Christopher Boyadji

Christopher Boyadji
Jones/Boyadji in 2020
Born (1990-07-15) 15 July 1990 (age 34)
Paris, France
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
Country Great Britain
PartnerZoe Jones (GBR)
CoachMark Naylor
Skating clubSwindon Ice Figure Club
Began skating1998
RetiredMarch 18, 2022

Christopher Boyadji (born 15 July 1990) is a retired French pair skater who represents Great Britain. With former partner Zoe Jones, he is a four-time British national champion (2017-2020). With former partner Amani Fancy, he is a two-time national champion (2014, 2016).

Personal life

After becoming a pairs team, Jones and Boyadji began a relationship and welcomed their daughter, Arya, in April 2023.[1]

Career

For France

Boyadji began skating at the age of 7½ after watching Philippe Candeloro on television.[2] As a competitor in men's singles, he was coached by Diana Skotnická in Courbevoie and by Sylvain Privé.[3][4] He represented France at five ISU Junior Grand Prix events and the 2009 Winter Universiade.

Boyadji competed with Camille Mendoza for France in the 2011–12 season. They finished 16th at the 2012 World Junior Championships in Minsk, Belarus. The pair trained in Paris and Montreal under Vivien Rolland and Diana Skotnická.[5]

Partnership with Fancy

Boyadji teamed up with British skater Amani Fancy in spring 2013.[6][7] After winning the 2014 British national title, they were sent to the 2014 European Championships in Budapest, where they placed 15th. The pair finished 18th at the 2014 World Championships in Saitama, Japan.

Following an elbow surgery in November 2014, the pair was unable to compete at the 2015 British Championships. They were sent to the 2015 European Championships in Stockholm, where they placed 12th. The pair finished 16th at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai.

Fancy/Boyadji won the bronze medal at the 2015 CS Tallinn Trophy and placed 8th at a Grand Prix event, the 2015 NHK Trophy, as well as winning their second national title. In January 2016, they announced the end of their partnership,[8] withdrawing from both the 2016 European and 2016 World Championships.

Partnership with Jones

Boyadji and Zoe Jones agreed to form a pair skating partnership following a tryout in April 2016.[8][9] They trained at the Better Link Centre in Swindon.[10] Their first competition was the 2016 CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial, where they finished 6th.

The pair retired after the 2021–22 figure skating season after having a career-best 10th-place finish at the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships.

Coaching career

Following their retirement, Jones and Boyadji began coaching together at the Better Link Centre in Swindon, where they had previously trained.

Their current students include:

Programs

With Jones

Season Short program Free skating
2021–2022
[14]
2020–2021
[15]
2019–2020
[16]
  • The Storm
    by Havasi
2018–2019
[17]
2017–2018
[18]
2016–17
[19][20]

With Fancy

Season Short program Free skating
2015–16
[21]
2014–15
[22]
  • La Vie en rose
    by Louis Armstrong
2013–14
[6]

With Mendoza

Season Short program Free skating
2011–12
[5]

Single Skating

Season Short program Free skating
2008–09
[4]
2006–07
[3]
  • Japanese soundtrack

Competitive highlights

With Jones for Great Britain

International[23]
Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22
Worlds 26th 27th 17th C 24th 10th
Europeans 14th 10th 12th WD
GP France 8th
GP Skate America 8th
GP Skate Canada 8th
CS Nebelhorn 14th 15th
CS Ondrej Nepela 6th WD
CS Warsaw Cup 12th
Bavarian Open 3rd 4th
Cup of Nice 5th 4th
Open Ice Mall 2nd
Volvo Open Cup 1st
National
British Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st C 2nd
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled

With Fancy for Great Britain

International[24]
Event 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16
Worlds 18th 16th
Europeans 15th 12th
GP NHK Trophy 8th
CS Nebelhorn 8th WD
CS Tallinn Trophy 3rd
Bavarian Open 4th 1st
Lombardia Trophy 8th
Warsaw Cup 4th
National[24]
British Champ. 1st 1st

Pair skating with Camille Mendoza for France

Mendoza/Boyadji at the 2012 World Junior Championships
Competition placements at junior level [25]
Season 2011–12
World Junior Championships 16th
JGP Estonia 10th
Bavarian Open 1st
Master's de Patinage 1st

Single skating for France

International[26]
Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
Winter Universiade 27th
International: Junior[26]
JGP Croatia 5th
JGP Czech Republic 6th
JGP France 8th 7th
JGP Germany 9th
Cup of Nice 2nd
Triglav Trophy 1st
National[26]
French Champ. 14th 8th
Masters 3rd J

References

  1. ^ "Arya". Instagram. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Discover Elite Figure Skaters Christopher and Amani". National Ice Skating Association. 5 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Christopher BOYADJI: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 February 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Christopher BOYADJI: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Camille MENDOZA / Christopher BOYADJI: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Amani FANCY / Christopher BOYADJI: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Interview Amani Fancy/Christopher Boyadj". Figureskating-Online. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Zoe Wilkinson and Christopher Boyadji confirmed as new skating partnership". National Ice Skating Association. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. ^ "ICE SKATING: Wilkinson is excited by her new link-up with Boyadji". Swindon Advertiser. 24 August 2016.
  10. ^ Davies, Matthew (1 December 2016). "ICE SKATING: It all figures for Jones after link-up with new partner". Swindon Advertiser.
  11. ^ "Lydia SMART / Harry MATTICK: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Kristen SPOURS: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Zarah WOOD / Alex LAPSKY: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019.
  18. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017.
  20. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (9 March 2017). "Zoe Jones and Christopher Boyadji: "We are here!"". Absolute Skating.
  21. ^ "Amani FANCY / Christopher BOYADJI: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Amani FANCY / Christopher BOYADJI: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Competition Results: Zoe JONES / Christopher BOYADJI". International Skating Union.
  24. ^ a b "Competition Results: Amani FANCY / Christopher BOYADJI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 July 2016.
  25. ^ "FRA-Camille Kovalev / Christopher Boyadji". SkatingScores.com.
  26. ^ a b c "Competition Results: Christopher BOYADJI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016.

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