On Wednesday, a strikingly competitive atmosphere overshadowed what could have been a heartwarming moment.
The French ice dance duo of Laurence Fournier Baudry and Guillaume Cizeron edged out America’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates for gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. It was a nail-biter, with the French team scoring 225.82 points, barely ahead of the Americans who received 224.39 points. As thrilling as the numbers were, the tension unfolding on the ice made the event all the more gripping.
The French pair has stirred up much debate lately, especially following the release of their Netflix documentary, *Glitter & Gold*, just this month.
Former Team USA skater Adam Rippon mentioned in the documentary, “There’s an evil energy in this partnership,” referring to the pairing. That’s a pretty bold statement, don’t you think?
The Americans, on the other hand, were striving for their first gold in this discipline.
The backstory of the French partners is rather tangled. Cizeron’s former partner, Gabriela Papadakis, who won gold in 2022, published a book, *Indelible*, in January. In it, she expressed fears about being alone with Cizeron, making accusations of controlling behavior. Strong words like “to rule” and “demand” weren’t the most comforting to read.
After her claims, Cizeron was quick to refute them, stating he was facing a smear campaign. “I disagree with the labeling and lack of understanding aimed at me,” he said, expressing skepticism about the motives behind the accusations.
His comments came amid claims that included false assertions and statements he never made, which seems pretty serious.
In a strange twist, Papadakis is expected to retire in 2024, and it’s worth noting that she distanced herself from training facilities in part due to the influence of Bewdley’s former boyfriend, Nikolai Sorensen. Sorensen faced a ban for serious allegations but has since had that suspension revoked.
Bewdley had previously found herself in a difficult situation regarding her relationship rules, but she formed a partnership with Cizeron regardless. Defending Sorensen, she stated she would always stand by him.
The collaboration between Beaudry and Cizeron has been fruitful, leading them to success on the ice. Cizeron highlighted their efforts in creating a supportive environment, especially during challenging times, which seems like an essential factor in their journey.
With their victory, the American couple found themselves falling short once again. Bates was somewhat ambiguous when asked if this was his last Olympic appearance, sighing, “I don’t know.” In a way, that uncertainty reflects where many athletes stand as they approach the twilight of their careers.
Though they are three-time world champions, finally landing an individual Olympic medal was a significant step for Bates, even if it was just silver.
Their narrative has left fans speculating about whether they’d conclude their careers with a grand performance, but it looks like they came up just a bit short.
“This was our gold medal performance. We skated our best,” Bates remarked, pointing to their personal best score. “It required a lot of mental strength across several days to maintain our focus, but we did our utmost.”
