ISU GP Finlandia Trophy 2025: Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron Top Rhythm Dance, Improving Personal Best
In a stunning display of talent at the 2025 Finlandia Trophy, French figure skaters Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron captured the rhythm dance title in Helsinki, scoring an impressive 79.89. This performance marked a significant milestone for the duo as it was their second Grand Prix competition together and they improved on their previous season’s score of 78.00 set at the Grand Prix de France.
Despite their podium finish, the pair expressed disappointment concerning the technical panel’s scoring. Cizeron shared, “We had a really good performance on the ice today that we’re really pleased with, our overall performance. But disappointed about the way the technical panel judged our performance.” Their score left them just 0.33 points ahead of Canada’s world silver medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who implemented strong performances despite receiving technical calls as well.
Fournier-Beaudry noted their ongoing efforts to refine their routine since the last competition. “We switched music so drastically from one competition to another; it didn’t give us much time to work on the program. Now we’ve been able to modify some stuff and really dive into the details,” she explained.
The 2025 event is particularly noteworthy as this was the first occasion that Fournier-Beaudry officially competed as a French citizen, having acquired her passport just weeks prior. “It feels like it’s now out of the way, it was a big step,” she reflected, showing optimism towards their Olympic bid for Milano Cortina 2026.
Rounding out the top three were up-and-coming American duo Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, who scored 78.51. Old favorites Maia and Alex Shibutani also put forth commendable efforts, currently fifth in a different era under the spotlight after a seven-year hiatus. “We’ve made some strong improvements since NHK,” Maia Shibutani remarked, highlighting their journey toward Olympic aspirations.
The figures set the stage for an exciting free dance competition to unfold this Saturday, as each team strives for the coveted podium placements at this prestigious Grand Prix event.
