October 1992
Gwendal receives a letter from Marina, asking him if he would like to skate with her. Gwendal doesn't think about it seriously, but he keeps the letter in a drawer just in case...

February 7, 1993
Marina comes in Lyon for the first time to meet Gwendal and make a test with him.

May 1993
Marina definitely stays in Lyon.

September 1993
Marina & Gwendal enter their first competition together. They win!

1994
Marina's mother comes to live with her in France.

March 1994
Marina & Gwendal place 10th at their first Worlds together.

January 1995
Marina & Gwendal rise in the rankings: they place 5th at the European championships, a dramatic improvement from their 12th place finishing in 1994.

October 1995
Marina & Gwendal win their first National title.

January 1st, 1996
Marina gets French citizenship.

January 26, 1996
Big disappointment for Marina & Gwendal after placing only 4th at Europeans behind Romanova & Yaroshenko, while many people thought they deserved to win the bronze medal.

February 24, 1996
Marina & Gwendal place 3rd at the first Grand prix Final, in front of the Canadians Bourne & Kraatz.

March 22, 1996
Again, Marina & Gwendal miss the podium at Worlds, where they are beaten by Bourne & Kraatz. They feel robbed.

October 6, 1996
Marina & Gwendal win their second National title, this time beating the World bronze medallists, Sophie Moniotte and Pascal Lavanchy, who were coming back after an injury.

October 31, 1997
At Nations Cup, Marina & Gwendal unveil a new style with their "Romeo & Juliet" routine, full of drama and of difficult lifts, including two new reverse lifts.

January 17, 1998
Marina & Gwendal win their first and long-awaited bronze medal at Europeans.

February 16, 1998
Marina & Gwendal make their dream come true by winning the bronze medal at the Nagano Olympic Games.

April 3, 1998
Marina & Gwendal go on improving by winning the silver medal at Worlds.

January 29, 1999
Despite a wonderful performance to "The Man in the Iron Mask", Marina & Gwendal place second at Europeans behind Krylova & Ovsiannikov, when near to everybody thought they deserved to win.

March 25, 1999
Marina & Gwendal win the original dance at Worlds, which gives them big hopes for the gold medal.

March 26, 1999
Big disappointment: Marina & Gwendal place second behind Krylova & Ovsiannikov at Worlds. Like the Duchesnays before them, they are the people's champions.

November 20, 1999
Marina & Gwendal unveil their new program, coreographed by Torvill & Dean, "Carmina Burana", at Trophée Lalique. They win and get a 6.0 from the British judge. In the same time, they learn that Krylova & Ovsiannikov will have to withdraw from Europeans & Worlds due to an injury.

February 11, 2000
Marina & Gwendal win the European title in Vienna, Austria. It is the first European title for French ice dancers since 1968 when the Guhels won.

March 31, 2000
Marina & Gwendal become World champions in their home country, getting 1st place ordinals from all judges and four 6.0s.

 

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