Biography

Javier Fernández is known for making history: first skater from Spain to win a Grand Prix medal, first skater from Spain to medal at the ISU Grand Prix Final, first skater from Spain to win a World medal and first male Spanish skater in more than 50 years to compete at the Olympic Winter Games. He is also the first skater from Spain to win gold at the European Championships and the first man since Evgeni Plushenko, one of Fernández’s idols, to win back-to-back European titles. In 2015, he made sports history that transcended skating when he became World Champion.

“It wasn’t something I was expecting,” said Fernández. “You’re training all your life. When you’re a kid, you don’t know exactly where you’re going to arrive. You have a goal—improving or competing well—but when you have a dream and do get that dream, it’s amazing.”

His skating career began in humble fashion. At age 6, Fernández followed older sister Laura to a rink called Igloo in Madrid. Although there wasn’t much skating on Spanish television, Laura had seen whatever aired and wanted to give it a try. She went on to compete internationally at the World Junior Championships, European Championships and World Championships. Although Fernández participated in other sports—soccer, tennis and ice hockey—within two years skating became his main focus.

After his first international competition at age 12, skating became his passion. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which Fernández said was a great experience for him as an athlete, was a significant turning point. He got to interact with sportspeople from across winter sports. Although training techniques are diverse, the commitment to hard work and being the best form a common thread. Fernández said it was clear how hard he needed to work to achieve his goals.

When he went to compete at the Olympics in Sochi in 2014, he was no longer the lone Spanish skater. Thanks to his outstanding placement at the 2013 World Championships, Spain qualified a second men’s competitor. There was also an ice dance couple, which made it feel like a real skating team.

“I had the chance to be the flag bearer for my country at the Opening Ceremony. It was an experience that I will never forget,” said Fernández.

“The competition was amazing,” he added. “Olympics are more special because it’s every four years. Of course, you have more pressure.”

While he didn’t leave Sochi with a medal (he finished fourth), Fernández left determined to show his best over the next four years. He has consistently placed on the podium in every competition since, culminating with the gold medal at the 2015 World Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai.

Media attention for skating in Spain has risen markedly due to Fernández’s outstanding results. He often gets a full page in the newspaper. There is also more coverage on television. After winning the World title this year, Fernández has had a high public profile, meeting numerous celebrities from sport, film, TV and music. He received several awards, including the prestigious Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo (Royal Order of Sports Merit).

There is also art installation and plaza named in his honor in the home town of his grandparents, Nava La Cruz.

Fernández has been training with coach Brian Orser in Toronto since 2011 at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. He also works with former ice dancer Tracy Wilson, who focuses on his quality of movement. Choreographer David Wilson is also based at the club, which has led to marked improvement in Fernández’s skating quality. For the 2015–16 season, renowned dancer/choreographer Antonio Najarro of the Spanish National Ballet created the short program, which is a Flamenco piece.

“I’ve always wanted to do a Flamenco program,” Fernández said. “I wanted to wait for the perfect time and work with the right people. It was unbelievable working with Antonio.”

When in Toronto, Fernández keeps in touch with his family in Spain via Skype.

“I learned how to cook growing up in Spain, but sometimes if I want to do something new, I talk with my mom on Skype,” he said. “We kind of cook the food together. So you could say I Skype cook with my mom.”

Now settled into life in Toronto, Fernández spends time downtown with friends, trying different foods, seeing the sights or simply people watching.

At the rink, Fernández is surrounded by the best skaters in the world, including Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu and Canadian Champion Nam Nguyen. They work with a team of coaches, all of who are devoted to improving their skating.

“When you have a team like that, who really care about your skating—your spins, your jumps, your presentation—it’s complete training,” he noted. “It’s what we need to improve more and more every single year in everything.”

Each day is friendly competition where the skaters push each other to be the best. Fernández will be chronicling what goes into training and competing in an upcoming book about his life. He said he’s not old enough to write an official biography, but he does want to share stories about the feelings of an elite athlete and the highs and lows of a competitive career. He knows being the defending World Champion brings new challenges, and he’s ready to face them.

“I have the potential and I know my programs are really good, but I have to train well and compete well,” Fernández said. “I have to keep myself confident and go and compete.”

Fernández keeps in touch with his fans via Facebook www.facebook.com/JavierFernandezSkater), Twitter (@JavierFernandez) and Instagram (JavierFernandezSkater).