View source for Jamie Salé

{{Short description|Canadian pair skater (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=November 2022}}
{{Lead too short|date=February 2023}}
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{{Infobox figure skater
| name = Jamie Salé
| image = Sale pelletier love story.jpg
| caption = Salé and Pelletier compete at the 2002 Grand Prix Final
| country = {{CAN}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|21}}
| birth_place = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]]
| height = 1.55 m
| partner = David Pelletier
| skating club = CPA St-Leonard
| retired = 2002
| medals-expand = yes
| medals = {{MedalSport | [[Figure skating]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{CAN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]] | [[Figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2001 World Figure Skating Championships#Pairs|2001 Vancouver]] | [[2001 World Figure Skating Championships#Pairs|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Four Continents Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2000 Four Continents Championships|2000 Osaka]] | [[2000 Four Continents Championships|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2001 Four Continents Championships|2001 Salt Lake City]] | [[2001 Four Continents Championships|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix Final]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2000–01 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|2000–01 Tokyo]] | [[2000–01 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2001–02 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|2001–02 Kitchener]] | [[2001–02 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Pairs]] }}
| spouse = {{Plain list|
* {{marriage |[[David Pelletier]] |2005|2010|end=div}}
* {{marriage |[[Craig Simpson]] |2012|2022|end=div}}
}}
}}

'''Jamie Rae Salé''' (born April 21, 1977) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] former competitive pair skater. With her former husband [[David Pelletier]], she is the [[Figure skating at the 2002 Olympics|2002 Olympic Champion]] and [[World Figure Skating Championships|2001 World Champion]]. The Olympic gold medals of Salé and Pelletier were shared with the Russian pair [[Elena Berezhnaya]] and [[Anton Sikharulidze]] after the [[2002 Winter Olympics figure skating scandal]].

==Early life==
Salé was born in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} She grew up in a bungalow in [[Red Deer, Alberta|Red Deer]]. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was separated from her brother.<ref name="Boyd-2023">{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Alex |date=2023-02-05 |title=Jamie Salé was Canada's sweetheart on ice. Now the Olympian is championing something darker |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/02/05/jamie-sale-was-canadas-sweetheart-on-ice-now-the-olympian-is-championing-something-darker.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307004454/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/02/05/jamie-sale-was-canadas-sweetheart-on-ice-now-the-olympian-is-championing-something-darker.html |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=[[Toronto Star]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2023}}

=== Early career ===
Salé competed first as a singles skater, winning the novice bronze medal and placing eighth in junior ladies at the Canadian Championships. In 1994, Salé won the short program and finished with the bronze medal in the junior event at the Canadian Championships. That same year, she achieved her biggest success to date by winning the senior bronze medal with her pairs partner, [[Jason Turner (figure skater)|Jason Turner]]. They were named to the 1994 Canadian Olympic team and placed 12th at the [[1994 Winter Olympic Games|Lillehammer Olympics]]. They placed 16th at the 1994 World Championships in [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba, Japan]], but ended their partnership that August.

Salé returned to singles skating. She placed fifth at the 1995 Canadian Championships, but struggled with injuries which caused her to withdraw from the 1997 Championships. Salé returned in 1998 and skated a strong short program, but was only able to land one of five planned triples in her long program and placed sixth.

=== Return to pair skating ===
Salé had a tryout with [[David Pelletier]] in the summer of 1996, but it did not lead to a partnership. After her moderate success in singles, she decided to give pairs one last shot. Coach Richard Gaulthier, who was helping Pelletier find a partner, suggested Salé. He and Pelletier went to [[Edmonton]] in February 1998 to try out with Salé again. "The first time we grabbed hands, it was just great," said Pelletier, and by the next month Salé had moved to [[Montréal]] to skate with Pelletier.

The [[Canadian Figure Skating Association]] invited the pair to compete at [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]], where they placed second in the short program – ahead of reigning Canadian Champions [[Kristy Sargeant]] and [[Kris Wirtz]] – and third in the long program to win the bronze medal. Because of their success, they were invited to the NHK Trophy in Japan and won another bronze medal.

Their fall successes made them favorites for the Canadian title, but they struggled technically and finished second. The silver medal earned them a spot on the [[Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|Four Continents]] and World team, but Pelletier's back pain forced the pair to withdraw from both competitions. They spent two months off the ice recuperating.

