French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry have been considered gold-medal contenders before the 2026 Winter Olympics even begin.
Olympic medalist Cizeron joined forces with Fournier Beaudry in January 2025, quickly becoming a force in the ice dancing discipline. Their partnership, however, has been met with controversy. Keep scrolling for a full history:
Who Did Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry Skate With Before?
Guillaume Cizeron was paired with Gabriella Papadakis from 2004 to 2024, during which they won countless championships. As for Laurence Fournier Beaudry, she skated with boyfriend Nikolaj Sorensen for 13 seasons. He was barred from the sport in fall 2024 for six years over alleged sexual mistreatment.
When Did Guillaume Cizeron Retire?
After Guillaume Cizeron and partner Gabriella Papadakis won gold at the 2022 Olympics, he decided to hang up his skates. Cizeron, however, decided to walk back his 2024 retirement decision the next year and enlisted Laurence Fournier Beaudry, his childhood friend, as his partner.
“I was also planning to retire, but I missed competing and the adrenaline rush,” Cizeron said in French in 2026’s Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing docuseries.
What Happened to Guillaume Cizeron’s Partnership With Gabriella Papadakis?
Just before the 2026 Olympics, Gabriella Papadakis released her memoir, Pour ne pas disparaître (So as Not to Disappear), in which she insinuated her partnership with Guillaume Cizeron did not end amicably and alleged that Cizeron was controlling.
“In the face of this smear campaign, I want to express my incomprehension and disagreement with the labels attributed to me,” Cizeron told French media in a January 2026 statement. “The book contains false information, including statements I never made, which I consider serious. 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 marked by success and mutual support.”
How Nikolaj Sorensen’s Misconduct Scandal Affected Laurence Fournier Beaudry
Laurence Fournier Beaudry skated with her boyfriend, Nikolaj Sorensen, for 13 years before his six-year ban from the sport. (Sorensen was accused of sexual misconduct by a fellow skater in 2012, which he denied.)
“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. “This was extremely difficult because it was not only about skating, it was about my integrity, it was about his integrity. I know my boyfriend 100 percent. I know him, and we [stood] strong together.
Fournier Beaudry felt that her career became “collateral damage” as both her and Sorensen’s “integrity” was tested.
“I never really publicly discuss how much damage it’s created,” she tearfully added in the Netflix doc. “I don’t even want to go back to what I’ve felt in those moments because I thought I was so strong, and I really thought I could handle everything.”
Sorensen’s suspension was ultimately overturned by a Canadian arbitrator for jurisdictional reasons and remains under appeal.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron take part in an Ice Dance training session ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in February 2026. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Why Did Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry Pair Up?
“Getting to skate with my best friend was kind of, like, ‘You know what? I love skating, I love spending time with Guillaume,’” Laurence Fournier Beaudry said in Glitter & Gold. “I think this could give me my opportunity to finish my career how I want to finish.”
As for Guillaume Cizeron, he acknowledged in the docuseries that it initially felt “impossible” to start fresh with a new partner.
“[We had] been skating in the same school with the same coaches for over 10 years, so we have a similar technical background,” Cizeron said. “The fact that we’re teaming up late in our careers, in our 30s, that’s obviously very unusual for ice dance.”
2026 Olympics Standings
While Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry did not lead Team France to a podium finish in the team event, they stood a good chance at medaling in their individual competitions. The pair’s Madonna-themed rhythm dance secured Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry first place going into the free dance. Madison Chock and Evan Bates followed in second, followed by Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier in third. Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry ultimately earned the gold medal following the free dance, while Chock and Bates taking home the silver. Gilles and Poirier, meanwhile, earned bronze.
