This skater can, without a doubt, be called the most talented single player who has ever played for the French national figure skating team. Light, graceful, fit, artistic, with a radiant smile - this is how he looks on the ice. And what is Joubert Briand in everyday life and what problems does this skater worry?
Way to ice
Brian was born in the French city of Poitiers in 1984. After surgery in infancy (kidney removal), one could hardly have predicted a sporting future for this boy. But already at the age of 4, he first gets to the rink, where by then the older sisters of Joubert were engaged. Briand at first tries himself in ice dancing, but he is much more attracted to jumping and acrobatic stunts, as a result he goes into solo male skating. At the rink of his hometown of Poitiers, his path to great sport begins.
Brian Joubert and his family devoted a lot of time to figure skating. His mother, Raymond Joubert, supported his son in his quest for champion titles and spent more than one hour with him in training. It is precisely at such moments that the support of relatives and friends who believe in your success is especially valuable.
First medals
His first tournament was the 2000 World Junior Championships. 15th place - this is the result that Joubert showed at these competitions. This year, Briand also goes to the European Championship, where he is already in third place - this result allows him to take a place in the French team at the upcoming Olympics (2002). In fact, the 1999/00 season was the only season when the skater played in the junior team.
At the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, he becomes fourteenth, and at the next World Cup (2003) he rises one notch (13th place).
The 2003/04 season brings the first gold medal won by Joubert. Briand took part in the Skate America tournament, which was one of the stages of the Grand Prix.
The 2004 European Championship brought gold, by the way, at this tournament Brian for the first time managed to get around his most important competitor - Evgeni Plushenko. A silver medal was won at the World Championships that year, and in general this season can be called the most successful in the skater's career. Brian Joubert and his family kept in touch during important competitions, and his mother very often traveled with her son to support him.
The 2005 Moscow World Cup is not so successful, and the Turin Olympics, unfortunately, do not bring any awards. But in the next season, Joubert again rises to the podium, letting forward only his compatriot - Stefan Lambiel.
Peak career
The peak of Joubert's career can be called the 2006/07 season, in which the skater wins all the competitions in which he participated. The main prize of the Grand Prix, the gold of the world championship - was missing only Olympic gold, which Brian could not win in his career. He wins the 2007 World Cup with almost no injury, and is already bypassing Lambiel.
Problems and injuries
Before the start of the world championships in 2007, Briand is seriously injured. Unsuccessful landing after a difficult jump - and he cuts the foot with the blade of a skate. The following year, a back injury forces the athlete to withdraw from the competition. Ironically, the case with the dissection of the foot will be repeated, and Joubert Brian will be forced to refuse to participate in the final stage of the Grand Prix and in the French championship 2009/10. But for the European Championship, which was held in Tallinn, the skater heals the injury and becomes a bronze medalist. Although, of course, he could count on a higher place, but the free program did not succeed, and he had to be content with only the third result.
The Vancouver Olympics was completely disastrous - 16th in the overall standings. But the championship in Turin again brings a medal.
Briana's career developed unstably, due to injuries and annoying misses, he could not show stable results, and this fact was very upsetting for the athlete. As a result, he decides to end his professional career and in 2014 stops participating in international competitions.
Brian Joubert: personal life
The family has always been a very important moment in life for this skater. Beloved mother, older sisters - he never forgot about them and always brought memorable gifts for them from every competition. Despite the attractive appearance and popularity with the female, personal relationships did not work out.
Brian Joubert (whose photo was on the covers of glossy magazines) breaks up with his girlfriend and is very worried about her betrayal. In the media, she pours mud on the skater, hinting at his unconventional sexual orientation.
But Brian Joubert is not only a talented skater, but also a very kind and helpful person who loves parrots and reptiles, motorcycles and speed and dreams of a cozy house where the whole family will gather. Few of his teammates knew that Briand was sponsoring a fund that helps children with Williams's disease. After all, life is not limited to one sport.