Jamie Sale and David Pelletier

Sale and Pelletier had been partners for only four years when they leaped into international headlines. The two Canada natives grew up three years in age and four provinces apart; Sale in Alberta and Pelletier in Quebec. For the young girl, skating was a creative outlet for her energy. She first got on the ice at age three, wearing double-bladed skates to help her balance. At five, Sale was enrolled in both figure skating and gymnastics, but she would make her choice two years later.

Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, right, with Russian skaters Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze

Meanwhile, Pelletier was also making a choice—figure skating or hockey. He made his decision at fifteen, despite the razzing from his friends that he had entered a "girl's sport." When a coach told Pelletier's mother that the boy had no talent, David, an independent sort, responded by redoubling his efforts. Soon his practice and dedication had paid off. He began competing, first as a single, but it was in pairs that he began to realize success. He was partners with Julie Laporte when the two of them placed seventh at the 1992 world junior championships. Three years later Pelletier and new partner Allison Gaylor finished fifteenth at the 1995 world championships.