Jean-François Ballester has passed away

[Spun Silver]

Shocked, like everyone else. My condolences to his students, friends, colleagues, and family, esp Bruno, Aljona and Alexander Koenig who must have shared an incredible bond. It is a blessing that, even with his life cut short, he still had time to reach the pinnacle of any coaching career. That was the most universally acclaimed OGM I have ever seen (well, probably not in China....) and it took so much faith and heart from that whole team, both skaters and coaches. I am so sorry we won't see what more he could have done, with other skaters. And I will miss his endearing presence in the K&C. Bruno's job just got a lot bigger. R.I.P.

 

[shan]

 

[libecha]

Shocked and horrified by this news. My condolences to his family, friends, and all who loved him. He seemed like a truly wonderful man and a talented coach. While it is truly wonderful that he got to reach the pinnacle of the sport as a coach, it doesn't compensate for departing this earth so soon.

Of course I feel terribly for the whole S/M team, but this man was Bruno's coach from the time he was 7 and probably spent more time with him than his own parents when all was said and done. It makes me sick to think how much he must be hurting right now.

 

[sus2850]

Such sad news, everybody around him must feel devastated, I am so sorry for his family and students and friends and wish them strength. He was still so young, and apparently also had a son who is not even two years old (I looked at his Facebook page seeking information as I could not quite believe the news). Edit: Correction - Cholla informed us it is his grandson.

 

[Taso]

He was still so young, and apparently also had a son who is not even two years old (I looked at his Facebook page seeking information as I could not quite believe the news).

Oh my gosh the tragedy is even higher I am so very sorry to hear of his loss, truly sad

 

[SmallFairy]

So so sad He was too young.

 

[vesperholly]

How sad. Indeed a blessing that he got to see his longtime student reach the OGM, surely the most exciting moment of his career. His coaching legacy will live on. RIP.

 

[lily]

It is so sad that it is not possible to express it in any words.

 

[cholla]

He was still so young, and apparently also had a son who is not even two years old

Not a son but grand-son, son of his daughter Morgane. Jeff was a very young grand-dad, he turned 53 on September 1st. He was a wonderful coach but above all an adorable man, clever, funny, easy going, always optimistic, full of life and joy, someone you could lean on on dark days and roll yourself on the floor with laughter on bright ones. It's a huge loss, and a hard blow, we are going to miss him tremendously.

 

[TAHbKA]

 

[rfisher]

How sad. He was so happy with his team's win in Talinn.

 

[supergirl573]

RIP! Absolutley terrible news.

 

[alchemy void]

This is so shocking. No words.

 

[text_skate]

Not so long ago: happy days for Bruno and François: https://www.instagram.com/p/BlDhfBoAZ1W/

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Oh, no. He looked far younger than 53, too. What a terrible loss.

 

[Orm Irian]

How absolutely heartbreaking. My heart goes out to his family and friends, and all his students. He was clearly much loved.

 

[pp55]

RIP.

 

[Nmsis]

I remember him (with longer hair) coaching Bruno who was still a junior figure skater competing against Amodio, Ciprès and Ponsart.
To me, he will always be "John Lennon", because whenever he appeared on screen, there was always someone saying : "John Lennon is alive, he's a figure skating coach and is currently sitting in the K&C."

 

[love skating]

I never knew his name, but I recognized him right away when I saw his picture. I always thought he looked so happy and kind. How very sad... my condolences to his family and friends and students.

 

[oleada]

How absolutely tragic

 

[dinakt]

Heartbreaking. Condolences to everybody who knew him. Ballester always seemed like an incredibly nice human being.

 

[BittyBug]

What very sad news.

 

[briancoogaert]

What a shock, and a sad sad news.
RIP

 

[paskatefan]

What a terrible loss of such a young life. May his memory be for a blessing.

 

[kosjenka]

Hours before news got to FSU I saw a photo on juniors skaters instagram with RIP Ballester and his happy photo attached. I was so pissed at a young man for just putting this obviously, uninformed think online. How wrong I was...

 

[shah]

I'm speechless...

 

[IDC a.k.a. Ritti]

Finnish Figure Skating Association just published a press release. Ballester was Valtter Virtanen's coach since this summer, but this story says their co-operation started already last year. It also has some words about Ballester's coaching philosophy. Finnish Nationals will take place next week, and Valtter Virtanen says he doesn't know how he'll sort out his training from now on. He says that even though he only knew him for about a year, it grew into a close training relationship and friendship, and that he hardly knows other people as sympathetic and exuberant as Ballester was.
https://www.stll.fi/2018/12/04/valtter-virtasen-valmentaja-menehtyi/ (in Finnish only)

 

[ioana]

Hours before news got to FSU I saw a photo on juniors skaters instagram with RIP Ballester and his happy photo attached. I was so pissed at a young man for just putting this obviously, uninformed think online. How wrong I was...

Yes, kids use RIP to describe anything that doesn't work on social media, i.e. my 3loop is on vacation RIP. When I first saw the story, I was hoping it was more of the same and this was a coaching change. Must be terrible for all the skaters and family involved. He clearly was a great technical coach, but also really well-liked by all accounts .

 

[SamuraiK]

I also didn't know him by name but his face has been too familiar during all these past years K&C. Very sad indeed

 

[Jeschke]

German fed obit:
https://www.eislauf-union.de/media1...am-von-aljona-savchenko-bruno-massot,-ist-tot