Meanwhile, some French officials were following the success of their former athlete with rather grumpy faces.
In 2006, Contesti finished second at French Nationals behind Joubert, however, he wasn't named for the European team in Lyon. At the same time, Frédéric Dambier, who was ranked fourth at Nationals, sued the French Federation in order to be nominated for the team and won his case as he had achieved more points in his Grand Prix event than Contesti. The French Federation originally had included the results from the Grand Prix into their selection criteria.
So that's Nats for 2006-2007, actually held in December 2006.Therefore, the skater competed at French Nationals in 2007 where he placed third, and again, was not selected for the World team (although France had three spots).
I am glad he did well, totally deserved! Hope he does well next year also - Luck to him for 2010!Thanks for supplying these details, Nmsis.
As I recall, the way it was reported in the U.S. back then, the press was totally on the side of Contesti and tried to make the French Federation look as bad as possible.
They also made it seem like a regional conflict -- Paris against the provinces, or something like that -- and the only reason Dambier won the dispute is that he found a local hometown judge that ruled in his favor.
There certainly was a conflict between Annick Gailhaguet and Didier Lucine with the french fed in between. And both Annick Dumont and Didier Lucine were prompt to point fingers at the federation for taking the other's side. Actually, the guy who was at the head of the french fed then, Norbert Tourne, had been elected against Didier Gailhaguet (Dumont's ex-husband). And to avoid any critic of being partisan, he scrupulously followed the rules of the french fed, followed the advice of the Olympic Committe, obeyed the court, while trying to get a truce by having Dumont and Lucine signing an agreement to share the international assignements and to spread their skaters over Euros, Olys and Worlds. In this article (january 2006), Annick reveals to the press that this has happened a few days ago (as Dambier has won the trial the day before, she is in a power position) and says "politikssss" when Tourne was just trying to handle things as quietly as he could.Thanks for supplying these details, Nmsis.
As I recall, the way it was reported in the U.S. back then, the press was totally on the side of Contesti and tried to make the French Federation look as bad as possible.
They also made it seem like a regional conflict -- Paris against the provinces, or something like that -- and the only reason Dambier won the dispute is that he found a local hometown judge that ruled in his favor.
:think: Because Préaubert is just so much more talented, with fantastic skating skills, smooth solid jumps, extraordinary spins... Contesti at the level he was last season would have been No.2 in France, without a question. Ponsero might be blessed with enormous talent, but is an even worse head-case than Verner and Kostner combined and has serious problems with some Triple jumps. Préaubert isn't superior to Contesti in any aspect of his skating, but inferior in some.He is better off skating for Italy anyway. He has Speedy pushing for him, which given his mediocre skill set as a skater was his only hope to get anywhere anyway.
:think: Because Préaubert is just so much more talented, with fantastic skating skills, smooth solid jumps, extraordinary spins... Contesti at the level he was last season would have been No.2 in France, without a question. Ponsero might be blessed with enormous talent, but is an even worse head-case than Verner and Kostner combined and has serious problems with some Triple jumps. Préaubert isn't superior to Contesti in any aspect of his skating, but inferior in some.