Olympic champion Guillaume Cizeron accuses ex-ice dance partner of smear campaign
In a shocking turn of events, Olympic ice dance champion Guillaume Cizeron has voiced accusations against his former skating partner Gabriella Papadakis, claiming she is spreading falsehoods about him as the Milan-Cortina Winter Games approach. Cizeron, who is now skating with Laurence Fournier Beaudry, suggested that he is the target of a deliberate smear campaign linked to Papadakis’s upcoming book, So as Not to Disappear, set to be released later this week.
The on-ice duo of Cizeron and Papadakis is renowned as one of the most accomplished partnerships in ice dance history. They notched a gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Games, alongside multiple world and European titles, prior to ending their partnership in December 2024. This decorated career included breaking records and earning accolades for their innovative performances.
However, excerpts from Papadakis’s book, shared with the French media, portray a troubling picture of their relationship. She describes a partnership that evolved into an imbalanced dynamic, labeling Cizeron as “controlling” and “demanding.” She details a sense of being “under his grip” as their partnership progressed, raising alarms about emotional distress during their time together.
Cizeron, not backing down, critiqued the timing of the book’s release—a move he believes raises doubts about Papadakis’s intentions. “In the face of this smear campaign, I wish to express my incomprehension… These allegations surface at a sensitive moment,” he stated. Cizeron expressed frustration at claims he categorically denies, asserting that the disclosures harbor serious inaccuracies.
Besides addressing her relationship with Cizeron, Papadakis shared deeply personal experiences, including traumatic events and struggles from her teenage years. She has indicated that apprehension about being alone with Cizeron haunted her.
In response to these allegations, Cizeron has enlisted his legal team to halt the dissemination of such defamatory statements. “For over two decades, I have respected Gabriella… despite the gradual decline in our bond,” he emphasized, highlighting a past marked by shared success.
Currently, Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry have already begun making waves in the competitive realm, recently claiming victory at the Grand Prix de France followed by a win at the Finlandia Trophy. With Fournier Beaudry now a French citizen, the duo is geared up to be serious contenders at the upcoming Olympics.
