Isabelle Delobel (born 17 June 1978) is a French former competitive ice dancer. With partner Olivier Schoenfelder, she is the 2008 World champion, the 2007 European champion, and the 2008 Grand Prix Final champion.
Delobel and Schoenfelder retired from competitive skating following the 2010 Winter Olympics, having skated together for two decades.
Career
Delobel was born on 17 June 1978 in Clermont-Ferrand. She began skating at age six and began ice dancing after only a year in singles. She skated with her brother, Laurent, for three years. She later moved to train in Lyon.
Delobel and Schoenfelder were paired together in 1990 by coach Lydie Bontemps on the suggestion of Irina Moiseeva and Andrei Minenkov. They won a silver medal at 1996 Junior Worlds before turning senior prior to the 1996–97 season. They won their first Grand Prix medal at the 1999 Skate Canada. Early in their career, they were coached by Muriel Boucher-Zazoui in Lyon, France. Tatiana Tarasova and Nikolai Morozov were their choreographers from 1998 to 2002 and their coaches from 2000 to 2002 in Newington, Connecticut. While practising a lift at French Nationals in December 2001, Delobel tore an abdominal muscle, keeping her off the ice for six weeks and forcing the team to miss the European Championships. Feeling more comfortable in France, Delobel and Schoenfelder decided to return to Lyon and Boucher-Zazoui after the 2001–2002 season.
They won their first national championship in the 2002–2003 season. Delobel and Schoenfelder worked with choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo for the 2005–2006 season.
Delobel and Schoenfelder often finished just outside the medals at major events, including a 4th place at the 2006 Olympics, less than two points behind the bronze medalists. The following season, they won their only European title but were unable to win a medal at Worlds.
Delobel and Schoenfelder did not repeat as European champions the following year, finishing second. They then went on to win the 2008 World Championships. They were first in both the compulsory and original dance portions of the event, and second in the free dance. They considered retiring but decided to continue competing.
They began the 2008–09 season with wins in all three Grand Prix appearances – Skate America, Trophée Eric Bompard, and the Grand Prix Final. During their gala exhibition performance at the Grand Prix Final in December 2009, Delobel suffered a shoulder injury and underwent surgery on 5 January 2009, causing them to miss the remainder of the season.
Delobel became pregnant during the injury layoff. She and Schoenfelder trained cautiously, with Marie-France Dubreuil substituting for Delobel in lifts. Dubreuil, along with Patrice Lauzon, also choreographed their final free dance. Occasional falls caused Delobel to leave the ice in late July.
Delobel's son was born in October and she returned to the ice toward the end of the month, beginning three-a-day sessions and intense physical training in November. They also skipped French Nationals and the European Championships in order to spend more time on training. The two returned in time for the Vancouver Olympics, competing just four-and-a-half months after she had given birth and announcing it would be their final competition. They finished sixth and retired from competitive skating. They continue to skate together in shows.
Personal life Delobel's twin sister, Véronique Delobel, also competed in the French national championships and internationally.
Delobel married Ludovic Roux, a bronze medalist at the 1998 Olympics in team Nordic combined, in June 2009, and their son, Loïc, was born on 2 October 2009.
Programs (with Schoenfelder) Season Original dance Free dance Exhibition 2010–2012 Gladiator by Hans Zimmer
The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd
Uninvited by Alanis Morissette
My Immortal by Evanescence 2009–2010 French waltz: La Complainte de la Butte French cancan: Gaîté Parisienne by Jacques Offenbach La quête by Jacques Brel and Karl Hugo choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, and O. Biollet 2008–2009 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by The Andrews Sisters choreo. by Frederic Veron The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon My Immortal by Evanescence 2007–2008 Breton Gavotte:Replique by Djal The Piano by Michael Nyman Turn Around by Bonnie Tyler
Come What May by Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman
Pour aller plus haut by Tina Arena 2006–2007 Tango Volver by Maxime Rodriguez The Untouchables (film) by Ennio Morricone arranged by Maxime Rodriguez Diego, libre dans sa tête by Johnny Hallyday 2005–2006 Mambo: Para Pongo by Pérez Prado Rhumba: Havana Mambo: Para Pongo by Pérez Prado choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo Le Vol de la Colombe (from Carnival in Venice) by Jacques Azaleig choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo 2004–2005 Charleston: Yes Sir, That's My Baby Slow foxtrot: C'est si bon Charleston: Yes Sir, That's My Baby choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo Frida by Elliot Goldenthal choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo Gladiator by Hans Zimmer 2003–2004 Love Bug by Hugh Grant Cry me a river by Justin Timberlake Love Bug by Hugh Grant choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo Merlin by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by Romain Haguenauer Le Magicien by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder
Eternita by Emma Shapplin choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder
Tango choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder 2002–2003 Waltz: Tausend und eine Nacht by Johann Strauss II Polka choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo Mythodea by Vangelis choreo. by Margarita Drobiazko, Povilas Vanagas Le Magicien by Maxime Rodriguez choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder
Eternita by Emma Shapplin choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder
Vole by Celine Dion choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder 2001–2002 Flamenco Paso doble Flamenco choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova Vivre pour le meilleur by Johnny Hallyday choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova Songs from the Victorious City by Anne Dudley, Jaz Coleman choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova Vivre pour le meilleur by Johnny Hallyday choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova 2000–2001 Unforgettable by Nat King Cole Jumpin' Jack by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Pasquale Camerlengo Vivre pour le meilleur by Johnny Hallyday choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova The Fifth Element by Éric Serra choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Pasquale Camerlengo
Vivre pour le meilleur by Johnny Hallyday choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova 1999–2000 Love Potion #9 by Hansel Martinez My All by Mariah Carey De Donde say choreo. by Patrick Ribas Avant et Après la pluie Quinquette Steppe by René Aubry choreo. by Nikolai Morozov, Tatiana Tarasova The Fifth Element by Éric Serra choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Pasquale Camerlengo
Vedi, Maria by Emma Shapplin 1998–1999 Nocturne by Sodane choreo. by Patrick Ribas Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky Adagio by Yanni choreo. by Isabelle Delobel, Olivier Schoenfelder, and Christelle Morelet 1997–1998 Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley choreo. by Patrick Ribas James Bond choreo. by Ecole Rosella Hightowes 1996–1997 Tango choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova 1995–1996 1994–1995 Quiero Saber Amor Amor
Competitive highlights (with Schoenfelder)
Results International Event 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 Olympics 16th 4th 6th Worlds 18th 14th 11th 13th 12th 9th 6th 4th 5th 4th 1st Europeans 15th 12th 9th 10th 7th 4th 3rd 4th 1st 2nd Grand Prix Final 5th 6th 6th 4th 3rd 1st GP Cup of China 3rd GP Cup of Russia 3rd GP Lalique/Bompard 6th 7th 7th 7th 5th 5th 2nd 3rd 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st GP NHK Trophy 7th 4th 3rd 1st GP Skate America 3rd 2nd 1st GP Skate Canada 7th 3rd 5th 4th GP Sparkassen 5th Bofrost Cup 2nd Nebelhorn 3rd Ondrej Nepela 1st Lysianne Lauret 4th International: Junior Junior Worlds 4th 2nd Odesa Trophy 2nd Autumn Trophy 1st 4th Ukraine Trophy 2nd EYOF 1st National French Champ. 3rd J. 1st J. 4th 4th 3rd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st Master's 1st 1st 1st 1st GP = Grand Prix (Champions Series 1995–1997); J. = Junior level
References
External links