=== 1999–2000 ===
In the summer of 1999, Gaulthier enlisted the help of [[Lori Nichol]], a successful Canadian choreographer who was known for her work with [[Michelle Kwan]]. She created a playful tango piece for their short program, and, after a suggestion from coach Marijane Stong, set their long program to music from the movie [[(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story|Love Story]].

They won several competitions with this program. At the 1999 Skate America competition, they defeated the reigning and two-time world champions and Olympic silver medalists [[Elena Berezhnaya]] and [[Anton Sikharulidze]] by winning both the short and long programs. At their second [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|Grand Prix]] event, Nations Cup, they finished second to Russians [[Maria Petrova (figure skater)|Maria Petrova]] and [[Alexei Tikhonov]]. With these solid results they went into the Grand Prix Final with high hopes and even higher expectations. However, several errors in both programs landed them in fifth place.

They competed at the 2000 [[Canadian Figure Skating Championships]] in Salé's hometown of Calgary. They skated a strong short program but exceeded even their own expectations by skating a nearly flawless long program, earning five 6.0 marks in presentation – the first for a pair at the championships. They also captured another 6.0 and the gold medal at the Four Continents Championships in [[Osaka, Japan]].

Expectations mounted before the 2000 World Championships in Nice, France. There, Salé had a major error on a spin in the short program, and they were placed third. During the long program, she again struggled, this time with her jumps, and they placed fourth overall.

=== 2000–2001 season ===
Salé and Pelletier returned to Lori Nichol for their 2000–01 programs. She choreographed a jazzy short to "Come Rain or Come Shine" and a dramatic, mature long to Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde." They returned to Skate America and Skate Canada that fall, winning both over Shen/Zhao and Berezhnaia/Sikharulidze, respectively. Berezhnaia/Sikharulidze then defeated them at [[Trophée Eric Bompard|Trophée Lalique]].

The pair was again successful at the 2001 Canadian Championships in [[Winnipeg]], but did not earn the string of 6.0s that "Love Story" had brought them the previous year. They went on to win again at Four Continents in [[Salt Lake City]], the site for the [[2002 Winter Olympic Games|2002 Olympics]], and revived "Love Story" to win the Grand Prix Final – despite Salé missing the side by side triple toe loop in all three phases of the competition.

The 2001 World Championships were held in [[Vancouver]], and Salé and Pelletier entered as heavy favorites. Trouble on the side by side jumps landed them in third place in the short program, but the team was placed first in the long program despite Salé singling a side-by-side double axel. They were the first Canadian pair to win Worlds since [[Isabelle Brasseur]] and [[Lloyd Eisler]] in 1993, and the first pair to win at a Worlds held in Canada since [[Barbara Underhill]] and [[Paul Martini]] in 1984. They would later win the [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] as outstanding Canadian athlete in 2001.

=== 2002 Winter Olympics ===
Salé and Pelletier again had early success in the 2001–02 season, winning both Skate America and Skate Canada with their new long program to "Adagio Sostenuto" by [[Rachmaninoff]], nicknamed "Orchid" for its flower theme.

The Grand Prix Final, held in [[Kitchener, Ontario]], was important because it was the only chance to test their programs against the top contenders before the Olympics. Despite a rough performance of "Orchid" in the first long program, Salé and Pelletier once again won the event, skating a clean performance of "Love Story" for their second long program. They headed into the 2002 Canadian Championships in [[Hamilton, Ontario]] with confidence, having defeated Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze, their biggest rivals. They were able to win the title despite missing several elements in the long program, and the performance increased talks that they would revert to "Love Story" for the Olympic Games.

Despite several silvers and bronzes, Canada had only won two Olympic gold medals in figure skating, in 1948 and 1960.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} Salé and Pelletier skated their short program well, only to trip and fall on their closing pose. Because the fall was not on an element, it did not receive a deduction.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} They placed second behind Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/figure/news?id=1326485 | title = Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze impress the judges | agency = Associated Press | date = 9 February 2002 | access-date = July 28, 2022 | archive-date = July 27, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727072350/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/figure/news?id=1326485 | url-status = dead }}</ref> 

