Ean Weiler (born September 12, 2007) is a Swiss figure skater. He is a two-time national novice champion in the men's singles discipline, having won in the under-14 category in 2022 and the under-15 category in 2023. Weiler began figure skating in 2018 at the age of ten and is currently training in Bülach, Switzerland.
Personal life
Ean Weiler was born on September 12, 2007, in Winterthur, Switzerland, as the only child to mother Corinne Weiler and father Harn-Chieh Kwan who are both of Swiss nationality.[citation needed] Weiler stays in close contact with his stepbrother, meeting regularly for gaming in their freetime. He lives with his family in Wil in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen and visits the local secondary school, while driving with his mother to Bülach for his skating lessons six times a week.[1] In order to improve his performing abilities, Weiler regularly takes ballet classes.[1][2]
Competitive skating career
Early career
Weiler was introduced to figure skating in 2018 at the age of ten during a school trip to Schaffhausen, being inspired by the performance of a schoolmate: "She fascinated me so much that I went home and told my mother that I'd like to start skating as well."[1] Although it is more common among figure skaters to start skating in their early childhood, Weiler managed to pass all required basic tests at his local club in a span of one year. Weiler was first coached by Mark Pepperday in Bülach, Switzerland, before switching to Ekaterina Zanta in 2019.[3][2]
In May 2021, Weiler was selected for the Swiss national team in the advanced novice category and would go on to win in all domestic competitions the following season.[2] In February 2022, he participated at the Swiss Championships for the first time, winning gold in the novice under-14 category.[2][4] In April, he gave his international debut at the Egna Trophy in Italy, where he placed seventh.[5]
During the 2022–23 season, Weiler continued to win every domestic he competed in, including the Advanced Novice Swiss Championships, an event that he won by more than 50 points.[1][6]
Weiler's figure skating idol is two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan who influenced Weiler in his skating style, which notably features some of Hanyu's signature moves, including the Ina Bauer, hydroblading, and the side lunge.[9][10]: 2 Since 2022, Weiler's costumes are made by Japanese designer Satomi Ito who has been in charge of Hanyu's costumes since the 2014–15 season.[11] Being asked about his favorite element in figure skating, Weiler noted his personal preference for jumps.[1]
^ abcdefNiessner, Gioia (February 23, 2023). "Zürcher Eiskunstlauf-Talent: 'Es ist mein Traum, einmal bei Olympia mitzumachen'" [Figure skating talent from Zurich: "It's my dream to participate at the Olympics one day"]. Züri Today (in German). Zürich. Event occurs at 29s. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Sie hat mich so fasziniert, dass ich nach Hause ging und meiner Mutter sagte, dass ich auch mit Eiskunstlauf starten möchte.