Kristoffer Berntsson

Kristoffer Berntsson
Berntsson in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Johan Kristoffer Berntsson
Country represented	Sweden
Born	13 July 1982 Gothenburg
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Coach	Andrea Dohany
Choreographer	Andrea Dohany Zerjon Abebe
Skating club	Landvetter KK
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	206.29 2007 Worlds
Short program	69.02 2008 Worlds
Free skate	140.20 2007 Worlds

Johan Kristoffer Berntsson (born 13 July 1982 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish figure skater. He is an eight-time (2000–2001, 2004–2005, 2007–2010) Swedish national champion and the five-time (2002–2005, 2007) Nordic Champion. Berntsson was the first Swede to land a triple Axel.^[1]

Career

Berntsson began skating at age 5. Though he started out doing both hockey and figure skating, he soon focused exclusively on the latter.^[2] Berntsson won the Swedish junior national champion in 1996–1997, a title he would go on to win the next two season as well. He skated on the international junior circuit starting in 1998–1999. In the 1999–2000 season, still skating primarily as a junior, Berntsson won the national title and made his senior debut at the European Championships, finishing 21st. He finished in the same place for the next two seasons, and failed to qualify for the free skate at the 2001, 2002 and 2003 Worlds.

Berntsson had better results in 2003–2004, winning a medal at the Finlandia Trophy and moving up to 13th at the Europeans and 21st at Worlds. His results continued to improve the next season, when he moved into the top ten at Europeans for the first time in his career and was 14th at Worlds. In the 2005–2006 season, Berntsson finished 11th at both his Grand Prix events, and lost the national title to Adrian Schultheiss. He was 14th at the 2006 Europeans and 23rd at both the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and at Worlds.

The 2006–2007 season was Berntsson's best yet. Following a bronze medal at the 2006 Nebelhorn Trophy, he finished 6th at the Cup of Russia and 9th at the NHK Trophy, then regained his national title. At the 2007 Europeans, Berntsson finished 10th, and he was a career-best 9th at 2007 Worlds, where he received a standing ovation following his disco-themed long program.^[3] His placement qualified two slots for Sweden for the next World Championships, which were to be held in Gothenburg.^[4]

Berntsson tore muscles in his leg at the end of July 2007,^[5] and struggled in his fall events. He then finished 7th at the 2008 Europeans and 14th at Worlds.

Berntsson had hip surgery in April 2008.^[6] He finished 8th at the 2009 Europeans but 20th at Worlds, which, combined with Adrian Schultheiss's 18th place, meant that Sweden would have only one men's entry at the Olympics. Although Berntsson won Swedish Nationals, he was bypassed in favor of Schultheiss after finishing 15th at Europeans.

Berntsson won the silver medal at the 2010 Finlandia Trophy.

In March 2011, Berntsson said he would no longer compete at major events but would remain involved in skating.^[7]

Personal life

Berntsson has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and is currently working toward a Master's degree in this field at Chalmers University of Technology.^[8]

He plays the guitar and used to play in a band when he was younger.^[9]