In the long program, Salé and Pelletier had no obvious mistakes. Berezhnaya and Sikharludize, meanwhile, skated a more difficult program in which Sikharulidze had a minor step out on a jump element before quickly regaining unison with his partner. Four judges placed Salé and Pelletier first, while five had Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze as the winners, with the Canadians receiving higher technical scores and the Russians higher presentation scores. This result spurred an outcry from the North American media, who emphasized Sikharulidze's stepout<ref name="Harvey-2002">{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-13-sp-olyharvey13-story.html | title = Skating on Thin Ice? It Figures | first = Randy | last = Harvey | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 13 February 2002 | access-date = July 28, 2022 | archive-date = January 4, 2013 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130104062614/http://articles.latimes.com/print/2002/feb/13/sports/sp-olyharvey13 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-16-sp-olyrussia16-story.html | title=It's an Outrage to Russians | first=Robyn | last=Dixon | work=Los Angeles Times | date=16 February 2002 | access-date=July 28, 2022 | archive-date=July 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715144425/http://articles.latimes.com/print/2002/feb/16/sports/sp-olyrussia16 | url-status=live }}</ref> while ignoring that Salé and Pelletier had fallen in the short program and not received a deduction.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} The commentators received criticism for failing to mention Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze's strengths, with some observers stating that the Russians had performed a more challenging program with greater speed, more interweaving moves and transitions, and less distance between the partners.<ref>{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781845134914 | url-access = registration | page = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781845134914/page/86 86] | title = Complete Book of the Winter Olympics | publisher = Greystone Books | last = Wallechinsky | first = David | author-link = David Wallechinsky | year = 2009 | isbn = 9781845134914 | access-date =9 July 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Harvey-2002" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2001/021202.shtml |title=2002 Olympic Winter Games: Pairs Figure Skating Highlights |date=12 February 2002 |work=Golden Skate |quote=[Salé/Pelletier's program] was not quite up to the standard set by the Russians in terms of complexity and originality |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725015215/http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2001/021202.shtml |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2001/030202.shtml |title=As the Skate Spins |first=Barry |last=Mittan |date=2 March 2002 |work=Golden Skate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705131814/http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2001/030202.shtml |archive-date=5 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/articles/slc-pairs.shtml | title = 2002 Olympic Pairs Free Skate Analysis | author = Loosemore, Sandra (writer for CBS Sportsline) | date = February 2002 | work = SkateWeb | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100131163201/http://www.frogsonice.com/skateweb/articles/slc-pairs.shtml | archive-date = 31 January 2010 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title= Maybe the Russians really did win | newspaper=Pasadena Star News | date=13 February 2002 }}</ref>

The day after the competition, the French judge [[Marie-Reine Le Gougne]] admitted she had been pressured into awarding the long program to the Russians in exchange for a first-place vote for the French ice dancing team of [[Marina Anissina]] and [[Gwendal Peizerat]], and a [[2002 Olympic Winter Games figure skating scandal|judging controversy]] quickly blew up. The scandal ultimately resulted in the suspension of several judges and officials, and Le Gougne's vote was discarded, leaving the long program a tie. Salé and Pelletier were awarded gold medals in a special ceremony later in the week.

The controversy resulted in several changes to the judging system. Initially, anonymous judging was incorporated to "relieve outside pressure" from judges by separating their names from their marks so pressurers could not know whether the judge had acted as they wished. After two years of this system, the [[ISU Judging System|Code of Points]] was implemented and began use in the Grand Prix season of 2003–04, and full usage for all 2004–05 competitions and thereafter.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

=== Since Salt Lake City ===
[[File:Stars on Ice 2010 in Halifax (9).jpg|175px|thumb|left|Stars on Ice in Halifax 2010]]

After the Olympics, Salé and Pelletier turned professional and began touring North America with ''[[Stars on Ice]]'', a figure skating show.

In 2006, Salé and Pelletier served as commentators on ''[[Olympic Ice]]'', which aired on [[USA Network]] during the [[2006 Winter Olympics]].

