Anissina/Peizerat cancel fall assignments because of injury

Olympic Champions Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat have been forced to cancel their fall assignments because of injury. As Gwendal explained in a letter to his fans, he injured his shoulder during the recording of a TV show "Fort Boyar". In this show, stars have to solve several tasks and adventures. The show is aimed at raising money for a humanitarian association that supports terminally ill children. "That was for them (the children) that I overcame the pain in my left shoulder when I dislocated it four times in a row during a climbing game", Gwendal wrote. As it turned out later, he had injured his left shoulder seriously, "with broken bones and tendons". The surgeon told Peizerat end of July that the surgey would keep him off the ice for at least six month.

However, Gwendal was able to do his planned trip to the Pamir mountains in August, because according to his doctor, carrying a back pack would help to strengthen his shoulder and back before the surgery. On this trip, Gwendal climbed the Mustagh Ata mountain that is 7500 metres high! "Coming back from there I had a call from the surgeon secretary who told me that she had somebody who cancelled and that I could be accepted at the hospital the 4th of november", Gwendal explained. Originally, the surgeon only had time next year. As he can't skate normally with this kind of injury, Gwendal agreed to undergo surgery in November. Before going to the hospital, the ice dancer plans a trip to Africa in October.

Anissina/Peizerat to perfom in Japan

Olympic Ice Dance Champions Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat have been invited to perform in the Prince Hotel ice show in Morioka, Japan, on October 25 and 26. The show will also feature 1994 Olympic Champion Alexei Urmanov.

Anissina/Peizerat to perform in French Tour

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat are scheduled to perform in the French Tour (April 1 to June 12). The tour also features other French top skaters as well as guests such as Olympic Pair Champions Elena Berezhnaia/Anton Sikharulidze.

For further information and ticket reservation please
call: ++ 33 4 66 21 87 87

The schedule (as of January 28):
1. April Nîmes
2.-4. Monaco
8.-9. Lyon
12. Annecy
13.-14. Clermont Ferrand
16.-17. Angers
23.-24. Bordeaux
25. Anglet
26. Pau
29. Grenoble
30. Besancon
3. May Amiens
5. Rouen
7. Le Havre
8. Le Mans
11.-12. Toulouse
14. Montpellier
16.-17. Marseille
20. Toulon
21.-22. Nice
24.-25. Lille
27. Metz
28.-29. Reims
30.-31. Strasbourg
2. June Mulhouse
3.-4. Geneva
9. Bastia
10. Charleville-Mezières
11.-12. Brussels, Belgium

Gwendal Peizerat in Malmö

Gwendal Peizerat came to the Europeans in Malmö - but for the first time he attended a Championship not as a competitor. Gwendal worked with French skater Stanick Jeannette (who won the bronze medal) and commented for French TV. Gwendal had choreorgraphed Stanick's program, and it was a big success with the audience. He said that it was not bizarre for him to be at the Championships and not competing and he enjoyed the experience.
Countless fans asked for his autograph.

Anissina/Peizerat cancel COI Winter Tour

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat have cancelled their appreances at the COI Winter Tour in the USA. According to their agent, the Olympic Champions have been advised by their lawyers not to perform in the USA.

Anissina/Peizerat celebrated stars at Trophee Lalique

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat didn't compete at the Trophee Lalique for the first time in many years, but they still where there and celebrated by the audience. Marina and Gwendal performed on November 16 in between the competition as an additional exhibition to the delight of many fans. They skated their famous OD (exhibition version) and a special number with highlights from previous free dances. "I thought last year, that we skated for the last time at the Trophee Lalique. But now we are here and happy to skate for you, our audience", Marina said. Gwendal then came back in a different role. He moderated the exhibition gala on Sunday. "I did something like this for the first time, and I hadn't much time to prepare", he explained. But he did a nice job.

Anissina/Peizerat to perform at Trophee Lalique

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat have been invited to perform in the Exhibition Gala of the Trophee Lalique (Sunday, November 17).

