Romain Le Gac(born 31 May 1995) is a French-Canadianice dancerwho currently represents Canada with his partner and wifeMarie-Jade Lauriault,in which capacity he is the2022 Skate Americabronze medallist,2023 CS Budapest Trophysilver medallist, and two-timeCanadian nationalmedallists.
| Romain Le Gac | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac at the2019 Autumn Classic International | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 31 May 1995 Nogent-sur-Marne, France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hometown | Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Canada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Canada(since 2021) France(2010–20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Ice dance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partner | Marie-Jade Lauriault | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Patrice Lauzon Marie-France Dubreuil Romain Haguenauer Pascal Denis Josée Piché Benjamin Brisebois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skating club | Patinage Laval | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Began skating | 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medal record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lauriault and Le Gac initially represented his birth country of France upon partnering in 2014, winning four silver medals at theFrench Championshipsand a national junior title, and representing France at the2018 Winter Olympics.Internationally they won fourChallengermedals, including gold at the2019 CS Warsaw Cup,before switching to represent her birth country of Canada in the summer of 2021.
He previously competed withEstelle Elizabeth,winning two junior national titles and representing France at the inauguralWinter Youth Olympics.
Personal life
editRomain Le Gac was born on 31 May 1995 inNogent-sur-Marne,France.[1]He moved toMontreal,Quebec,Canada in July 2014.[2]He married Marie-Jade Lauriault in December 2015.[3]He has expressed interest in working as anosteopath.[4]
Career
editEarly career
editLe Gac began skating in 2001.[1]Disliking jumps, he switched from singles to ice dancing two years later.[4]
Le Gac debuted on the junior international level withEstelle Elizabethin the2010–11 season.In January 2012, they represented France at theWinter Youth OlympicsinInnsbruck,Austria, placing sixth in the short dance, fifth in the free dance, and fifth overall. They won bronze in theteam event.
Elizabeth/Le Gac finished fifteenth at the2013 World Junior Championshipsin Milan after ranking thirteenth in the short and eighteenth in the free dance. They placed eleventh in both segments and eleventh overall at the2014 World Junior ChampionshipsinSofia,Bulgaria. They were coached byMuriel Boucher-Zazoui,Romain Haguenauer,andOlivier SchoenfelderinLyon.[5]Their partnership ended around July 2014 due to personal problems.[3]
2014–15 season: Debut of Lauriault/Le Gac
editLe Gac relocated with Haguenauer toMontreal, Quebec,in July 2014, and was paired with Canadian ice dancerMarie-Jade Lauriaultthe same month.[2][3]The two decided to represent France. They are coached by Haguenauer,Patrice Lauzon,Pascal Denis,andMarie-France Dubreuilin Montreal.[1]
Lauriault/Le Gac competed on the senior level in the2014–15 season.They won silver at theOpen d'Andorraand finished ninth at the2014 CS Golden Spin of Zagrebbefore taking silver at theFrench Championships.
2015–16 season: International junior season
editLauriault/Le Gac decided to compete on the junior level in2015–16.They won two medals on theJunior Grand Prix(JGP) series — silver inLinz,Austria and gold inLogroño,Spain. Their results gave them a spot at theJGP FinalinBarcelona,where they finished fifth.
