Jessica Pfund Explained

Jessica Pfund
Country: (2021–22)
(2015–20)
Birth Date:January 9, 1998
Birth Place:Los Gatos, California
Hometown:Palmetto, California
Skating Club:Southwest Florida Figure Skating Club
Beganskating:2003
Retired:March 18, 2022
Discipline:Pair skating

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. 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.

Partnership with Santillan

Pfund teamed up with Joshua Santillan in May 2015, following tryouts in Florida and Colorado Springs, Colorado. They decided to be coached by Lyndon Johnston in Ellenton, Florida, and, early in their partnership, also trained with Jim Peterson and Amanda Evora. 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, 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. 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. In January 2017, Santillan had a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. 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.[1] In July 2021, they announced they were allowed to represent Switzerland for the 2021-2022 season.[2]

On March 18, 2022, they announced their retirement from competitive skating.[3]

During competition control at the Elite Swiss Championships 2021, Pfund tested positive for the prohibited substances amphetamine, cocaine, and it's 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 sport 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.[4] [5]

Programs

With Santillan

SeasonShort programFree skating
2018–2020
2017–2018
2016–2017
2015–2016

With Reiss

SeasonShort programFree skating
2012–2013
  • Bolero for Violin and Orchestra
  • Tristan & Iseult
2011–2012

Competitive highlights

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

Pairs with Santillan

For Switzerland

International
Event2021–22
align=left 6th
align=left Cranberry Cup8th
National
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st

For the United States

International
Event2015–162016–172017–182018–192019–20
align=left 8th
align=left 8th
align=left 9th
align=left 4th
align=left 4th
align=left 5th
align=left bgcolor=cc9966 3rd
National
align=left 7th 5th 8th WD8th
align=left U.S. Pairs Final bgcolor=silver 2nd
WD = Withdrew

Pairs with Reiss

International
Event2011–122012–132013–14
align=left 7th
align=left 5th
align=left bgcolor=gold 1st J
National
align=left 5th J 6th J 10th

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pfund. Jessica. Santillan. Joshua. October 22, 2020. 2021 Season Update. Joshica.net.
  2. Web site: Pfund. Jessica. Santillan. Joshua. July 22, 2021. Don't Call It A Comeback. Joshica.net.
  3. Web site: Final Blog . March 18, 2022 . Jessica Pufnd, Joshua Santillan . Joshica.net.
  4. Web site: 3 May 2023 . Eiskunstläuferin wegen Dopings für vier Jahre gesperrt SSI . 2023-05-03 . www.sportintegrity.ch . de.
  5. Web site: 3 May 2023 . Figure skater suspended for four years SSI . 2023-05-03 . www.sportintegrity.ch . en.