Baker, Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc Baker was born in the UK in October 1993. Soon after the birth of a son, the family moved to the United States , where Jean-Luc's parents worked as trainers. The boy followed in the footsteps of his parents and became interested in figure skating.

Since the summer of 2006, he has performed with partner Julian Young. They did not achieve much success and in the spring of 2011, Baker paired up with his new partner Caitlin Hawaiiq.

With her, in the first season, they became US vice-champions (juniors) among dance couples; soon they debuted at the junior world championships . The following season, the couple already won the US Junior Championship and World Championship , where they improved all their previous achievements ^[2] .

The following season, the couple debuted in adult competitions at the 2014 Nebelhorn Trophy . Then they performed in the Grand Prix series ( Rostelecom Cup 2014 and NHK Trophy 2014 ). At the US Championship in 2015, the couple took fourth prize ^[3] ; they were announced and performed at the four continents championship in Seoul ^[4] . At the same time, they improved their athletic performance in the free program.

The couple opened the new season in Finland at the Finnish Trophy tournament, where they were only fourth ^[5] . Two weeks later, they performed in Milwaukee ( USA ) at the stage of the Skate America Grand Prix series , where they also remained fourth. ^[6] In their second stage, the couple starred after a short program. However, in early December, at a tournament in Zagreb, the couple performed successfully, took second place and improved their previous achievements in the free program.

The American couple began the new pre-Olympic season in Montreal at the Autumn Classic International tournament, where they took second place in a bitter struggle and improved their previous achievements in free dance and total ^[7] . In late October, American dancers performed at the Grand Prix stage in Canada , where they took a place in the middle of the table at the Canadian Federation Cup , while improving their previous achievements in total ^[8] . At the end of November, they performed at the final stage of the Grand Prix in Sapporo , where they managed to finish fourth in a difficult struggle, while surpassing their previous achievements in the free program and amount ^[9] . In January 2017, at a national championship in Kansas, the couple could not compete with leading American dancers ^[10] .

In September, an American couple started their home Olympic season in Salt Lake City , where they finished with a silver medal at the US International Figure Skating Classic tournament ^[11] . A month later, the couple performed in the Grand Prix series at the Canadian stage , where they finished near the podium ^[12] . At the end of November, at the home stage in Lake Placid, they finished in the middle of the standings ^[13] . In early December, followed by a performance on the Golden Skate of Zagreb , which the pair finished in third place. At the beginning of January at the national championship, they finished fourth ^[14] . Given that the championship of four continents took place two weeks before the Olympics, the American Federation sent a second squad to it. In Taipei in late January, Caitlin and Jean-Luc at the continental championship surely became continental champions. The couple was not announced at the World Championships, but soon after the Olympics, the leading couple of the Shibutani family decided to take an annual break and decided not to go to the next championship. The United States announced a spare pair so Hawaiian with a partner and debuted in the world championship. At the end of March, athletes performed in Milan at the championship , where they finished at the end of the top ten ^[15] .

(with K. Hawaiik)

(with D. Young)

WD = Skaters withdrew from the competition.

The mother of Jean-Luc is famous (repeatedly represented Great Britain at world and continental championships, as well as at the Olympic Games ), the British figure skater (ice dancing), multiple British champion Sharon Jones , the father is less known (played only at the first junior world championship ), the British greenhouse Stefan Baker From early childhood, Jean-Luca was engaged in figure skating, his first trainers were parents.

• K. Hawaiik and J.-L. Baker on the official website of the International Skating Union .
• D. Young and J.-L. Baker on the official website of the International Skating Union .