Technical problems lead to cancellation of some shows

Due to technical problems, a part of the summer shows in France had to be cancelled. According to the latest information, the show in Bayonne on Friday, August 9, should take place.

Anissina/Peizerat denounce allegations at press conference

Olympic ice dance champions Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat denounced the allegations made after the arrest of Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, who is charged with trying to rig the results of the pairs and dance events at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. The couple, as well as French Federation president Didier Gailhaguet and the Olympic pairs champions, Elena Berezhnaia/Anton Sikharulidze (Russia) spoke to the media during a press conference in Arles, France, on Monday (August 5). "Marina and Gwendal won their medal on the ice", said Gailhaguet according to agency reports. "Marina and Gwendal have said it: 'We didn't need anyone to win."
Marina explained to know Mr. Tokhtakhounov. "We spoke on the phone from time to time. I met him at a reception in 1999 where he was honoured. But I never asked him for anything. All that is just not true. I never called him during the Games. I'm sure it's not my voice on the tape. I don't know whom my mum is calling, but I'm sure that she didn't do it either."

Gwendal, who wore a T-shirt with "Not Guilty" printed on it, added that he never had heard of Tokhtakhounov before last week, when he learned about him at the ice gala in Nottingham, Great Britain. When asked about the possibility of changing the results of the skating events of the Olympic Games, he felt that this would be unlikely. "They can't take away our medal. It's there, in our hearts", he said.

Anissina/Peizerat shocked by allegations and new scandal

Both Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat expressed their disbelief and shock about the news about an alleged Uzbek-Russian mobster who is charged with having tried to rig the outcome of the pairs and ice dance skating events at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.

Anissina denied the "painful, inhonorable and unjustified" accusations made against her in connection with the arrest of Mr. Tokhtakhounov. "Gwendal and myself didn't need anyone to win our gold medal at Salt Lake City", Anissina said in a statement, issued by the French Figure Skating Federation Friday (August 2).
The ice dancer reminded in her statement of the fact that the Russian judge (Alla Shekhovtseva) voted against her and her partner in the free dance. Anissina/Peizerat won the gold in a split decision of five to four judges over Russians Irina Lobacheva/Ilia Averbukh. "The experts were unanimous (in saying that they deserved the gold medal)", Anissina said. "Neither the recorded braggings of certain people, nor the attempts of manipulation of others will change this. The marks of the Russian judge speak for themselves!" She added that she will focus on the upcoming summer shows in France.

In a separate statement, Gwendal Peizerat expressed the same views as his partner. "We skated with all our hearts", he said. "In the view of those who watched our program, if it was the spectators or the judges, it is clear that we deserved the gold medal that we were awarded with. If it turns out to be true that someone tried to influence the result of the competition, it is upsetting and makes me sad. This should never happen. Still, these allegations should not diminish the results of all Olympic Champions of Salt Lake City."

The alleged Russian mobster Alizham Tokhtakhounov, who comes from the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan and according to reports holds a Russian and Israeli passport was arrested last Wednesday (July 31) in his residence in Italy. He is charged with having tried to fix the skating results. However, several points mentioned in a published FBI document seem unlikely. According to the document, Tokhtakhounov contacted an unidentified official of the Russian Figure Skating Federation shortly before the skating competition in Salt Lake City. It seems very unlikely that a person, unknown in the figure skating scene, would be able to influence several skating judges in such a short amount of time before the competition. Moreover, according to reports, the man never was on site in Salt Lake City.

Anissina/Peizerat at summer shows in France

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat are headlining five summer shows in the south of France from August 4 to 9. The dates are:
August 4 and 5: Frejus
August 6: Arles
August 8: Bayonne
August 9: Beziers

Also Russian pair skaters Elena Berezhnaia/Anton Sikharulidze and several members of the French team are scheduled to perform.
For further information and ticket ordering please contact:
http://www.fnac.com
http://www.battants.fr
or call
++33 (0) 4 66 21 87 87

Anissina/Peizerat skated for the Queen of England

Marina Anissia/Gwendal Peizerat skated their famous Original Dance (Flamenco and Tango) as an expanded exhibition number at the "Nottingham Ice Gala" in the presence of Her Majesty, the Queen of England Elizabeth II on July 31. See also the interview that we conducted with Gwendal Peizerat (Marina, unfortunaly, was unavailable) shortly before the show. This interview will be online within the next few days.

