Maé-Bérénice Méité

Maé-Bérénice Méité (born 21 September 1994) is a French figure skater. She is the 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial champion, the 2016 International Cup of Nice champion, the 2015 Winter Universiade silver medalist, and a three-time French national champion. She has finished in the top six at three European Championships and represented France at the 2014 Winter Olympics, placing tenth.

Maé-Bérénice Méité, an only child, was born in Paris, France. Her parents are from Ivory Coast and Congo. Fluent in English and Spanish, she is interested in foreign languages and perfume-making. She plays the violin. After obtaining a science degree, she studied management through distance education at University of Montpellier 1.

Méité began skating at age five. She won the silver medal in novice ladies at her first international event, the 2007 Cup of Nice.

In addition to her singles skating, Méité also participates in ice theatre with her skating club.

2008–09 season

Méité moved up to the junior level in 2008–09, finishing 8th and 6th in her two events. She then took part in her second French Nationals, and won the silver medal behind Candice Didier. Consequently, she was chosen to represent France at the 2009 World Junior Championships, where she finished in 12th place.

2009–10 season

In 2009–10, Méité was 13th at the JGP Budapest and 6th at the JGP Croatia. She won her second silver medal at French Nationals, this time behind Léna Marrocco, who was selected for the French slot at 2010 Junior Worlds.

2010–11 season

Maé-Bérénice at the 2010 Trophée Éric Bompard.

In 2010–11, Méité moved up to the senior level. She competed at the 2010 Skate America, finishing 8th, and the 2010 Trophée Éric Bompard, where she placed ninth. In December, she won the bronze medal at French Nationals, but was nonetheless named to the French team for the 2011 European Championships, where her goal was a top ten finish. Because France did not have a direct entry to the short program in the ladies' discipline, Méité had to compete in the qualifying round; she finished second and qualified for the short program. She finished 7th in the program with a new personal best score and 10th in the free skating after falling on both triple lutzes. She finished in 9th place overall; Méité said that although her skating "wasn't perfect", she was "very satisfied with it". She was 14th in her Worlds debut.

2011–12 season

Méité began the 2011–12 season at the 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial. She was first in the short program and second in the free skate, and took her first international title. Competing in the 2011–12 Grand Prix series, she placed 7th at the 2011 NHK Trophy and 6th at the 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard. She finished 13th at the 2012 European Championships and completed the season as part of team France at the World Team Trophy.

2012–13 season

Méité began the 2012–13 season at the 2012 Skate America; she was 4th in the short program and 6th overall. She finished 5th at the 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard and 11th at the 2013 World Championships.

2013–14 season: First national title and Sochi Olympics

Maé-Bérénice at the 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard.

Méité won her first senior national title at the 2014 French Championships. She was selected to represent France at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where she finished tenth.

2014–15 season

In the 2014–15 season, Méité was coached by Katia Krier in Paris. Although troubled by her right knee from mid-November 2014, she finished sixth at the 2015 European Championships in Stockholm and tenth at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai. In April 2015, she decided to begin treatment for her knee. She did not jump for three months.

2015–16 season

Claude Thevenard was listed as Méité's coach by October 2015. She won her third national title and placed 6th at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia.

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix