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Thibaut Fauconnet

France

SportShort Track
FederationIDSTFRA12304198501
NOCFrance
Born23 Apr 1985 in Dijon 
GenderMen
ResidenceFont-Romeu, FRA
LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish
Higher educationAgricultural Studies, Nutrition, Sport Management - University of Perpignan: France
OccupationAthlete
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 40.622 13 Nov 2016 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:23.187 12 Nov 2016 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1500m 2:09.681 10 Nov 2018 Salt Lake City, UT  
    3000m 4:47.504 13 Jan 2019 Dordrecht  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
World Junior Championships
Event  
World Junior Championships
    2000m Relay     1  
European Championships
Event  
European Championships
    5000m Relay   2 4  
    Overall   1    
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sport"My parents wanted me to do a sport and seeing as I liked going to the ice rink and skating, I thought why not give it a try. But I was horrible in the beginning. I fell over all the time. It's funny, I have progressed from someone who could not even qualify for the French national championships, to a skater capable of winning everything."  
When and where did you begin this sport?He began skating in 1992 in Dijon, France.  
General Interest
General Interest
Other informationRETIREMENT
In 2019 he retired from competition and took up the position of assistant coach with the US national short track team in the lead-up to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. "I decided to quit. This [2019 northern hemisphere] summer, I was training and I had planned to make the season. For some time, I had been doing other things in life - I tinkered with my apartment, did outdoor races on roller skates or bikes, went trail runs, lots of things like when I was a kid. But of all the sports I played, the one that I enjoyed the least was on the ice. The US team suggested that I go and work as a coach with them, so I said yes. This was not the first time I had thought about quitting. If I stopped, I knew that at my age there would be no turning back." (leparisien.fr, 18 Oct 2019)

CHOOSING BLADES OVER WHEELS
He says it was a tough choice to focus on short track over roller speed skating. "I started [roller speed skating] when I was eight years old. I was doing short track during winter and inline speed skating during summer. I even qualified for Team France in inline but I eventually had to choose between the two sports because you can't spread yourself too thinly." (passionpvss.blogspot.com, 07 Aug 2018)

SANCTION
He returned a positive sample for the banned substance tuaminoheptane, a nasal decongestant, following a World Cup event in December 2010. The French Ice Sports Federation [FFSG] said the nasal drops were prescribed by his own doctor without the appropriate authorisation for therapeutic use. In October 2011 he was suspended for 18 months by the International Skating Union [ISU]. He admitted negligence on his part but claimed the penalty was disproportionate to his mistake, and launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS]. The ban was temporarily lifted in November 2011, allowing him to compete in the 2011/12 season. However, in May 2012 CAS upheld the initial suspension, invalidating his results from December 2010. The ISU wanted to have the ban run until October 2012 but CAS ruled that the suspension came into effect in December 2010, allowing him to return to competition in June 2012. (sport.fr, 27 Jun 2012; gazetteinfo.fr, 14 Jun 2012; bourgogne.france23.fr, 22 Oct 2011; ffsg.org, 21 Oct 2011)
 
