French Ice Dance Wins Spark Debate Over Abuse and Fairness

The 2024 Paris Olympics ignited a firestorm in the figure‑skating world.
Two French gold medals were won by ice‑dance duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, while the return of a controversial skater drew attention.

Key Points

• Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Guillaume Cizeron
• Secured two gold medals.

• Their team event victory: 225.82 to the U.S. pair’s 224.39.

• Nikolaj Sorensen
• Banned in 2012; suspension overturned last year.

• Under review again, yet he attended the event and was cheered by a podium whistle.

• Guillaume Cizeron’s Controversy
• Former partner described him as “controlling and demanding.”
• She revealed in a podcast that their partnership was harmful, warning of dangerous dynamics.

• U.S. Pair (Madison Chock & Evan Bates)
• Narrowly defeated by the French duo.
• Ages: Chock 33, Bates 37; performed four programs in six days.

• Their effort propelled Ilia Malinin to gold, but fell short of personal Olympic dreams.

• Broader Issues
• The incident raises questions about how sports bodies address abuse allegations.
• Debate over whether success can outweigh safety concerns.

Takeaway

The French triumph, juxtaposed with the controversy surrounding Sorensen’s support, has sparked a wider conversation about athlete protection and integrity in competition.