Jean-François Ballester | |
---|---|
![]() Jean-François Ballester at the
2017 Skate America | |
Other names | Jeff Ballester |
Born | Rouen, France | 1 September 1965
Died | 2 December 2018 La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland | (aged 53)
Figure skating career | |
Country | France |
Skating club | CP La Chaux-de-Fonds CP Biel-Bienne ACSEL Caen |
Began skating | c. 1970 |
Jean-François Ballester (1 September 1965 – 2 December 2018) was a French figure skating coach. He is best known for his work with Aliona Savchenko / Bruno Massot, who won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics, 2018 World Championships and 2017–18 Grand Prix Final.
Jean-François "Jeff" [1] [2] Ballester was born on 1 September 1965, [3] in Rouen, France. [4] He died on 2 December 2018 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, following a heart attack at his home. [5] [6]
His mother and sister have also worked as skating coaches. [7]
Ballester started learning to skate as a five-year-old and was competing in junior pairs when he decided to retire at age 19. [7] He coached at ACSEL Caen (France) from 1994 to 2014. [7] He also worked in Switzerland, at CP La Chaux-de-Fonds and CP Biel/Bienne. [8]
Ballester coached: