Jean-Luc Baker

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Jean-Luc Baker
Kaitlin HAWAYEK Jean-Luc BAKER-GPFrance 2018-Ice dance FD-IMG 5662.jpeg
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker at 2018 Internationaux de France
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1993-10-07) October 7, 1993 (age 28)
Burnley, England
Home townBloomfield Hills, Michigan
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
PartnerKaitlin Hawayek
Former partnerJoylyn Yang, Nicole McClellan
CoachMarie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon
Former coachSharon Jones Baker, Stephen Baker, Pasquale Camerlengo, Anjelika Krylova, Natalia Annenko-Deller
Former choreographerAnjelika Krylova, Sharon Jones Baker, Pasquale Camerlengo
Skating clubMontreal International School of Skating
Training locationsMontreal
Former training locationsBloomfield Hills, Michigan, Mountlake Terrace, Washington
Began skating1995
ISU personal best scores
Combined total194.77
2019 Skate Canada
Short dance79.52
2019 Skate Canada
Free dance116.72
2021 CS Golden Spin
Medal record
Representing  United States
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Taipei Ice dancing
World Team Trophy
Silver medal – second place 2021 Osaka Team
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sofia Ice dancing
Junior Grand Prix Final
Silver medal – second place 2013–14 Fukuoka Ice dancing

Jean-Luc Baker (born October 7, 1993) is an American ice dancer. With his skating partner, Kaitlin Hawayek, he is the 2018 Four Continents champion, 2018 NHK Trophy champion, and three-time U.S. national bronze medalists (2019–2021).

Earlier in their career, they became the 2014 World Junior champions, 2013 JGP Final silver medalists, and 2014 U.S. national junior champions.[1]

Personal life[]

Jean-Luc Baker was born in Burnley, England.[2] He is the son of Sharon Jones Baker, who represented the United Kingdom in ice dancing at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and Stephen Baker, who competed for the U.K. in pair skating at the 1976 World Junior Championships.[3]

Baker was born with a club foot.[4] At the age of four, he moved with his family to the United States. He attended Harbour Pointe Middle School and Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington. After graduation, he moved to Detroit, Michigan to pursue his career.[5] He has a black belt in taekwondo.[6]

Career[]

Early years[]

Jean-Luc Baker was introduced to ice skating by his parents in 1995.[2][7] He was inspired to switch from singles to ice dancing by his mother.[8] He teamed up with Joylyn Yang in the summer of 2006, with his parents coaching the duo.[6][9] They won U.S. national titles on the juvenile and intermediate levels and took the novice bronze medal at the 2010 U.S. Championships. The following season, Yang/Baker were assigned to two ISU Junior Grand Prix events, finishing seventh in Japan and tenth in the Czech Republic. They were sixth on the junior level at the 2011 U.S. Championships.

2012–2013 season: First season with Hawayek[]

Baker teamed up with Kaitlin Hawayek in June 2012.[10] They were sent to two JGP events and won the silver medal in Germany. Hawayek/Baker took the junior silver medal at the 2013 U.S. Championships and were assigned to the 2013 World Junior Championships in Milan where they finished seventh.

2013–2014 season: World Junior title[]

During the 2013–14 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Hawayek/Baker won the gold medal in their JGP events, at the JGP Mexico and the JGP Poland. Their results qualified them to the JGP Final in Fukuoka, Japan, where they won the silver medal. They then won the gold medal at the 2014 World Junior Championships, setting a new Junior World record for the overall score with a total of 157.12 points.

2014–2015 season[]

Hawayek/Baker began their season at an ISU Challenger Series event, the 2014 Nebelhorn Trophy. They finished fourth after placing fourth in the short and third in the free dance. Their Grand Prix assignments were the 2014 Rostelecom Cup and 2014 NHK Trophy, winning the bronze medal at the latter.[11]

2015–2016 season[]

Baker sustained a concussion when Hawayek accidentally struck him with her arm in September 2015, just prior to the Labor Day weekend.[12][13] He returned to limited training after two weeks and full training a week later.[12]

Hawayek/Baker finished fourth at the 2015 Skate America. Due to food poisoning, Hawayek vomited eight times in four hours during the night before the short dance at the 2015 Cup of China.[13] After competing in the first segment, the duo decided to withdraw. They placed fifth at the 2016 U.S. Championships.