Salé and Pelletier were inducted into the [[Skate Canada (governing body)|Skate Canada Hall of Fame]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.usatoday.com/topics/photo/Jamie+Sale/0eKh0bEgTleju/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002224921/http://content.usatoday.com/topics/photo/Jamie+Sale/0eKh0bEgTleju/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |title=Jamie Sale Photos Page |publisher=USAToday }}</ref> They were inducted into the [[Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame]] on March 26, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1206671&sponsor= |title=Sale, Pelletier among inductees into Olympic Hall of Fame |last=Little |first=Lyndon |date=January 23, 2009 |work=The Vancouver Sun |publisher=Postmedia Network Inc. |access-date=May 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021155846/http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1206671&sponsor= |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In October 2009, Salé began competing on the [[Battle of the Blades season 1|first season]] of the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]'s ''[[Battle of the Blades]]''. She was partnered with [[Craig Simpson]], lead analyst for ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' and a former professional hockey player. The two had known each other for years through Edmonton’s skating scene.<ref name="Onstad-2010">{{cite news |title=Olympic figure skater Jamie Salé's happily ever after |url=http://www.chatelaine.com/living/olympic-figure-skater-jamie-sales-happily-ever-after/ |access-date=February 16, 2014 |work=Chatelaine |date=October 21, 2010 |first=Katrina |last=Onstad |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185005/https://www.chatelaine.com/living/olympic-figure-skater-jamie-sales-happily-ever-after/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They won the competition in November 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2009/11/16/jamie_saleacute_and_craig_simpson_win_battle_of_the_blades.html |title=Jamie Salé and Craig Simpson win Battle of the Blades |first=Robyn |last=Doolittle |date=November 16, 2009 |work=Toronto Star |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222140949/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2009/11/16/jamie_saleacute_and_craig_simpson_win_battle_of_the_blades.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, Salé competed on the [[Battle of the Blades season 2|second season]] of ''[[Battle of the Blades]]'', this time paired with [[Theoren Fleury]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/Sale+Fleury+eliminated+from+Battle+Blades/3797244/story.html |title=Sale, Fleury eliminated from Battle of the Blades |author=Postmedia News |date=November 8, 2010 |work=Canada.com |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512094345/http://www.canada.com/Sale+Fleury+eliminated+from+Battle+Blades/3797244/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She returned in 2013 as a judge on the show's [[Battle of the Blades season 4|fourth season]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Myles |first=Ruth |date=September 30, 2013 |title=Jamie Sale is settling into her judge's seat on Battle of the Blades |work=Calgary Herald |url=http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/09/30/ruth-myles-jamie-sale-is-settling-into-her-judges-seat-on-battle-of-the-blades/ |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025061850/http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/09/30/ruth-myles-jamie-sale-is-settling-into-her-judges-seat-on-battle-of-the-blades/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Barlott-2015">{{cite news |last1=Barlott |first1=Caroline |date=April 1, 2015 |title=A Modern Family: After splitting up on and off the ice, Olympic gold medallists Jamie Sal and David Pelletier have formed a new kind of partnership |publisher=Avenue magazine Edmonton |url=https://www.avenueedmonton.com/city-life/a-modern-family/ |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=July 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709175413/https://www.avenueedmonton.com/city-life/a-modern-family/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Salé and Pelletier became engaged on Christmas Day 2004 at their [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]] home,<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Pelletier and Jamie Salé Marriage Profile<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://marriage.about.com/od/canadiancouples/p/pelletiersale.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029055307/http://marriage.about.com/od/canadiancouples/p/pelletiersale.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2007 |access-date=October 4, 2007}}</ref> and married on December 30, 2005 at the [[Fairmont Banff Springs]] hotel in [[Banff, Alberta]].<ref>{{cite news |date=January 7, 2006 |title=Olympic Figure Skaters Wed |work=People |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1146885,00.html |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213003254/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1146885,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their son was born on September 30, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benet |first=Lorenzo |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Ice Skaters Jamie Salé & David Pelletier Have a Son |work=[[People (magazine)|People]] |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20091061,00.html |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071003061113/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20091061,00.html |archive-date=October 3, 2007}}</ref>

On June 4, 2010, it was reported that Salé and Pelletier had decided to divorce, but planned to remain skating partners; they skated together until they retired in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 4, 2010 |title=Olympic gold medallists Salé, Pelletier divorce |newspaper=[[CBC.ca]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figure-skating/olympic-gold-medallists-sal%C3%A9-pelletier-divorce-1.891009 |access-date=June 4, 2010 |archive-date=June 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607083231/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/figureskating/story/2010/06/04/sp-sale-pelletier-divorce.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Barlott-2015" /> In later interviews, Salé stated that they had separated in March 2009, but chose to keep the news private for over a year.<ref name="Onstad-2010" /><ref name="Barlott-2015" />

