http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-feature ... rd+joubert
Feb 18,
French chief slams 'homebird' Joubert
VANCOUVER (AFP) French skating chief Didier Gailhaguet has slammed former world champion Brian Joubertfor his refusal to train abroad alongside elite athletes like South Korean star Kim Yu-Na.
Three-time Olympian Joubert, the 2007 world and three-time European champion, failed in his bid for a Games medal after a disastrous short programme left him trailing in 18th position ahead of Thursday free skate.
And Gailhaguet blames the 25-year-old's decision to remain secluded at home in the small western French town of Poitiers, shunning offers to train with the world's best in the United States and Canada.
"He has not behaved like a top level athlete, already by not wanting to travel abroad from time to time, by not working enough and thirdly not competing in enough events," said Gailhaguet.
"This morning I told him 'we're not continuing like this. We offered that you work for six or eight months with Brian Orser, coach of Kim Yu-Na. You refused'."
It was also proposed that Joubert work alongside former Canadian figure skating champion Kurt Browning last year.
"He (Joubert) didn't want that," said Gailhaguet.
""From now on he needs to work better with the federation rather that trying to prove to the world that he knows best all the time.
"It's a late crisis of adolescence."
The normally athletic Joubert's lack of form was shown when he fell on the triple Lutz, a jump he had mastered as a child.
"I think Brian was surprised by the very high level of his rivals," said the French skating chief.
When you've worked well you gain in confidence. Here he wasn't confident because he hasn't worked as he should have for a long time.
"I'd like for him to be able to travel to training camps abroad during the summer and be more open to the world because we don't have the coaching expertise to bring skaters to this level."