2016–2017 season[]

Hawayek/Baker won the silver medal at the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International. Competing on the Grand Prix series, they finished sixth at the 2016 Skate Canada International and fourth at the 2016 NHK Trophy.

2017–2018 season: Four Continents title[]

Beginning the season at the 2017 CS U.S. Classic, Hawayek/Baker won the silver medal. Their Grand Prix assignments were the 2018 Skate Canada International, where they placed fourth, and the 2018 Skate America, where they placed fifth. Following the Grand Prix they competed a second Challenger event, the 2017 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, winning the bronze medal.

Hawayek/Baker won the pewter medal at the 2018 U.S. Championships, and were assigned to the 2018 Four Continents Championships, as the top three teams were sent to the 2018 Winter Olympics. They won the gold medal at Four Continents, finishing 9.33 points ahead of silver medalists Carolane Soucisse / Shane Firus. Baker remarked "it was really awesome, it was a new experience for us. We’ve medaled at junior events and sporadically at senior events in Grand Prixs or senior Bs. It was a really cool experience and we hope to do it more often in the future."[14]

Following the withdrawal of Maia and Alex Shibutani, they were named to the US team for the 2018 World Championships in Milan, where they placed tenth. On April 20, 2018, they announced that in the summer they would begin training under Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[15]

2018–2019 season: National bronze medal[]

Baker sustained a concussion during training in August 2018, and a result they withdrew from the 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy.[16] At their first Grand Prix assignment, the 2018 NHK Trophy, the withdrawal of Gabriella Papadakis / Guillaume Cizeron due to injury left several teams competing for the gold medal. Hawayek/Baker came second in the rhythm dance, behind Tiffany Zahorski / Jonathan Guerreiro, but narrowly placed first in the free dance, winning the title overall. Hawayek called it "just such a pleasure and honor to be here performing", and was especially pleased at their results given they "had just three weeks of training fully recovered" prior.[17] They placed only fourth at the 2018 Internationaux de France, but their results qualified them for the Grand Prix Final in Vancouver, where they placed sixth.

At the 2019 U.S. Championships, Hawayker/Baker won the bronze medal. Reflecting on their move to Montreal, Hawayek called it "a great training center that we’re happy to be a part of. It makes us feel able to skate more openly and freely, and I think we’ll continue that for the next few years."[18] They were assigned to the 2019 Four Continents Championships, where they finished fifth, and the 2019 World Championships, where they placed ninth.

2019–2020 season[]

Beginning the season at the 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, Hawayek/Baker placed fourth in the rhythm dance, but took the silver medal overall after coming second in the free dance.

For their first Grand Prix assignment, they competed at 2019 Skate Canada International, where they were third after the rhythm dance.[19] In the free dance they dropped behind the British team Fear/Gibson.[20] Competing at the 2019 Cup of China, Hawayek/Baker placed fifth in the rhythm dance after struggling on the Finnstep pattern dance.[21] A number of errors in the free dance kept them in fifth in that segment as well, and overall.[22]

Hawayek/Baker placed third in the rhythm dance at the 2020 U.S. Championships, and praised the crowd reception of their Saturday Night Fever program.[23] Third in the free dance as well, they won their second national bronze medal.[24]

At the 2020 Four Continents Championships in Seoul, they placed seventh in the rhythm dance after a double fall out of their dance lift, which Hawayek described as "a fluke thing that happened."[25] Fifth in the free dance, they rose to sixth place overall.[26] They were assigned to compete at the World Championships in Montreal, but these were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[27]

2020–2021 season[]