On June 21, 2012 in California, Salé married her season 1 ''Battle of the Blades'' partner [[Craig Simpson]], who split from his first wife in March 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ng |first=Juanita |date=June 24, 2012 |title=Jamie Sale and Craig Simpson: A love story in photos |work=Vancouver Sun |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Jamie+Sale+Craig+Simpson+love+story+photos/6825582/story.html |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=May 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507221731/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Jamie+Sale+Craig+Simpson+love+story+photos/6825582/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Maimann-2012">{{cite news |last=Maimann |first=Kevin |date=June 21, 2012 |title=Jamie Sale, 'best friend' Craig Simpson married |work=Edmonton Sun |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/06/21/jamie-sale-best-friend-craig-simpson-married |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222151027/http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/06/21/jamie-sale-best-friend-craig-simpson-married |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Canadian Press |date=June 21, 2012 |title='Battle of the Blades' winners Sale and Simpson marry |work=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/battle-of-the-blades-winners-sale-and-simpson-marry-1.1201073 |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221000406/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/battle-of-the-blades-winners-sale-and-simpson-marry-1.1201073 |url-status=live }}</ref> Salé and Simpson have one daughter, born on July 7, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |author=Canadian Press |date=July 9, 2013 |title=Skater girl: new baby in the house for Jamie Sale, Craig Simpson |work=Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/skater-girl-new-baby-in-the-house-for-jamie-sale-craig-simpson/article13102194/ |access-date=February 16, 2014 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303011722/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/skater-girl-new-baby-in-the-house-for-jamie-sale-craig-simpson/article13102194/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Through this marriage, Salé is also a [[stepmother]] to Simpson's three children from his first marriage.<ref name="Maimann-2012" />

In a November 2019 guest column in the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Salé wrote that the end of her marriage with Pelletier and her professional skating career had left her with "feelings of emptiness and discontentment" and she "fell into deep despair." She said that support from friends and family helped her get through her feelings of despair, and an encounter with a life coach inspired her to become a motivational speaker and life coach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salé |first=Jamie |date=2019-11-01 |title=Jamie Salé: I understood the need for dreams when it felt like my life was falling to pieces |url=https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/11/01/jamie-sal-i-only-understood-the-necessity-for-having-goals-and-dreams-when-it-felt-like-my-life-was-falling-to-pieces.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Toronto Star |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114193553/https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/11/01/jamie-sal-i-only-understood-the-necessity-for-having-goals-and-dreams-when-it-felt-like-my-life-was-falling-to-pieces.html }}</ref>

By July 2021, Salé and Simpson were no longer living together, and Salé filed for divorce in 2022. She said that they separated due to Simpson refusing to listen to her [[conspiracy theories]].<ref name="Boyd-2023" />

=== Political views and conspiracy theories ===
Salé and [[Theo Fleury]] host ''The Theo & Jamie Show: Fire and Ice'', an online program with the Calgary-based conservative media outlet Canadians for Truth.<ref name="Boyd-2023" /> She has compared Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] to [[Adolf Hitler]], promoted [[COVID-19 misinformation|conspiracy theories about COVID-19]] and the [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s,<ref name="Boyd-2023" /> called [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|the use of face masks on children]] a form of "child abuse"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trent |first1=John F. |date=20 July 2022 |title=Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Sale: "Masking Children Is Child Abuse" |work=Bounding Into Sports |url=https://www.boundingintosports.com/2022/07/olympic-gold-medalist-jamie-sale-masking-children-is-child-abuse/ |access-date=26 September 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926204529/https://www.boundingintosports.com/2022/07/olympic-gold-medalist-jamie-sale-masking-children-is-child-abuse/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and referred to vaccine mandates as "medical rape".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salé |first=Jamie |date=November 13, 2022 |title="ALERT! There's a word for sticking something in someone using coercion, threats or bribery… V@cc1ne coercion is medical RAPE!" |url=https://twitter.com/jamiesale/status/1591832027690856448 |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=Twitter |language=en |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114010934/https://twitter.com/JamieSale/status/1591832027690856448 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Columnist [[Gary Mason (journalist)|Gary Mason]] of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' wrote in a November 2022 column: "[Salé] has emerged as an ardent [[Anti vaxxer|anti-vaxxer]] who has said putting a mask on a child is 'child abuse.' Her [[Twitter]] feed is an endless flow of dubious claims from dubious sources. She happily goes down rabbit holes to share falsehoods about the [[World Economic Forum]] and the '[[Great Reset]],' which conspiracists claim is an effort by the global elite to dismantle capitalism and impose radical change on the world."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Gary |date=2022-11-02 |title=Opinion: Do we have a conspiracy-theory problem on our hands? |language=en-CA |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-do-we-have-a-conspiracy-theory-problem-on-our-hands/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102192429/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-do-we-have-a-conspiracy-theory-problem-on-our-hands/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2022, she shared an image of a fabricated news article that claimed the [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine]] only had a 12% efficacy rate. The image was designed to look like it was from [[Global News]], although [[Reuters]] confirmed with the outlet that there was no such story.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fact Check-Canadian outlet Global News did not report that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine recorded a 12% efficacy rate |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-screenshot-pfizer-idUSL1N2XO15E |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=Reuters |date=1 June 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926202913/https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-screenshot-pfizer-idUSL1N2XO15E |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2022, she posted another image of a fabricated news article that claimed Trudeau said climate change was to blame for anger and resentment toward politicians. This time the image was designed to look like it came from [[CBC News]]. [[Agence France-Presse]] confirmed with CBC News that the article did not exist.<ref>{{cite news |author1=AFP Canada |title=Fabricated CBC article circulates in posts targeting Trudeau |url=https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32HR7E7 |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=AFP Fact Check |date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926202923/https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.32HR7E7 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Competitive results==
===Pairs===
====Amateur====
(with David Pelletier)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! 1998–1999
! 1999–2000
! 2000–2001
! 2001–2002
|-
| [[Winter Olympic Games]] || || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|-
| [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || || align="center" | 4th || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st ||
|-
| [[Four Continents Championships]] || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st ||
|-
| [[Grand Prix Final]] || || align="center" | 5th || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|-
| <small>GP</small> [[Skate America]] || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|-
| <small>GP</small> [[Skate Canada International]] || align="center" bgcolor="CC9966" | 3rd || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|-
| <small>GP</small> [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]] || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || ||
|-
| <small>GP</small> [[Trophée Lalique]] || || || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd ||
|-
| <small>GP</small> [[NHK Trophy]] || align="center" bgcolor="CC9966" | 3rd || || ||
|-
| [[Canadian Figure Skating Championships|Canadian Championships]] || align="center" bgcolor="silver" | 2nd || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st
|-
| Canadian Open || || || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st ||
|-
| Masters of Figure Skating || align="center" | 4th || || ||
|}