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/fauconnet.thibaut  
www.thibaut-fauconnet.fr/  
twitter.com/TFauconnet  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolFrench short track skater Maxime Chataignier, Equatorial Guinean swimmer Eric 'The Eel' Moussambani, French speed skater Pascal Briand. (Athlete, 13 Jan 2017)  
HobbiesMountaineering. (passionpvss.blogspot.com, 07 Aug 2018)  
Other sportsHe has represented France in roller speed skating, finishing 15th in the road marathon at the 2017 World Cup event in Dijon France. (SportsDeskOnline, 16 Oct 2017; rollerenligne.com, 13 Jun 2017)  
Most influential person in careerHis father, and his first coach Christian Liabot. (passionpvss.blogspot.com, 07 Aug 2018; francebleu.fr, 08 Feb 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"It's important to never forget where you're from while you keep going forward. Sometimes we become robots, going through the motion. When you start being a robot, your results will start to go down." (passionpvss.blogspot.com, 07 Aug 2018)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2009/2010 European Championships Overall2  
    2005/2006 European Championships 5000m Relay2  
    2003/2004 World Junior Championships 2000m Relay3  
    2007/2008 European Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2002/2003 European Championships 5000m Relay3  
    2006/2007 European Championships Overall4  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1000m4  
    2017/2018 European Championships 500m4  
    2018/2019 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2017/2018 European Championships Overall4  
    2006/2007 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2008/2009 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2009/2010 European Championships 5000m Relay4  
    2009/2010 World Championships 1500m5  
    2009/2010 World Championships 1000m5  
    2014/2015 European Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2017/2018 European Championships 5000m Relay5  
    2017/2018 European Championships 1000m5  
    2010 Olympic Games 5000m Relay5  
    2007/2008 World Championships 500m6  
    2015/2016 European Championships 5000m Relay6  
    2017/2018 European Championships 1500m6  
    2008/2009 World Championships 500m7  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m7  
    2018/2019 European Championships 1500m7  
    2004/2005 European Championships 5000m Relay7  
    2012/2013 European Championships 5000m Relay7  
    2008/2009 European Championships Overall8  
    2005/2006 European Championships Overall8  
    2013/2014 European Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1500m8  
    2016/2017 European Championships 5000m Relay8  
    2009/2010 World Championships Overall9  
    2018/2019 European Championships Overall9  
    2014/2015 European Championships Overall9  
    2002/2003 World Junior Championships 2000m Relay9  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1500m10  
    2013/2014 World Championships 500m10  
    2013/2014 European Championships Overall10  
    2016/2017 European Championships 500m11  
    2018/2019 World Championships 1000m11  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1000m11  
    2016/2017 European Championships Overall11  
    2008/2009 World Championships Overall12  
    2008/2009 World Championships 1000m12  
    2016/2017 European Championships 1500m12  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m12  
    2012/2013 European Championships Overall12  
    2007/2008 European Championships Overall13  
    2013/2014 World Championships Overall13  
    2003/2004 World Junior Championships Overall13  
    2010 Olympic Games 500m13  
    2007/2008 World Championships Overall15  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1000m15  
    2010 Olympic Games 1000m15  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1500m16  
    2006/2007 World Championships 1000m17  
    2017/2018 World Championships Overall18  
    2018/2019 European Championships 500m18  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m18  
    2007/2008 World Championships 1500m19  
    2013/2014 World Championships 1000m19  
    2016/2017 European Championships 1000m20  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1000m21  
    2016/2017 World Championships 1000m22  
    2018/2019 World Championships 500m22  
    2017/2018 World Championships 1500m22  
    2014/2015 World Championships Overall23  
    2014/2015 World Championships 500m23  
    2016/2017 World Championships 500m23  
    2017/2018 World Championships 500m24  
    2014/2015 World Championships 1500m25  
    2004/2005 European Championships Overall26  
    2014 Olympic Games 500m26  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m27  
    2006/2007 World Championships Overall28  
    2018/2019 World Championships Overall30  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m30  
    2016/2017 World Championships Overall32  
    2002/2003 World Junior Championships Overall36  
    2006/2007 World Championships 500m54  
    2009/2010 World Championships 500m54  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2010/2011 Quebec, QC 1000m1  
    2010/2011 Montreal, QC 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Dresden 1000m1  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m2  
    2009/2010 Marquette, MI 500m2  
    2010/2011 Changchun 1000m2  
    2010/2011 Changchun 500m2  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m2  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1000m2  
    2013/2014 Kolomna 1000m2  
    2010/2011 Montreal, QC 5000m Relay2  
    2008/2009 Nagano 500m3  
    2013/2014 Kolomna 1500m3  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2006/2007 Heerenveen 5000m Relay3  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 1500m4  
    2008/2009 Dresden 500m5  
    2015/2016 Dresden 5000m Relay5  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 1500m5  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 Dresden 5000m Relay6  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay6  
    2016/2017 Minsk 5000m Relay6  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1500m6  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2008/2009 Dresden 500m7  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1500m7  
    2016/2017 Dresden 5000m Relay7  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 1000m7  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1500m8  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m8  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 5000m Relay8  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m8  
    2018/2019 Salt Lake City, UT 5000m Relay8  
    2016/2017 Shanghai 5000m Relay8  
    2018/2019 World Cup Classification 1000m9  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification Overall10  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m10  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 5000m Relay10  
    2016/2017 Salt Lake City, UT 500m10  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1500m11  
    2015/2016 Dresden 1000m11  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m12  
    2018/2019 Calgary, AB 1000m12  
    2018/2019 Dresden 2000m Relay12  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 5000m Relay12  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m13  
    2017/2018 Shanghai 1000m13  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 1000m14  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m16  
    2016/2017 Dresden 500m16  
    2016/2017 Minsk 1000m16  
    2018/2019 Dresden 1000m17  
    2016/2017 Gangneung 1000m20  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 500m22  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m24  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m27  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 500m27  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m27  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m28  
    2016/2017 Calgary, AB 500m32  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m34  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification Overall35  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m37  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1500m38  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1000m38  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m40  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m41  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m47  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m48  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification Overall49  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 1500m51  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 500m51  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1000m53  
    2002/2003 World Cup Classification 500m53  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 1500m54  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 500m55  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 1000m56  
    2002/2003 World Cup Classification Overall56  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 500m58  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1000m63  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1500m65  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 1500m68