With the pandemic ongoing, Hawayek and Baker opted to return to live with Hawayek's parents in Buffalo, New York for the early months, and were able to do some on-ice training when the rink in Buffalo was reopened as an essential workers' daycare, communicating with their coaches over Zoom. They returned to Montreal in June and, after quarantine, rejoined their coaches at the Ice Academy of Montreal in July.[28] With the Grand Prix assigned based mainly on training location, Hawayek/Baker nevertheless were assigned to the 2020 Skate America in Las Vegas and crossed the border again to attend.[29] They won the silver medal.[30]

Returning to the United States again for the 2021 U.S. Championships, also held in Las Vegas, Hawayek/Baker placed third in the rhythm dance.[31] They were third in the free dance as well, taking their third consecutive bronze medal.[32] They were assigned to the American team for the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm.[33] They placed eleventh in the rhythm dance, and rose to ninth overall after the free dance.[34][35]

Hawayek/Baker were chosen as America's dance entry in the 2021 World Team Trophy, and finished third in both segments, while Team USA won the silver medal.[36][37][38]

2021–2022 season[]

For the Olympic season, the duo opted for a free program to Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in E minor and Nocturne in E minor, music that Hawayek said she had long dreamed of skating to, saying that "there is a lot of maturity and depth in this music. There is nostalgia, hopefulness and happiness. I envisioned something that was not too heavy but also not too youthful." Due to Hawayek suffering from a concussion in training, Hawayek/Baker withdrew from both the 2021 U.S. Classic and their first Grand Prix assignment, the 2021 NHK Trophy. They competed for the first time at the 2021 Rostelecom Cup, finishing in fifth place.[39] They also competed on the Challenger series at the 2021 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, winning the gold medal.[1]

Programs[]

With Hawayek[]

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2021–2022
[40]
  • Blues: Love to Love You Baby (Giorgio Moroder Remix)
  • Disco: Bad Girls (Gigamesh Remix)
    by Donna Summer
    choreo. by Romain Haguenauer, Marie-France Dubreuil,
    Samuel Chouinard, Gigi Cournoyer, Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker
2020–2021
[41]
  • Swing: Stayin' Alive
    by The Bee Gees
  • Swing: Night Fever
    by The Bee Gees
  • Swing: Boogie Shoes
    by K.C. and the Sunshine Band
  • Swing: You Should Be Dancing
    by various artists
    choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil, Samuel Chouinard
    & Romain Haguenauer
  • Heart of Glass
    by Philip Glass and Blondie
  • First Movement
    by Philip Glass
    choreo. by Romain Haguenauer, Marie-France Dubreuil,
    Samuel Chouinard, Gigi Cournoyer, Kaitlin Hawayek & Jean-Luc Baker
  • Swan Lake Comedy
2019–2020
[42]
  • Disco: Stayin' Alive
    by The Bee Gees
  • Foxtrot: How Deep Is Your Love
    by The Bee Gees
  • Disco: You Should Be Dancing
    by various artists
    choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil, Samuel Chouinard
    & Romain Haguenauer
  • Symphony No. 5
    by Ludwig van Beethoven
    performed by Marcin Patrzalek
  • Caprice No. 24
    by Marcin Patrzalek
    choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil, Samuel Chouinard
    & Romain Haguenauer
  • Swan Lake Comedy
2018–2019
[43]
  • Tango: Vuelo al Sur
    by Juan Carlos Caceres
  • Tango: A los Amigo
    by Forever Tango
    choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil & Romain Haguenauer
  • Trampoline Theme
  • In This Shirt
    by The Irrepressibles
    choreo. by Marie-France Dubreuil & Romain Haguenauer

Austen Powers medley[44]

2017–2018
[45][46]
  • Samba: Get Busy
    by Sean Paul
  • Rhumba: Soha Mil Paso
    by Isabelle & Felicien
  • Samba: Fireball
    by Pitbull
    choreo. by Pasquale Camerlengo

Austen Powers medley[44]