In February 2016, Lauriault/Le Gac won gold at the French Junior Championships ahead of Abachkina/Thauron.In March, they represented France at the2016 World Junior ChampionshipsinDebrecen,Hungary, and won a small bronze medal after placing third in the short dance. They finished eighth overall. Over eight days in April, they skated in ten ice shows in France.[3]
2016–17 season: Grand Prix, European and World debuts
editReturning to the senior ranks for the pre-Olympic season, Lauriault/Le Gac placed fifth at the2016 CS Autumn Classic International.They were then invited to make theirsenior Grand Prixdebut, finishing sixth at both the2016 NHK Trophyand the2017 Internationaux de France.[6]
After winning silver at the French championships for the second time at the senior level, Lauriault/Le Gac made theirEuropean Championshipdebut at the2017 editioninOstrava,coming twelfth. They won gold at theCup of Nicebefore making theirWorld Championshipdebutin Helsinki,finishing twenty-first in the rhythm dance and thereby narrowly missing the cut for the free dance. They were also invited to participate as part of Team France at theWorld Team Trophy,finishing sixth among dance teams while France also came sixth overall.[6]
2017–18 season: Pyeongchang Olympics
edit
Sixth at theAutumn Classicto start the season, Lauriault/Le Gac were eighth at both the2017 NHK Trophyand the2017 Rostelecom Cupon theGrand Prix.They won silver at the French championships for the third time and, as a result, were named to theFrench teamfor the2018 Winter OlympicsinPyeongchang.They finished twelfth at the2018 European Championshipsshortly afterwards.[6]
French national championsPapadakis/Cizerondeclined to participate in theOlympic team event,allowing Lauriault/Le Gac to do so. They finished sixth in the rhythm dance segment, but Team France was tenth among ten teams after the first round and did not advance to the free portion of the competition. They then participated in theice dance event,qualifying to the free dance and finishing seventeenth in their Olympic debut.[6]Lauriault/Le Gac finished the season with a thirteenth-place finish at thepost-Olympic World ChampionshipsinMilan.[6]
2018–19 season: Challenger medals
editLauriault/Le Gac won two medals on theChallenger seriesto begin the season, taking the bronze at both the2018 CS Finlandia Trophyand the2018 CS Inge Solar Memorial.[6]On theGrand Prix,they finished fourth at the2018 Skate Canada International,6.65 points behind bronze medallistsGilles/Poirierof Canada.[7]They were then sixth on home ice at the2018 Internationaux de France.[6]
French national silver medalists once again, Lauriault/Le Gac were tenth at the2019 European Championshipsand fourteenth at the2019 World ChampionshipsinSaitama.[6]
2019–20 season: Struggles
editAfter a bronze medal win at the2019 CS Autumn Classic International,Lauriault/Le Gac struggled in the early going, coming eighth at both the2019 Skate Americaand the2019 Internationaux de France.They won gold at the2019 CS Warsaw Cup,their first Challenger title, but came fourth at the French championships and thus did not make theEuropean Championship team.[6]They were assigned to compete at the2020 World Championships,to be held inMontrealnear their training centre, but the event was cancelled due to the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[8]
2021–22 season: Switch to Canada
editAfter not competing at all during the COVID-plagued2020–21 season,Lauriault and Le Gac announced on June 6, 2021, that they would henceforth be representing her birth country of Canada.[9]Lauriault would later say that it had been a difficult decision but that "with the pandemic, we certainly realized that we are very much at home in Canada, that our life is there. We felt that more and more as the years progressed, and Romain has established himself there as well. It is also complicated with me studying and Romain working in Canada."[10]
