Jessica Pfund

Jessica Pfund
Pfund and Santillan at the 2016 Cup of China
Born (1998-01-09) January 9, 1998 (age 26)
Los Gatos, California
HometownPalmetto, California
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Figure skating career
Country Switzerland (2021–22)
 United States (2015–20)
DisciplinePair skating
Skating clubSouthwest Florida Figure Skating Club
Began skating2003
RetiredMarch 18, 2022
Representing  Switzerland
Swiss Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Lucerne Pairs

Jessica Pfund (born January 9, 1998) is a retired Swiss-American pair skater who represents Switzerland. With skating partner Joshua Santillan, she was the 2015 Autumn Classic International bronze medalist and has competed at two Grand Prix events. The pair was also the 2022 Swiss national champions. On May 3, 2023, the Disciplinary Chamber of Swiss Sport banned Jessica Pfund for four years for the presence and use of banned substances and ordered her to pay a fine.

Career

Early career

Pfund began learning to skate in 2003.[1] As a single skater, she won the juvenile bronze medal at the 2009 U.S. Junior Championships and placed 12th on the novice level at the 2011 U.S. Championships.

In the 2011–12 season, Pfund began competing in pair skating with AJ Reiss. In 2012, they appeared at two Junior Grand Prix events, placing 5th in Lake Placid, New York, and 7th in Chemnitz, Germany. Competing on the senior level, they placed tenth at the 2014 U.S. Championships. They were coached by Peter Oppegard in Artesia, California.[2]

Partnership with Santillan

Pfund teamed up with Joshua Santillan in May 2015,[3] following tryouts in Florida and Colorado Springs, Colorado.[4] They decided to be coached by Lyndon Johnston in Ellenton, Florida, and, early in their partnership, also trained with Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora.[5] Making their international debut, the pair won the bronze medal at the 2015 Autumn Classic International. Appearing as late replacements for Gretchen Donlan / Nathan Bartholomay,[5] they finished 8th at their first Grand Prix event, the 2015 Skate America.

Pfund underwent surgery in mid-2016 due to two torn ligaments in her right foot and returned to the ice three months later.[6] She and Santillan finished 8th at the 2016 Cup of China. Following the event, she had an amniotic stem cell injection to treat tendinitis in her anterior tendon and a bone cement injection for a chronic bruise in her talus bone.[6] In January 2017, Santillan had a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.[6] The pair placed 5th at the 2017 U.S. Championships.

In October 2020, Pfund and Santillan announced their intention to represent Switzerland in competition, but were told by the U.S. Figure Skating Federation that they would have to wait a year to be released.[7] In July 2021, they announced they were allowed to represent Switzerland for the 2021-2022 season.[8]

On March 18, 2022, they announced their retirement from competitive skating.[9]

During the competition control at the Elite Swiss Championships 2021, Pfund tested positive for the prohibited substances amphetamine, cocaine, and metabolites. After notification by Swiss Sport Integrity, the Pfund was unable to present an exception permit for therapeutic use (ATZ) of the medication containing amphetamine and as of May 3, 2023, she has been sentenced by the Swiss Sports Disciplinary Chamber (DK) to a four-year suspension for the presence and use of prohibited substances in competition. The suspension took effective on January 6, 2022 and is valid for all sports and any functions in sports worldwide. In addition, Pfund must pay control, analysis and procedure costs, compensation to Swiss Sport Integrity, and a fine in the total amount of CHF 4,210.[10][11]

Programs

With Santillan

Season Short program Free skating
2018–2020
2017–2018
2016–2017
[1][4]
2015–2016
[12][5]

With Reiss

Season Short program Free skating
2012–2013
[2]
2011–2012
[13]
  • Fantasy on Dark Eyes
    by Sergio Assad, Odair Assad, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg

Competitive highlights

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

Pairs with Santillan

For Switzerland

International[14]
Event 2021–22
CS Autumn Classic 6th
Cranberry Cup 8th
National
Swiss Champ. 1st

For the United States

International[14]
Event 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
GP Cup of China 8th
GP Skate America 8th
CS Finlandia Trophy 9th
CS Lombardia Trophy 4th
CS Ondrej Nepela 4th
CS Warsaw Cup 5th
Autumn Classic 3rd
National[3]
U.S. Championships 7th 5th 8th WD 8th
U.S. Pairs Final 2nd
WD = Withdrew

Pairs with Reiss

International[15]
Event 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
JGP Germany 7th
JGP United States 5th
Challenge Cup 1st J
National[13]
U.S. Championships 5th J 6th J 10th

References

  1. ^ a b "Jessica PFUND / Joshua SANTILLAN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "Jessica PFUND / AJ REISS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 26, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Jessica Pfund and Joshua Santillan". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Amber (January 14, 2017). "Kansas City part of the big picture for Pfund and Santillan". Ice Musings.
  5. ^ a b c Thayer, Jacquelyn (December 14, 2015). "Achievement Comes at a Cost for Pfund and Santillan". Two for the Ice.
  6. ^ a b c Wilson, David (January 17, 2017). "Joshua Santillan and Jessica Pfund try to take a leap at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017.
  7. ^ Pfund, Jessica; Santillan, Joshua (October 22, 2020). "2021 Season Update". Joshica.net.
  8. ^ Pfund, Jessica; Santillan, Joshua (July 22, 2021). "Don't Call It A Comeback". Joshica.net.
  9. ^ Jessica Pufnd, Joshua Santillan (March 18, 2022). "Final Blog". Joshica.net. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  10. ^ "Eiskunstläuferin wegen Dopings für vier Jahre gesperrt | SSI". www.sportintegrity.ch (in German). 3 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  11. ^ "Figure skater suspended for four years | SSI". www.sportintegrity.ch. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  12. ^ "Jessica PFUND / Joshua SANTILLAN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ a b "Jessica Pfund & AJ Reiss". IceNetwork.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Competition Results: Jessica PFUND / Joshua SANTILLAN". International Skating Union.
  15. ^ "Competition Results: Jessica PFUND / AJ REISS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017.