When French determine skaters gained gold over Olympic favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates, some had been skeptical of the scoring. But this isn’t Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron’s first scandal — the 2 have been shrouded in controversy since they arrived in Milan.
Fournier Beaudry’s earlier skating accomplice and boyfriend of 12 years, Nikolaj Sørensen, was banned by the Canadian skating governing physique in 2024 for alleged “sexual maltreatment,” after he was accused of sexually assaulting an American determine skater and coach years prior.
Sørensen denied the accusations and his suspension was overturned the following 12 months on jurisdictional grounds, however the case remains to be pending.
Fournier Beaudry wanted a brand new accomplice. So the determine skater, who had beforehand competed for Denmark and Canda, attained French citizenship to compete with Cizeron for France.
Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron have maintained their help of Sørensen. In the Netflix documentary “Glitter & Gold,” Fournier Beaudry stated Sørensen’s ban was troublesome for her “because it was not only about skating, it was about my integrity, it was about his integrity. I know my boyfriend 100%. I know him. And we (stood) strong together.”
Sørensen’s accuser told USA Today final week that the pair’s protection of the skater carries weight, “and using their voices to publicly undermine a survivor’s truth further enforces the culture of silence in figure skating.”
Cizeron, who got here out of retirement to compete with Fournier Beaudry, brings his personal controversy. Gabriella Papadakis, who gained gold with Cizeron in Beijing’s 2022 Olympics, wrote in her memoir that Cizeron was controlling and abusive toward her in their partnership.
Cizeron dismissed the claims as a part of a “smear campaign,” and NBC fired Papadakis as a skating analyst after her guide was printed due to concerns regarding her neutrality, the Associated Press studies.
The French duo didn’t appear preoccupied on Wednesday night time, carrying their gold medals with a French flag draped over their shoulders.
NCS’s Ben Morse contributed to this report.