Programs

Season	Short program	Free skating
2010–2011 [10]	Comptine d'un autre été : L'après-midi (from Amélie) by Yann Tiersen	Michael Jackson medley: Smooth Criminal Dirty Diana Beat It Come Together
2009–2010 [11]	Anvil of Grom (from Conan the Barbarian by Basil Poledouris	Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics performed by The String Quartet Nocturne by Secret Garden Supertonic Sweet Dreams by Magnus Hyden
2008–2009 [12]	La Valse D'Amelie by Yann Tiersen Belleville Rendez-Vous by Ben Charest	Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer Moments in Love by Art of Noise Take On Me by A-HA
2007–2008 [13]	La Valse D'Amelie by Yann Tiersen Belleville Rendez-Vous by Ben Charest	Boogie Wonderland (from "Madagascar") Studio 54 by Dan Hartman Disco Inferno (Saturday Night Fever) by The Trammps
2006–2007 [14]	Merecunde by Titanes de la Salsa La Vida es un Carneval by Celia Cruz	Saturday Night Fever by Bee Gees Studio 54 by Dan Hartman Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire
2005–2006 [15]	Merecunde by Titanes de la Salsa La Vida es un Carneval by Celia Cruz	Bombay Dreams by A.R. Rahman Between Heaven and Earth by A.R. Rahman
2004–2005 [16]	She Wants to Move by N.E.R.D. Breathe by Prudigy	Prince Igor by Alexandr Borodin
2003–2004 [17]	Like I Love You (instrumental) by Justin Timberlake Session by Linkin Park Mona Lisa Overdrive by Juno Reactor, Don Davis	The Time Machine by Klaus Badelt
2001–2003 [18][19]	Fight Club performed by the Dust Brothers	Fear is the Key by R. Budd and his Orchestra Paper Tiger by R. Budd The National Philharmonic Orchestra
2000–2001 [1]	Smoke on the Water The Moscow Symphony Orchestra	But we Never Talk Love at Large by Mark Isham, Wamen Zevon Legends Indigo Spirit by The Brave Yeah "Color of Love" by Ronne Earl and Broadsters

Competitive highlights

Results[20]
International
Event	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	1999–00	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11
Olympics										23rd
Worlds					31st	29th	31st	21st	14th	23rd	9th	14th	20th
Europeans				21st	21st	21st	15th	13th	10th	14th	10th	7th	8th	15th	14th
GP Cup of China													8th
GP Cup of Russia										11th	6th	10th	8th
GP NHK Trophy											9th			12th
GP Skate America										11th		11th
GP Skate Canada															11th
Bofrost Cup								4th
Crystal Skate														1st
Finlandia							10th	3rd						6th	2nd
Golden Spin							7th	12th		9th
Karl Schäfer								4th			3rd
Merano Cup															3rd
Nebelhorn							9th	14th		16th
Nordics		1st J.	2nd J.			1st	1st	1st	1st		1st			1st	3rd
Universiade													11th
International: Junior
Junior Worlds				22nd
JGP Bulgaria			15th
JGP China					12th
JGP Germany			14th
JGP Netherlands				9th		12th
JGP Norway					7th
JGP Sweden				6th
EYOF			3rd
National
Swedish	1st J.	1st J.	1st J.	1st	1st			1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; J. = Junior level; WD = Withdrew

References

1. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2001.
2. Mittan, Barry (13 April 2004). "Sweden's Berntsson Learns It's Different Near the Top". GoldenSkate. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
3. Kaye, Rosaleen (23 March 2007). "2007 World Figure Skating Championships - Men's Free Skate Highlights". GoldenSkate. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
4. Osborne, Magdalena (2008). "Kristoffer Berntsson: –"It'll be a once in a lifetime experience"". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
5. Flade, Tatjana (24 September 2007). "Kristoffer Berntsson: Looking forward to rocking the home crowd". GoldenSkate. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
6. Osborne, Magdalena (2008). "Camp Malmö, Sweden". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
7. Jangbro, Eva Maria (12 March 2011). "Kristoffer Berntsson: "I will continue to skate!"". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
8. Klintland, Natalia (2010). "Kristoffer Berntsson: "No retirement for me yet."". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
9. Shinkarenko, Olga (2009). "The Mystery - Kristoffer Berntsson". Absolute Skating. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
10. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011.
11. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010.
12. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009.
13. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 29 May 2008.
14. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
15. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 15 June 2006.
16. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 July 2005.
17. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004.
18. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 June 2003.
19. "Kristoffer BERNTSSON: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 11 February 2002.
20. "Competition Results: Kristoffer BERNTSSON". International Skating Union.

External links

• Official website
• Kristoffer Berntsson at the International Skating Union
• Kristoffer Berntsson at IceNetwork
• Kristoffer Berntsson at sport-folio.net