Book about Anissina/Peizerat released

Just a few weeks after Anissina/Peizerat took the gold at the Olympic Winter Games, a book about them has been released in France. Titled "D'Or et de Feu" ("Of Gold and Fire"), the 160-pages book celebrates the most successful French skaters ever. The book features coloured pictures from the programs of the years 1999-2002. Marina and Gwendal comment many photographs, telling the reader about the element they are doing, what is important about it and what they were thinking or feeling in this particular moment. Added are some private and off-ice pictures with their family, their pets and at home.

The photos are taken by French photographer Eddy Lemaistre.
The book costs 36 Euro.
ISBN-Number 2-911 116-01-1 (necessary for ordering)
For more information, please contact:
Pleiades
Editions de la Voûte
9, Villa Berthier
75017 Paris
France

Anissina/Peizerat to skate in show for the Queen

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat will be among the top stars of a show for the Queen of England on July 31 in Nottingham, Great Britain. The show is the official opening of the National Ice center and part of the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Queen. The gala among others also features Elena Berezhnaia/Anton Sikharulidze, Kurt Browning, Ilia Kulik. For ordering tickets and further information, please visit http://www.nottingham-arena.com/

Anissina/Peizerat enjoy French Tour - New programs

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat enjoyed the French Tour in April a lot. The tour consisted of 25 shows in 19 cities. The audience greeted them with a standing ovation when they stepped on to the ice and were thrilled to see the new version of the Flamenco and Tango OD. Anissina/Peizerat also prepared an entirely new number to "Fallin" by Alicia Keys. As an encore, they skated the funny "Susanna" program, a crowd favorite since they created it. "It's great to do the tour, but it's also tiring", Marina said. There is no time to rest soon as the Olympic Champions go on to perform on the Tom Collins Tour in the USA.

Anissina/Peizerat at Masters Miko

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat charmed the Parisian audience one more time at the 12th Masters Miko (April 6 and 7). The Olympic Champions were the favorites of the audience, as it was to be expected. The audience rose to their feet after each performance to give A&P a deserved standing ovation. For the competition, Marina and Gwendal presented a revised version of their phantastic Tango OD. Sitting on the boards, Marina is looking into her tarot cards at the beginning while Gwendal plays a Spanish dancer. A&P presented a new program for the Interpretative FreeDance. Skating to "Yellow Submarine" and dressed in diving suits with snorkels, the dancers proved again their talent for comedy. The music then changes into a more romantic piece, and the Marina-the-diver mutates into a mermaid who saves a "drowning" Gwendal. This part of the program contained some elements from previous programs such as "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Man in the Iron Mask". Anissina/Peizerat won the competition with a couple of perfect marks against the current World Champions Irina Lobacheva/Ilia Averbukh. Overall the French and Russian/German team had the same amount of points.

Some young dance teams from Lyon surprised Marina and Gwendal and the audience with a special idea. Each couple skated a part of former programs of their heros. A&P were touched and also thanked the audience for their support throughout the years.

Anissina/Peizerat not at Worlds

Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat will not compete at Worlds in Nagano, Japan. The Olympic Champions had said that they plan to attend Worlds, but then withdrew after all. The French Federation selected Alia Ouabdelsselam/Benjamin Delmas instead.

Meanwhile, A&P skated at the premiere of the Holiday on Ice show in Paris on Thursday (February 28) as special guests. Marina and Gwendal presented their Free Dance to the public.

Olympic Gold for Marina & Gwendal

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat danced to the gold on Monday (18 Feb) night in Salt Lake City. They are the first French ice dancers ever to win the Olympic gold and the first skaters to win an Olympic title since 1932, when pair skaters won. It was an exciting competition and a tough fight until the last couple. Marina and Gwendal skated first in the final group and performed their FD "Liberta" very well,convining with strong footwork, flow and line, skating close together. Their routine earned them marks ranging from 5.7 to 5.8 for technical merit and 5.8 to 5.9 for presentation.

