Jeff Buttle

Figure Skating

September 1, 1982 –

Jeffrey Buttle was born September 1, 1982, in Smooth Rock Falls. He began skating when he was two years old. In 1995, when he was 12, Jeff and his family moved to Barrie so that he could train with the Mariposa Club under Doug Leigh and Lee Barkell. In 1998, he finished 2nd in the Canadian Juniors held in Hamilton. At the Senior Level he placed 6th in 2000 and in 2002 Jeff finished a strong 3 at the Nationals. In 2002 he surprised everyone at the international level when he won the ISU Four Continents Championships, a feat he repeated in 2004.

Jeff was honoured by the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame, in 2002, as Barrie’s Amateur Athlete of the Year for his accomplishments. Since then Jeff’s ascent in figure skating has been incredible. In 2003, Jeff placed 2nd in the Canadian Championships and 8th in the World Championships. In 2004 he was on the podium four times in International competitions. In 2005, Jeff became the Canadian Senior Men’s Figure Skating Champion and earned a World Championships silver medal. This medal qualified him for induction into the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame. Since his induction he has continued to amaze the skating world winning the Canadian Championships twice, a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, and the World Championships gold medal in 2008. He became the first Canadian man to win world gold since Elvis Stojko’s win in 1997.

Jeff is a graduate of Innisdale Secondary School and continued his studies at the University of Toronto. On September 10, 2008, Jeff announced his retirement from competitive skating to pursue a professional skating career.

• Portrait painted by Gisèle Lapalme