Sport, TV, people… who is Nathalie Péchalat, the woman who wants to lead French skating?

For his friends and former partners in the France team, it's "Nath". For the celebrity press, it is Jean Dujardin's wife. But for the little world of skating, it may soon be Madam Chair. This Saturday, the former ice dancer Nathalie Péchalat, 36, arrives with the status of favorite among the four candidates who will have to appoint the or the new or new boss of the French federation of ice sports (FFSG). More than a month after the resignation, against a backdrop of a showdown with the Ministry of Sports and revelations of sexual violence, of its emblematic boss, Didier Gailhaguet.

The double European champion, with her partner Fabian Bourzat, did not wait long to get started and hope to become the first woman to head the FFSG. Four days after the pope's departure from the French ice cream, she announced her candidacy. Too quickly for the taste of a collective of athletes, including one that turned upside down French sport in late January with his accusations of rape against his former trainer, Sarah Abitbol. Who reproaches him for playing solo in this crisis crossed by skating and worries about a possible influence of Gailhaguet, directly refuted by Péchalat.

"I told them that we did not have the same point of view and the sole criterion of being a former champion is not enough," said the candidate, explaining that one of the members of the collective, the Olympic champion and candidate unhappy at the presidency in 2014 Gwendal Peizerat had demanded a post to support her. "I just told him that I could be useful as general secretary of the federation," blows the latter. She giggled and told me that she was not going to give me the keys to the truck like that… ”

"The water bottles were flying"

All those who have met her, near or far, describe a sportswoman with character. "Nathalie does not mince her words, she will not be afraid to kick the anthill and that is what the federation needs", underlines one of her supporters, the Olympic vice-champion of dance on ice Guillaume Cizeron.

"With Fabian Bourzat, she formed an explosive couple", recalls with a smile her ex-coach Muriel Zazoui, at the origin of the pair for a time together on the ice as in the city. At the Charlemagne skating rink in Lyon, frequented during the first half of their career, training could be very tense. “They insulted each other, the bottles of water flew and I tried to put myself in the middle to calm the game, remembers the technician. But it had the merit of putting things flat and making them start all over again afterwards. "

In the shadow of the Delobel-Schoenfelder couple, Péchalat and Bourzat emigrate to improve. First in Russia, in Moscow, then towards the United States and Detroit. Sacrifices to obtain an Olympic medal which will narrowly elude them at the 2014 Olympics, a few months before their sporting retirement on a bronze medal at the Worlds.

"She's the bling-bling candidate"

Since then, Nathalie Péchalat has had a very busy life. Candidate for the show "Dance with the stars" on TF1, media consultant, internship organizer, speaker ... Not to mention a people image to manage since she became the companion of the French actor Oscar winner. Nathalie Péchalat went on vacation to Switzerland with her husband shortly after the controversy at the Césars around the film "J'accuse" by Roman Polanski where Jean Dujardin played the main role. France.

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"She's the bling-bling candidate," said former judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne, who withdrew her candidacy this Friday. "It is the candidate of the Ministry of Sports", believes one of his rivals, Michel-Angel Marie-Calixte, who considers his ambition opportunistic. If it was heard on his project like the other contenders, the ministry said it had no preference in this election.

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In his entourage, it is explained that she will put an end to her partnerships with brands and her consultancy activities if she is elected on Saturday. Neutrality of this umpteenth potential new cap requires. "I think she thought about all that it involved before getting started," explains Eurosport France sports director, one of her employers, Géraldine Pons. She's not one to jump on a whim. If Nathalie goes there, it's to win. She is ready. "