After competing domestically in the fall, Lauriault/Le Gac qualified for the2022 Canadian Championships,held without an audience inOttawadue to the spread of theOmicron variant.They finished fifth in their first appearance at the Canadian nationals, with Lauriault saying, "it wasn't perfect, but it was what we were hoping for."[11]Their result earned them an assignment to the2022 Four Continents ChampionshipsinTallinn.[12]Competing at Four Continents, their first international event in two years, they were fifth after the rhythm dance but dropped to sixth when Lauriault fell on her twizzles in the free dance. Despite the "technical error", she insisted afterwards, "it was a great experience today; these are still good memories."[10]
2022–23 season: First Grand Prix medal
editBeginning the season at the2022 CS U.S. Classic,Lauriault/Le Gac finished in fourth place, 3.36 points behind American bronze medallistsMcNamara/Spiridonov.[13]Given twoGrand Prixassignments representing Canada for the first time, they competed first at the2022 Skate Americaand won the bronze medal, their first Grand Prix medal. Le Gac said afterward that it was a significant competition for them because they had not competed on the Grand Prix since 2019, while Lauriault called it a "life-changing experience."[14]They then appeared at the2022 Skate Canada Internationalthe following weekend, setting new personal bests and finishing in fifth place.[15]
Lauriault/Le Gac won the gold medal at the 2022–23 Skate Canada Challenge to qualify to the2023 Canadian Championships.Lauriault said of the reception of theirThe Pink Pantherprogram, "we've put so much work into our choreography this year, and we are pleased people are enjoying it as much as we enjoy performing it."[16]They went on to win the bronze medal at the Canadian Championships, albeit with reigning Canadian national championsGilles/Poirierabsent due to illness.[17]
Despite their national bronze medal, Lauriault/Le Gac were not initially assigned to any ISU championships for the second half of the season, as Gilles/Poirier were expected to return in time.[18]However, Gilles/Poirier subsequently withdrew from the2023 Four Continents Championships,Lauriault/Le Gac were called up to replace them.[19]
2023–24 season
editFor their free dance for the new season, Lauriault and Le Gac chose to use the soundtrack ofTim Burton's filmThe Corpse Bride,which she would later say they had had contemplated since their junior days, but earlier felt would be too "childish". They reconsidered after a recent rewatch of the film.[20]
In their first outing of the season, Lauriault/Le Gac won the silver medal at the2023 CS Budapest Trophy,their first Challenger medal while representing Canada.[21]On theGrand Prix,they finished fifth at the2023 Grand Prix de France.[20]They encountered difficulties in the free dance at the2023 NHK Trophyand came seventh there. Lauriault said that it "may not have been the performance we wanted, but we are happy that we enjoyed the moment and were present and grateful for being here."[22]
In advance of the2024 Canadian Championships,defending silver medalistsLajoie/Laghawithdrew due to Lajoie entering concussion protocol, whilst reigning championsFournier Beaudry/Sørensenwithdrew after the latter was revealed to be under investigation for sexual assault. The ice dance podium was thus considered more open than in recent years.[23]Lauriault/Le Gac won the silver medal.[24]
With Lajoie/Lagha still unable to compete, Lauriault/Le Gac replaced them at the2024 Four Continents ChampionshipsinShanghai,where they were seventh in the rhythm dance after receiving a two-point deduction for an illegal move in their rotational lift. They set a new personal best score in the free dance, coming third in that segment and winning a bronze small medal, and rising to fifth overall.[25]
2024–25 season
editLauriault/Le Gac started their season with a gold medal win at the2024 Lake Placide Ice Dance International.Going on to compete on the2024–25 Grand Prixcircuit, the duo finished seventh at2024 Skate Americaand at the2024 Grand Prix de France.[6]
Programs
editIce dance with Marie-Jade Lauriault
edit| Season | Short dance/Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 |
|
— | [26] | |
| 2015–16 |
|
|
[1] | |
| 2016–17 |
|
|
|
[27] |
| 2017–18 |
|
|
[28] | |
| 2018–19 |
|
|
|
[29] |
