(May 30, 2008)

Former National Team member Jean-Sébastien Fecteau has coached Zane Salera-Nasra to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games to be held in Boise, Idaho (USA) February 6–13, 2009.

Jean-Sébastien, 33, of Saint-Léonard, Qué., has been coaching Zane, 16, of Montréal, for the past seven years. Zane was selected to compete in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games based on his performance at the 2008 Canadian Special Olympics Winter Games held in Québec City in February. He was crowned Canadian champion for the second year in a row.

Close to 3000 athletes from 85 countries, including 81 from Canada, and 6000 volunteers will participate in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Seven sports will be represented: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, indoor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speed skating. Go to www.2009WorldGames for more information.

Jean-Sébastien skated in the pairs discipline with Utako Wakamatsu from 2002-2007. They won a bronze medal at the national championships in 2006 and 2005 and placed fourth in 2007 and 2004. The duo also achieved international success; they captured gold medals in their first two international competitions, the 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy and the 2003 Finlandia Trophy. Jean-Sébastien and Utako won the silver medal at the 2006 International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Championships and competed at the 2005 ISU World Figure Skating Championships where they placed eighth. They retired from competitive skating in April 2007.