"We were skating first in the group, so we knew that the scores couldn't be so high", Marina said. Now the long wait begun. Sitting in the dressing rooms, the couple had to wait until the last competitors, runner ups Irina Lobacheva/Ilia Averbukh had skated before they knew if they had the gold or the silver. "It was a long wait", Gwendal said. "I didn't watch the others", Marina explained. The Russian couple put in a strong performance as well, and Anissina/Peizerat won over them by a five to four split on the panel of judges. The judges from Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Bulgraia, Ukraine and Poland had voted for them. Russia, Switzerland, Germany and Italy preferred Lobacheva/Averbukh. Hugs, smiles, tears of joy, TV interviews... it all happened so fast.
And then they stood up there, on the top of the podium, smiling proudly as the "Marseillaise", the French anthem, was played for them. It was the greatest moment of a great career, well deserved, enjoyed and many hearts were with Marina and Gwendal this night.

"It's a great feeling. We are very proud of ourselves, the way we skated tonight, the way we skated throughout the season and throughout our entire career", Gwendal told a post-event news conference. "Tonight is a great reward. Wow, it feels good.... This is the result of an old career that we've been trying to improve everytime and not rest on a good result."

Anissina & Peizerat defend lead in OD, poised for gold!

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat defended their lead with an excellent OD and are now poised for the Olympic gold! The French performed a subtle but exciting Flamenco and Tango to stay ahead of their competitors. The judges awarded them marks from 5.7 to 5.9 for composition and all 5.9s for presentation. Anissina/Peizerat picked up all but one first place ordinal. Only the Polish judge voted for the Russian team of Irina Lobacheva/Ilia Averbukh.

"I think this was the best performance we did this season. We are always progressing and any time we skate, it's getting better and better in the competition", Gwendal said in the press conference following the OD. "We skated very well, and we did all thath we wanted to do", Marina told the press. "It was a lot of work, and we are pleased with our performance. I love doing Spanish dance, and it was a Spanish emotion, not Russian!"

Marina Anissina & Gwendal Peizerat danced to an early lead in the Compulsory Dances at the Olympic Games (Friday 15 February)

The French had to skate first in the first dance, the Quickstep. They set the standard for the competition with a strong and crisp dance. The judges recognized the quality of the dance by awarding them eight out of nine first place ordinals. Only the German judge voted for second place.
Marina and Gwendal came back with a soft and smooth Blues in the second half of the competition. They displayed deep edges and soft knees. Again, they picked up eight first place ordinals. This time, the Italian judge was the only one to place them second.

"We felt very good. We had a really smooth program and we prepared really well for this", Gwendal commented. "Marina drew first at Europeans too. It's something we we are getting used to! It's difficult because you're opening the competition and it is the first mark. But we were happy to open (the ice dance event at) these Olympics," he remarked. "We're here to skate for the public first, then for the judges", Marina added.
Anissina/Peizerat will skate 21st (in the last warm up group) in the Original Dance on Sunday.

Anissina/Peizerat prepare in Logan

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat prepare in Logan, Utah, in the Salt Lake area for the Olympics. The French Federation rented ice for them in a brandnew facility. Single skaters Laetitia Hubert and Frederic Dambier are training there as well. The pair Abitbol/Bernadis was in Logan until their practice accident that forced them out of the Olympic Games. The owners of the rink sold ticket to the public, but the French Federation also asked for private practice sessions. The rink advertised their Olympic guests with a poster that shows Marina and Gwendal in their "Liberta" costumes. The French are expected to arrive soon in Salt Lake City.

