Kaitlin Hawayek
An American ice dancer whose lyrical grace and emotional storytelling with partner Jean-Luc Baker captivated audiences and judges worldwide.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American ice dancer·Birthday: November 4·Millennials
Biography
Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker didn’t just skate together; they created miniature, moving novels on ice. Their partnership, formed in 2014, became synonymous with sophisticated interpretation and seamless unison. Hawayek, with her elegant line and expressive depth, was the perfect counterpart to Baker’s fluid strength. They broke through by winning the Four Continents Championship in 2018, a victory built on artistic risk and technical precision. While often chasing the podium at U.S. Nationals behind established rivals, their programs—like their poignant 'Romeo and Juliet' free dance—were consistently highlights for purists who valued storytelling over sheer athletic power. They were dancers who made you feel the music, translating complex emotions into sweeping edges and intricate holds. Their career, though sometimes overshadowed in a deep American field, represented the soulful, artistic heart of ice dancing.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kaitlin was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kaitlin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Kaitlin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Crowned champions at the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, a major international title.
- Won the gold medal at the 2018 NHK Trophy, one of the prestigious events on the Grand Prix circuit.
- Earned four consecutive U.S. national bronze medals from 2019 to 2022, demonstrating consistent top-tier performance.
- Represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, finishing in the top ten.
Did You Know?
She is a trained ballet dancer, which heavily influences her posture, line, and artistic expression on the ice.
Hawayek and Baker were known for their deep involvement in choreography, often helping to craft the stories of their programs.
She studied at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs while training as a elite skater.
Their 2018-2019 free dance to 'Romeo and Juliet' is widely considered one of the most artistically successful programs of that era.
“Our programs are stories we tell with our edges and our bodies.”