(with Jason Turner)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Event
! 1991–1992
! 1992–1993
! 1993–1994
|-
| [[Winter Olympic Games]] || || || align="center" | 12th
|-
| [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]] || || || align="center" | 16th
|-
| [[Skate America]] || || align="center" | 7th ||
|-
| [[NHK Trophy]] || || || align="center" | 5th
|-
| [[Canadian Figure Skating Championships|Canadian Championships]] || align="center" bgcolor="gold" | 1st J. || align="center" | 4th || align="center" bgcolor="CC9966" | 3rd
|}

* J = Junior level

====Professional====
(with Pelletier)

2003:
* World Team Challenge: 1st place (Team)
* Ice Wars: 2nd place (Team)

2002:
* Hallmark Skaters' Championship: 1st place
* Sears Canadian Open: 1st place

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
! Event
! 1992–1993
! 1994–1995
! 1996–1997
! 1997–1998
|-
| [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]] || || align="center" | 12th || ||
|-
| [[Canadian Figure Skating Championships|Canadian Championships]] || align="center" bgcolor="#cc9966" | 3rd J. || align="center" | 5th || align="center" | WD || align="center" | 6th
|}

* J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

==Awards ==
* 2001 – Winner of [[Lou Marsh Trophy]] as Canadian athlete of the year (with David Pelletier)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Jamie Salé}}
* {{ISU name | id=00003407 | name=Jamie Salé}}
* {{IMDb name|1439189}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060117033520/http://www.starsonice.com/cast/cast_detail.asp?CastID=92 "Stars on Ice" Profile]
* [http://www.pairsonice.net/profileview.php?pid=52 Pairs on Ice: Jamie Salé & David Pelletier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219045433/http://www.pairsonice.net/profileview.php?pid=52 |date=December 19, 2005 }}

{{Navboxes|title=Championships - Pairs |list=
{{NavigationOlympicChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationWorldChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationFourContinentChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationGrandPrixFinalFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationSkateCanadaInternationalChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationSkateAmericaChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationCanadianChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
}}
{{Battle of the Blades}}
{{Lou Marsh Trophy}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sale, Jamie}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Canadian female pair skaters]]
[[Category:Canadian female single skaters]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters from Calgary]]
[[Category:Figure skaters from Edmonton]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from Alberta]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Northern Star Award winners]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skaters for Canada]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Canada]]
[[Category:Battle of the Blades winners]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in figure skating]]
[[Category:World Figure Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Four Continents Figure Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Canadian conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Canadian anti-vaccination activists]]
[[Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen]]