French Skating Tour

The French Skating Federation has published a plan of the French tour in April. Here are the stops. Attention: Subject to change! For updates/changes please check the website of the French Federation at http://www.ffsg.org
(go to Actu-Infos, click on "Patinage Artistique - Danse sur Glace",
click on 01-02, click on 2002 April)

1 : Belfort
2-3 : Lyon
4 : Courchevel
5-7 : Paris
9 : Rennes
10 : Le Mans
11 : Caen
12 : Tours
13 : location has yet to be confirmed
14 : Rouen
15 : Nice
16 : Montpellier
17 : Perpignan
18 : Clermont-Ferrand
19 : Roanne
20 : Annecy
21 : Nancy
23 : Briançon
24 : Amiens
25 : Charleville-Mézières
26 : Lille
27 : Marseille (to be confirmed)

You can order tickets for some locations at: http://www.ticketnet.fr

Marina & Gwendal recapture European title

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat recaptured the European title they lost last year on Friday, January 18 in Lausanne, Switzerland. They performed their FD "Liberta" well, although the program had undergone some changes after the Grand Prix Final. Anissina/Peizerat modified some elements, especially lifts, and the beginning and the end of the program to give it more flow and power. It was a clear win as 7 of the 9 judges had them first. ISR and AUS voted against the French (but gave them a higher first mark), while AZE, FRA, SUI, JPN, FIN, USA and even the UKR had them first. Anissina/Peizerat were very relieved when they saw they had won.

"It's a great feeling to have recaptured the title and to be European Champions again. The audience was wounderful. We skated very well tonight", Marina said. "It was a great competition from the beginning", Gwendal added. "It was good for the Olympics. For us, it was a step towards the gold medal. It was still on my mind that we had a unlucky situation last year. We had a fall 10 seconds before the end. I didn't think about it, but I must stay alert until the very end."

Anissina/Peizerat take lead in the OD

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat took the lead in the OD at the European Championships in Lausanne on Thursday (January 17). The French turned in an inspiring Flamenco and Tango, skated with precision, elegance and flow. Their dance featured intricate footwork, good lifts and a beautiful spin. Seven out of the nine jugdes put Anissina/Peizerat first, only the Czech and the Australian judge voted for their competitors from Italy. The Lithuanian judge awarded the French even a perfect 6.0 for presentation.

"We felt great in our OD today", Marina said. "Everyone knows that we have the best OD, but we have to skate it well.That's exactly what we did today, we skated it with our heart. (On skating last of the top couples) We didn't think of the others, we focused on ourselves. We are much better prepared this year than last year at this time. I'm only thinking about the skating, and I don't care about what the judges are doing.

For the Free Dance on Friday, Anissina/Peizerat drew to skate last.

Anissina/Peizerat tied in first after compulsories at Europeans

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat are tied in first with Barbara Fusar Poli/Maurizio Margaglio after the two compulsory dances at Europeans on Tuesday (January 15). The French had to skate first in the first dance, the Ravensburg Waltz. They put in a confident Waltz that was light and flowing. The couple got six out of seven first place ordinals with only the Estonian judge putting them second to the Italians. Anissina/Peizerat skated also a good Blues that was smooth and expressive. However, the judging panel was different. The 2000 World Champions received two first place ordinals (AZE, BUL), three second places (CZE, GEO, POL) and two third places (RUS, ITA). The couple did not want to comment right after their performance.

"Marina and Gwendal skated extremly well. I've seen the Italians, and in my opinion, Marina and Gwendal were better. The Waltz was skated with lightness, the Blues with character and power. I think the judges want to keep up the suspense", coach Muriel Boucher-Zazoui said. "It was a long day as usual with the compulsory dances", Gwendal told the press conference shortly later. "We did well in both dances. We had a bad draw to start first in the first dance, but we did well. The competition is not yet over. We feel good on the ice and we are ready for the rest.

The Original Dance will take place on Thursday.

Anissina/Peizerat settle for silver at Grand Prix Final

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat took the silver medal at the 2001 Grand Prix Final in Kitchener, Canada on December 15. As the unique format demands, the dancers skated a second Free Dance. Anissina/Peizerat skated their "Liberta" program well, especially excelling in lifts and footwork. However, they were overtaken by Canada's Shae-Lynn Bourne/Victor Kraatz by a four to three split of the panel of judges. Anissina/Peizerat's twizzles were slightly out of sync, and this little mistake might have cost them the gold and the title.

