The figure skating community is currently embroiled in controversy following public comments made by French ice dance duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, which have drawn criticism from a woman who has accused Nikolaj Sørensen, a Canadian-Danish figure skater, of sexual assault. The complainant, an American figure skating coach, voiced concerns that the remarks could deter athletes from coming forward with reports of abuse, thus perpetuating a culture of silence within the sport.
Fournier Beaudry, who is both Sørensen’s girlfriend and former skating partner, has actively defended him following allegations reported by USA Today in January 2024. In a recent Netflix documentary, she expressed her unwavering trust in him, stating, “I know my boyfriend 100 per cent. I know him.”
The complainant elaborated on the potential repercussions of the French duo’s statements, highlighting that the words of such prominent athletes, especially reigning Olympic champions, carry substantial weight. She stated, “Using their voices to publicly undermine a survivor’s truths further enforces the culture of silence in figure skating.”
Sørensen has faced severe consequences in the past, having received a six-year ban for sexual maltreatment from the now-defunct Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner in October 2024, although the ban was later overturned on jurisdictional grounds and is currently under appeal. He continues to deny the allegations, which have not yet been examined in a court of law.
Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron are set to compete for gold at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. When questioned about the implications of their defense of Sørensen, Fournier Beaudry stated, “We said everything we needed to say about that subject,” indicating their intention to focus solely on their Olympic journey.
Cizeron also faced recent scrutiny after labeling a book by his former partner, Gabriella Papadakis, as a “smear campaign.” In her book, Papadakis claims that Cizeron was controlling and critical during their partnership, even suggesting that she lost an NBC commentary role due to conflicts with him.
Amidst the turmoil, both Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron have expressed their desire to concentrate on their performances and the joy of skating, asserting, “Since the start, a year ago, we’ve been very focused on having a lot of fun on the ice and bringing as much gratefulness as we can to our skating.”
While the road ahead for the duo and the figure skating community appears complicated, their commitment to remaining focused on the positive aspects of their sport is evident as they prepare for what is expected to be an exciting Olympic competition.