2016–2017
[2][46][47][4]
  • Earned It
    by The Weeknd
2015–2016
[48][49][50][51]
  • The Nutcracker
    by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    • Waltz: Waltz of the Flowers
    • Polka: (The Nutcracker) March
    • Waltz: Waltz of the Flowers
      choreo. by Anjelika Krylova,
      Kaitlin Hawayek, and Jean-Luc Baker
  • Take Me to Church
    by Hozier
2014–2015
[7][52]
  • Flamenco: Malagueña
    by Ernesto Lecuona
  • Paso Doble
  • Flamenco
  • Romeo and Juliet
    by Abel Korzeniowski
    • Wedding Vows
    • The Cheek of Night
    • Come, Gentle Night
    • Forbidden Love
  • Wicked Game
2013–2014
[8][53]
  • Happy Feet
  • It Had To Be You
    by Harry Connick
  • Sing, Sing, Sing
  • Amélie
    by Yann Tiersen
    • J'y suis jamais allé
    • Comptine d'un autre été : L'après-midi
    • La noyée
    • Sur le fil
  • Dreaming with a Broken Heart
2012–2013
[10]
  • Minnie the Moocher
    performed by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
  • Gimme Some Rhythm Daddy
    performed by The Brian Setzer Orchestra

With Yang[]

Season Short dance Free dance
2010–2011
[54]
  • Chudat Medoni
    by Oleg Fesov
  • The Windmills of Your Mind
    (from Thomas Crown Affair)
    by Vic Damone
  • The Windmills of Your Mind
    by Parenthetical Girls
2009–2010
[3]
  • Titanic
    by James Horner
2008–2009
[3][9]
  • Kingdom of Heaven
    by Harry Gregson-Williams
2007–2008
[3]
  • Harem
    by Sarah Brightman

Competitive highlights[]

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Hawayek[]

International[1]
Event 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Worlds 10th 9th C 9th
Four Continents 5th 1st 5th 6th
GP Final 6th
GP Cup of China WD 5th
GP France 4th
GP NHK Trophy 3rd 4th 1st WD
GP Rostelecom 6th 5th
GP Skate America 4th 5th 2nd
GP Skate Canada 6th 4th 4th
CS Autumn Classic 2nd
CS Finlandia 4th WD
CS Golden Spin 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st
CS Nebelhorn 4th 2nd
CS U.S. Classic 2nd
U.S. Classic WD
International: Junior[1]
Junior Worlds 7th 1st
JGP Final 2nd
JGP Germany 2nd
JGP Mexico 1st
JGP Poland 1st
JGP Turkey 5th
National[55]
U.S. Champ. 2nd J 1st J 4th 5th 5th 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd
ISP Points Chall. 2nd
Team Events
World Team Trophy 2nd T
3rd P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
Levels: J = Junior
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

With Yang[]

International[56]
Event 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11
JGP Czech Republic 10th
JGP Japan 7th
National[3]
U.S. Championships 7th N 3rd N 6th J
U.S. Junior Champ. 1st V 1st I
Levels: V = Juvenile; I = Intermediate; N = Novice; J = Junior

References[]

