinka Les bateliers de la Volga Go down Moses
I Put a Spell on You 2007–08 Parisienne Walkways
The Addams Family Bram Stoker's Dracula Interview with the Vampire Navras
Mirza 2006–07 Night on Bald Mountain Le vol du bourdon I, the Jury Swing Kids Fosse The Mask If You Go Away
You Are So Beautiful 2005–06 Blues Jazz selection Paris, Texas Music Brice de Nice 2004–05 Jaleo Project Adios nonino Medley 2003–04 The Köln Concert Music Robot 2002–03 Music I Got You (I Feel Good)
Competitive highlights
GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
International Event 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 Worlds 8th 11th WD Europeans 6th 6th 10th 5th 7th 10th Final 4th Bompard 8th 2nd 3rd 3rd 7th Cup of China 9th Cup of Russia 6th 3rd 5th NHK Trophy 10th Skate Canada 3rd 6th Skate America 3rd 5th Cup of Nice 2nd 3rd Ice Challenge 3rd Triglav Trophy 1st Universiade 6th 3rd International: Junior Junior Worlds 3rd 4th 9th Croatia 2nd Germany 8th Slovakia 11th Slovenia 4th National French Champ. 7th J. 2nd J. 1st J. 6th 3rd WD 3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd Masters 3rd 2nd 5th 2nd 3rd 1st 3rd 3rd J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew
References
External links