Guillaume Cizeron added to his already impressive legacy at the Olympic Winter Games, securing a gold medal in ice dance at Milano Cortina 2026. The victory marks his second Olympic gold, joining an exclusive group of just five figure skaters to achieve the feat. What sets Cizeron apart is that he’s the first – and only – skater to win Olympic gold with two different partners.
Cizeron, 31, previously won gold with Gabriella Papadakis in 2022, a partnership forged in childhood. Papadakis’s mother, Catherine, recognized Cizeron’s exceptional talent as early as age 10 while in Clermont-Ferrand. They became world champions in 2015, relocating to Montreal – a hub for elite ice dance teams – to maximize their training. Despite narrowly missing gold at the 2018 Olympics, finishing second, the experience fueled their determination, culminating in a championship four years later.
“We decided to take a break and end our intense, twenty-year relationship.”
Following their 2022 Olympic triumph, Papadakis and her father visited Tinos, a significant pilgrimage site in Greece, fulfilling a vow made by her father should she win Olympic gold. During their time there, Papadakis was asked about her next goals.
“Now I want to be happy,” she told Vogue. She acknowledged that achieving happiness might prove more challenging than winning another Olympic medal. Though, she didn’t entirely rule out a return to competition.
Gabriella Papadakis, a korábbi partner – Fotó: Joel Saget / AFP
Papadakis explored opportunities for personal growth after the Olympics, even taking choreography lessons at the Paris Opera Ballet and participating in couples therapy with Cizeron to improve their communication. Experts in the sport noted that such sessions are common, even without a romantic connection. Cizeron has been openly gay for years and consistently advocated for LGBTQ+ rights.
Papadakis had been considering writing a memoir about her experiences and agreed to do so. In the book, she detailed experiencing sexual harassment. She shared this with Cizeron, who reportedly responded that he would not want to continue skating with her if she filed a report. The champion announced her retirement in December 2024, stating she wouldn’t have chosen that path for herself but felt pushed out of her career.
The timeline of when Laurence Fournier Beaudry entered the picture alongside Cizeron remains unclear. It’s unknown whether Cizeron informed Papadakis of the split before pursuing a partnership with Fournier Beaudry, but the outcome was clear. Fournier Beaudry had previously competed for Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, finishing ninth, before being selected to partner with Cizeron in March 2025 with the goal of winning Olympic gold.
Papadakis’s book, titled Not to Disappear, was released in mid-January 2026. Cizeron’s legal counsel notified the publisher two days prior, signaling intent to sue over the content. The memoir extensively details what Papadakis perceived as increasing control from Cizeron leading up to the Olympics, as well as a pattern of dominance throughout their partnership. She described his difficulty accepting criticism and his often demanding style.
He reportedly wouldn’t allow her to practice spins alone, commented on her hair color preference, and even contacted her boxing coach to halt training sessions due to injury concerns. He also rejected her request to compete in pants at her second Olympics, instead opting for a gold dress. Papadakis, meanwhile, learned to suppress her anger, though she experienced psychogenic non-epileptic seizures after the Olympics, which she recognized as a sign of stress. A doctor attributed these to the pressure she was under. She sometimes panicked when seeing Cizeron’s name appear on her phone, and blamed herself when he offered harsh criticism.
“I wrote from my own point of view, from my experiences, because that’s the only thing I can do. I’m not a scientist trying to write a study about figure skating.”
— she stated about the book.
The book also highlights a systemic issue within the sport: the imbalance between female and male ice dancers, leading to concerns among women about potential unexpected replacements. (As ultimately happened to Papadakis.)
Following the book’s release, Cizeron accused Papadakis of conducting a smear campaign less than a month before the start of the Olympics. “I would like to express my incomprehension and disagreement with the labels attached to me,” he said. “These allegations arise in a particularly sensitive period. They also raise questions about the underlying intentions. I would also like to condemn the content of the book, which contains false information, including statements attributed to me that I never made.”
Initially, there was speculation of a potential encounter at the Olympics, as Papadakis was invited to be a commentator for NBC, having previously served in that role during the season. The network reportedly reviewed the manuscript but ultimately decided not to use her, citing concerns about impartiality and the potential for legal issues.
The controversy didn’t appear to faze Cizeron, reinforcing the belief among fans that he is a once-in-a-generation talent.
A Greeting to the Perpetrator
There’s another significant element to this story. Laurence’s former partner, Nikolaj Sørensen, received a minimum six-year ban in October 2024 following allegations of sexual assault. As previously reported, the pair competed together at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, finishing ninth. USA Today was the first to report the allegations, with the victim detailing a struggle against Sørensen at a party, but fearing for her safety, she did not initially report the incident.
The victim’s name was withheld to protect her privacy, and she was represented by Nancy Hogshead, a former Olympic swimmer and now attorney. She didn’t arrive forward until years later, after seeing Sørensen discussing his coaching plans.
With the ban taking effect, Laurence began searching for a new partner in October 2024, and Cizeron, eager to return to competition, proved to be a perfect fit. They qualified for the Olympics at the last minute, with Laurence receiving French citizenship just three months before the Games.
As seen in Milan, despite only eleven months of preparation, the pair delivered a stunning performance that captivated judges and audiences alike.
AZ olimpiai dobogó – Fotó: Millereau Philippe / KMSP
In the rhythm dance, they also earned a high score, and were the last to perform their free dance. The American pair skating before them – who had won three world championships leading up to the Olympics – showed their disappointment with their performance through body language and gestures even before the scores were announced. While the difference was slight, just one point, they sensed they had made an impact on both the audience and the judges, and a victory was within reach. The Spanish judge placed the Americans third, proving to be the deciding factor, though the French judge also appeared to score them harshly.
Sørensen was also in the stands to watch the final, and the French team acknowledged him from the crowd, offering a warm greeting after their performance. Cizeron and Sørensen maintain a friendly relationship. As noted by USA Today, the scene sent a troubling message to survivors of sexual assault and parents seeking safe sporting environments for their children.
Cizeron has not yet commented on his future plans, but fans are eager to see if he will continue to compete.