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  2. ^ a b c "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Joylyn Yang / Jean-Luc Baker". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Kennedy, Michelle (August 12, 2016). "Hawayek & Baker bring a fresh inspiration". ice-dance.com.
  5. ^ Managan, Megan (March 27, 2014). "Kamiak graduate wins gold at Junior Worlds Ice dancing competition". South Everett Beacon. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Myhre, Rich (January 5, 2010). "Local ice dancers' Olympic dreams". The Herald. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker: "At the senior level everything is more serious"". figureskating-online.com. December 20, 2014. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Thayer, Jacquelyn (December 5, 2013). "For Hawayek and Baker, a Quick Step to Success". ice-dance.com.
  9. ^ a b "JOYLYN YANG & JEAN‐LUC BAKER" (PDF). ice-dance.com. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 24, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013.
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  12. ^ a b Rutherford, Lynn (February 2, 2016). "Concussions in figure skating: How they happen". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2017.
  13. ^ a b Blanchette, John (January 7, 2016). "It's Been A Season Of Ups And Downs, Risks And Rewards For Ice Dancers Hawayek And Baker". teamusa.org. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016.
  14. ^ Slater, Paula (January 25, 2018). "Hawayek and Baker take Four Continents ice dance title". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ "Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker to Train in Montreal". U.S. Figure Skating. April 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Hawayek & Baker Aim to Continue Breakthrough Season at U.S. Nationals". ice-dance.com. January 13, 2019.
  17. ^ Mammoser, Scott (November 11, 2018). "Hawayek and Baker take first Grand Prix gold at 2018 NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
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  20. ^ Slater, Paula (October 27, 2019). "Canada's Gilles and Poirier snag Skate Canada title". Golden Skate.
  21. ^ Slater, Paula (November 8, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov lead after Rhythm Dance at Cup of China". Golden Skate.
  22. ^ Slater, Paula (November 9, 2019). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov take first Grand Prix gold at Cup of China". Golden Skate.
  23. ^ Slater, Paula (January 24, 2020). "Chock and Bates dance to lead in Greensboro". Golden Skate.
  24. ^ Slater, Paula (January 26, 2020). "Chock and Bates reclaim U.S. National title in Ice Dance". Golden Skate.
  25. ^ Slater, Paula (February 6, 2020). "Hubbell and Donohue take narrow lead at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  26. ^ Slater, Paula (February 7, 2020). "Chock and Bates defend title at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  27. ^ Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020). "World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal". CBC Sports.
  28. ^ Ford, Bonnie D. (October 22, 2020). "How did pairs and ice dancers prepare for Skate America during a pandemic? It wasn't easy". ESPN.
  29. ^ "2020 Skate America". International Figure Skating. October 20, 2020.
  30. ^ Slater, Paula (October 26, 2020). "Hubbell and Donohue defend Skate America title for third consecutive win". Golden Skate.
  31. ^ Slater, Paula (January 15, 2021). "Near-tie for Chock and Bates & Hubbell and Donohue at US Nationals". Golden Skate.
  32. ^ Slater, Paula (January 17, 2021). "Hubbell and Donohue take back title at US Nationals". Golden Skate.
  33. ^ "U.S. Figure Skating Announces Men's, Pairs and Ice Dance Selections for World Team". U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. U.S. Figure Skating. January 17, 2021.
  34. ^ Slater, Paula (March 26, 2021). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov dance to lead at Worlds". Golden Skate.
  35. ^ Slater, Paula (March 27, 2021). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov strike gold in Stockholm". Golden Skate.
  36. ^ Slater, Paula (April 15, 2021). "2021 World Team Trophy: Day 1". Golden Skate.
  37. ^ Slater, Paula (April 16, 2021). "2021 World Team Trophy: Day 2". Golden Skate.
  38. ^ Slater, Paula (April 17, 2021). "2021 World Team Trophy: Day 3". Golden Skate.
  39. ^ Slater, Paula (November 27, 2021). "Sinitsina and Katsalapov dance to fifth Grand Prix gold at Rostelecom Cup". Golden Skate.
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  41. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019.
  43. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019.
  44. ^ a b ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2017 Skate Canada International - Gala Exhibition (Television production). Eurosport. October 29, 2017.
  45. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018.
  46. ^ a b Thayer, Jacquelyn (August 4, 2017). "Behind the Program, Ep. 7: Hawayek and Baker, 2016-17 and 2017-18 Free Dance". twofortheice.com.
  47. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (October 5, 2016). "Hawayek, Baker: 'We're focusing on the basics'". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018.
  48. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
  49. ^ Slater, Paula (August 26, 2015). "Hawayek and Baker ready to push boundaries". Golden Skate.
  50. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (October 5, 2015). "Hawayek, Baker reach for the stars with new free". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018.
  51. ^ Thayer, Jacquelyn (October 7, 2015). "Together, Hawayek and Baker Shaping Their Vision". twofortheice.com.
  52. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015.
  53. ^ "Kaitlin HAWAYEK / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014.
  54. ^ "Joylyn YANG / Jean-Luc BAKER: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011.
  55. ^ "Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019.
    "Earlier versions: 2014–2018". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018.
    "Earlier versions: 2012–2013". Archived from the original on November 2, 2012.
  56. ^ "Competition Results: Joylyn YANG / Jean-Luc BAKER". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.

External links[]

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