| 2019–20 |
|
|
— | [30] |
| 2020–21 |
|
|||
| 2021–22 |
|
|
[31] | |
| 2022–23 |
|
|
|
[32] |
| 2023–24 |
|
|
|
[33] |
| 2024–25 |
|
|
[34] |
With Elizabeth
edit| Season | Short dance | Free dance |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2014 [5] |
|
|
| 2012–2013 [35][36] |
|
|
| 2011–2012 [37] |
|
|
Competitive highlights
edit
- GP – Event of theISU Grand Prix Series
- JGP – Event of theISU Junior Grand Prix Series
- CS – Event of theISU Challenger Series
- C – Event was cancelled
Ice dance with Marie-Jade Lauriault (for Canada)
edit| Season | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four Continents Championships | 6th | 6th | 5th | |
| Canadian Championships | 5th | 3rd | 2nd | |
| GPFrance | 5th | 7th | ||
| GPNHK Trophy | 7th | |||
| GPSkate America | 3rd | 7th | ||
| GPSkate Canada | 5th | |||
| CSBudapest Trophy | 2nd | |||
| CSU.S. Classic | 4th | |||
| CSWarsaw Cup | TBD | |||
| Lake Placid Ice Dance | 1st | |||
| Skate Canada Challenge | 3rd | 1st |
Ice dance with Marie-Jade Lauriault (for France)
edit| Season | 2014–15 | 2016–17 | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics | 17th | ||||
| Winter Olympics (Team event) | 10th | ||||
| World Championships | 21st | 13th | 14th | C | |
| European Championships | 12th | 12th | 10th | ||
| French Championships | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 4th |
| World Team Trophy | 6th (6th) |
||||
| GPFrance | 6th | 6th | 8th | ||
| GPNHK Trophy | 6th | 8th | |||
| GPRostelecom Cup | 8th | ||||
| GPSkate America | 8th | ||||
| GPSkate Canada | 4th | ||||
| CSAlpen Trophy | 3rd | ||||
| CSAutumn Classic | 5th | 6th | 3rd | ||
| CSFinlandia Trophy | 3rd | ||||
| CSGolden Spin of Zagreb | 9th | ||||
| CSWarsaw Cup | 1st | ||||
| Bavarian Open | 2nd | ||||
| Cup of Nice | 1st | 3rd | |||
| Master's de Patinage | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd |
| Open d'Andorra | 2nd | ||||
| Shanghai Trophy | 3rd |
| Season | 2015–16 |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championships | 8th |
| Junior Grand Prix Final | 5th |
| French Championships | 1st |
| JGPAustria | 2nd |
| JGPSpain | 1st |
| Master's de Patinage | 1st |
Ice dance with Estelle Elizabeth (for France)
edit| Season | 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Youth Olympics | 5th | |||
| Winter Youth Olympics (Team event) | 3rd | |||
| World Junior Championships | 15th | 11th | ||
| French Championships | 1st | 2nd | 1st | |
| JGPAustria | 9th | |||
| JGPBelarus | 7th | |||
| JGPFrance | 10th | |||
| JGPItaly | 8th | |||
| JGPLatvia | 5th | |||
| JGPTurkey | 10th | |||
| Ice Challenge | 2nd | |||
| Master's de Patinage | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
| Pavel Roman Memorial | 12th | |||
| Santa Claus Cup | 5th | |||
| Trophy of Lyon | 9th | 3rd | 2nd |
Detailed results
editIce dance with Marie-Jade Lauriault
edit| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 190.83 | 2024 Four Continents Championships |
| Rhythm dance | TSS | 74.59 | 2022 Skate Canada International |
| TES | 43.62 | 2022 Skate Canada International | |
| PCS | 33.64 | 2024 Skate America | |
| Free dance | TSS | 119.57 | 2024 Four Continents Championships |
| TES | 68.65 | 2024 Four Continents Championships | |
| PCS | 50.92 | 2024 Four Continents Championships |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Jul 30–31, 2024 |  2024 Lake Placid Ice Dance International
|
1 | 77.28 | 1 | 113.91 | 1 | 191.19 |
| Oct 18–20, 2024 | 2024 Skate America
|
6 | 70.38 | 7 | 104.53 | 7 | 174.91 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 3, 2024 | 2024 Grand Prix de France
|
5 | 72.54 | 8 | 103.31 | 7 | 175.85 |
References
edit- ^abcd"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2015/2016".International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^abPratka, Ruby (28 July 2014)."Romain Haguenauer: A New Era".IFS Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 30 July 2014.
- ^abcdFlade, Tatjana (29 May 2016)."Lauriault and Le Gac:" Love was stronger "".Golden Skate.
- ^abZanella, Cara (17 August 2016)."Lauriault & Le Gac find a fairytale ending on and off the ice".ice-dance.