"The Canadians had that little extra energy today, the audience was behind them allway through", Gwendal said. "Now we will go back home and will continue to work on our free dance to improve it further." Both skaters still were pleased with how the dance went. Their marks went up to 5.9 for both technical merit and presentation.

Anissina/Peizerat lead at Grand Prix Final after OD and 1st Free Dance

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat took a clear lead the first day of the Grand Prix Final in Kitchener, Canada (December 14). The 2000 World Champions started the day with a flamboyant Flamenco and Tango OD. They were excellent, capturing the character of the rhythms perfectly while executing difficult footwork and moves. "The dance went very well today, smooth and confident. We did everything how we wanted to do it", Marina said. "The ice quality is excellent, but the rink is smaller than in Europe. You feel that, suddenly it seemed very small."

The French received marks up to 5.8 for composition and up to 5.9 for presentation, which meant first place ordinals across the boards. The competition continued with the first Free Dance in the evening. Anissina/Peizerat decided to bring back "Carmina Burana", one of their favorite programs that won them their 2000 World title. They skated it beautifully, with power and passion, thrilling the audience with their unique lifts and intricate footwork. The judges agreed that this was the best performance of the day, marking them as high as 5.9 for technical merit and 6.0 for presentation (from the French judge). "To skate this program again felt great. We never skated it better, and that we could do so after two years showed that we progressed", Gwendal commented. "Physically, it was a bit hard, but we were in a good shape. This is a very important competition, with all the top couples. It gives us confidence. It's big step for us."

Anissina/Peizerat win NHK Trophy

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat won their fourth title at NHK Trophy in Kumamoto, Japan on Saturday (1 December). Their FD "Liberta" started off well but then Gwendal stumbled suddenly. The team recovered instantly, but they did look a bit hesitant after the mistake. Still, the fans loved their performance and stormed to the board to hand the skaters flowers and presents. "We don't really know what happened, we have to watch the video", Gwendal said.

"At this point, we are turning our backs to each other, and we were not in exact the same direction as usual." "Of course, we are a little disappointed about the stumble, but we are glad that the audience and the judges liked our program in spite of it", he continued. "The rest of the competition was very good. The little mistake is the only thing we are unhappy with". Marina explained that she felt tired today. The couple received all first place ordinals and 5.6 to 5.8 for technical merit and 5.8 to 5.9 for presentation.

Anissina/Peizerat defend lead in the OD

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat defended their lead at NHK Trophy clearly in the OD (November 30) in Kumamoto, Japan. The French delivered a passionate Flamenco and expressive Tango to earn marks up to 5.8 for composition and up to 5.9 for presentation. Only the Ukrainian judge, again, insisted on the lowest marks, 5.5/5.7. To look more "Spanish", Gwendal had dyed his hair dark with a spray. Both skaters were happy with their performance. "I think it was cleaner, more technical than at Lalique", Gwendal commented. "We felt good in the dance today. Since Lalique, we refined the dance. We worked on all elements."

Marina added: "We love both parts, the Flamenco and the Tango. These rhythms are very good for us, very emotional. We were in Spain to work on the dances, the costumes, everything goes together." They said that they are no changes in their Free Dance. "There is nothing to change", Gwendal said. In the FD practice, they used a new, blue-silver costume that also looked very good on them. Anissina/Peizerat drew to skate last for the Free Dance.

Anissina/Peizerat take clear lead at NHK Trophy

Marina Anissina/Gwendal Peizerat took a clear and convincing lead at NHK Trophy on Thursday, November 29 by winning the Compulsory Dance. Their Golden Waltz was skated confidently and really reflected the light, lilting character of the dance. Their marks ranged from 5.3 to 5.7 for technique and from 5.5 to 5.9 for timing and expression. The 5.3/5.5 came from the Ukrainian judge, everyone else didn't give them marks below 5.6. All judges placed the 2000 World Champions first.