French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry were considered top gold-medal contenders even before the 2026 Winter Olympics began.
Olympic medalist Cizeron joined forces with Fournier Beaudry in January 2025, quickly establishing themselves as a dominant force in the ice dancing world. However, their partnership has not been without controversy. Here’s a closer look at their journey:
Previous Partnerships
Before teaming up, Guillaume Cizeron skated with Gabriella Papadakis from 2004 to 2024. Together, they won numerous championships and became one of the most celebrated ice dancing duos in history. Meanwhile, Laurence Fournier Beaudry spent 13 seasons skating with her boyfriend, Nikolaj Sorensen, until he was banned from the sport in fall 2024 for six years due to allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.
Cizeron’s Retirement and Return
After winning gold at the 2022 Olympics with Papadakis, Cizeron announced his retirement. However, in 2025, he decided to reverse that decision, citing a longing for competition and the thrill of performing. He then enlisted his childhood friend, Laurence Fournier Beaudry, as his new partner.
“I was also planning to retire, but I missed competing and the adrenaline rush,” Cizeron said in French during the 2026 docuseries Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing.
The Papadakis Controversy
Shortly before the 2026 Olympics, Gabriella Papadakis released her memoir, Pour ne pas disparaître (So as Not to Disappear), implying that her partnership with Cizeron ended on bad terms and suggesting he was controlling.
“In the face of this smear campaign, I want to express my incomprehension and disagreement with the labels attributed to me,” Cizeron stated in January 2026. “The book contains false information, including statements I never made. For more than 20 years, I have shown deep respect for Gabriella Papadakis. Despite the gradual erosion of our bond, our relationship was built on equal collaboration and mutual support.”
Fournier Beaudry and Sorensen’s Scandal
Laurence Fournier Beaudry’s career was also affected by controversy. Skating alongside her boyfriend Nikolaj Sorensen for 13 years, she was blindsided when he received a six-year ban, accused of sexual misconduct by a fellow skater.
“When they decided to suspend him, it meant that his career was over, which also meant that my career was over,” Fournier Beaudry said in Glitter & Gold. “It was extremely difficult because it wasn’t only about skating — it was about our integrity. I know my boyfriend 100 percent, and we stood strong together.”
She described the period as feeling like “collateral damage” and admitted that she has never publicly discussed the full emotional toll. “I don’t even want to go back to what I’ve felt in those moments,” she tearfully added. “I thought I was so strong, and I really thought I could handle everything.”
Sorensen’s suspension was eventually overturned by a Canadian arbitrator for jurisdictional reasons, though the case remains under appeal.
Why They Paired Up
When asked why they teamed up, Fournier Beaudry explained, “Getting to skate with my best friend felt natural. I love skating, I love spending time with Guillaume. This partnership gives me the chance to finish my career on my own terms.”
Cizeron acknowledged that starting fresh in their 30s was challenging. “We had been skating in the same school with the same coaches for over 10 years, so we share a similar technical background,” he said. “Teaming up late in our careers, in our 30s, is obviously very unusual for ice dance, but we are embracing it.”