- ^ab"Estelle ELIZABETH / Romain LE GAC: 2013/2014".International Skating Union.Archivedfrom the original on 14 March 2014.
- ^abcdefghij"Competition Results: Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC".International Skating Union.
- ^"Hubbell and Donohue win second consecutive Grand Prix at Skate Canada".Golden Skate.October 27, 2018.
- ^Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020)."World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal".CBC Sports.
- ^Lauriault, Marie-Jade (June 6, 2021)."Dans le contexte actuel, nous avons été amenés à réfléchir à notre avenir. Notre maison, nos études, nos carrières professionnelles et notre avenir sont maintenant au Canada. C'est pourquoi, afin d'engager cette transition pour notre avenir, nous représenterons à partir de la prochaine saison @patinageqc et @skate_canada"(Instagram). Archived fromthe originalon 2021-12-24.
- ^abSlater, Paula (January 21, 2022)."Green and Parsons feel 'incredible' after Four Continents win".Golden Skate.
- ^Flett, Ted (January 8, 2022)."Gilles and Poirier pocket second Canadian gold".Golden Skate.
- ^"Skate Canada Names Teams for 2022 ISU Championships"(Press release).Skate Canada.January 9, 2022.
- ^"Canadians Lauriault and Le Gac edged for bronze at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic"(Press release).Skate Canada.September 16, 2022.
- ^Slater, Paula (October 23, 2022)."Chock and Bates win third Skate America title".Golden Skate.
- ^Slater, Paula (October 29, 2022)."Gilles and Poirier defend Skate Canada title".Golden Skate.
- ^"Men, pairs and ice dance titles awarded at 2022–23 Skate Canada Challenge".Skate Canada.December 2, 2022.
- ^Flett, Ted (January 14, 2023)."Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen dance to gold in Oshawa".Golden Skate.
- ^"Skate Canada names teams for 2023 ISU championships".Skate Canada.January 15, 2023.
- ^"Eighteen athletes to represent Canada at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships".Skate Canada.February 2, 2023.
- ^abSlater, Paula (November 4, 2023)."Guignard and Fabbri defend Grand Prix de France title".Golden Skate.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"Lauriault and Le Gac take home ice dance silver from Budapest Trophy".Skate Canada.October 15, 2023.RetrievedNovember 5,2023.
- ^"ISU Grand Prix series wraps up at NHK Trophy in Japan".Skate Canada.November 25, 2023.RetrievedNovember 26,2023.
- ^Brodie, Robert (January 11, 2024)."Canadian Championships: Welcome to the deep freeze".R.W. Brodie Writes.Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2024.
- ^Spencer, Donna (January 13, 2024)."Ruiter halts Schizas's 3-peat bid in women's program at Canadian figure skating championships".CBC Sports.RetrievedJanuary 15,2024.
- ^Slater, Paula (February 4, 2024)."Gilles and Poirier add Four Continents gold to collection".Golden Skate.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
- ^"Marie-Jade Lauriault & Romain le Gac | Golden Skate".
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2016/2017".International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2017/2018".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2017.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2018/2019".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 7 December 2018.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2019/2020".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2019.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2021/2022".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 28 March 2022.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2022/2023".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 31 October 2022.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2023/2024".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2023.
- ^"Marie-Jade LAURIAULT / Romain LE GAC: 2024/2025".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2024.
- ^"Estelle ELIZABETH / Romain LE GAC: 2012/2013".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2013.
- ^"Estelle ELIZABETH / Romain LE GAC: 2012/2013".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2012.
- ^"Estelle ELIZABETH / Romain LE GAC: 2011/2012".International Skating Union. Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2013.
- ^abc"CAN–Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain le Gac".SkatingScores.
- ^ab"FRA–Marie-Jade Lauriault/Romain le Gac".SkatingScores.
- ^"FRA–Estelle Elizabeth/Romain le Gac".SkatingScores.
External links
edit
Media related toRomain Le Gacat Wikimedia Commons