Figure Skating Tensions Rise Ahead of 2026 Olympics
The figure skating world is buzzing with drama just weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympics. Former ice dancer Gabriella Papadakis has stirred controversy with her new memoir, where she openly criticizes her former partner, Guillaume Cizeron. This has led to her being let go from her role as an NBC analyst for the Games.
In her memoir, titled “Pour ne pas disparaître,” the 30-year-old accused Cizeron of being “controlling, demanding” and “critical,” as reported by Us Weekly.
Cizeron, 31, responded by labeling the book as a “smear campaign,” expressing confusion and disagreement with how he’s portrayed. He claimed, “This book contains false information that I have never uttered,” emphasizing that he has held a deep respect for Papadakis over their two-decade partnership.
Despite their ups and downs, their collaboration once shattered 34 records, and they earned two Olympic medals together—a gold in 2022 and a silver in 2018.
Papadakis, who had been working as an analyst at NBC since her retirement in December 2025, found herself in hot water after Cizeron’s lawyers formally objected to the memoir, considering it a “conflict of interest.” As a result, she was removed from covering the upcoming Olympics.
Expressing her feelings about the situation, Papadakis confided to L’Equipe, “I’m not coping well. I cried a lot. I just started my career as a commentator, so I was very disappointed. … It feels unfair.”
Cizeron, who will now compete with his new partner, Laurence Fournier Baudry, asserted that he had signed up for the Olympics long before the book’s publication was announced.
Papadakis, on her part, defended her decision to speak out. In an interview with Le Temps, she explained, “I wrote this book for myself, for future generations, and for women who have experienced similar situations without a voice.” She emphasized that her intent wasn’t to accuse but to share her story.
As the conversation continues, Papadakis recognized her privilege in the figure skating world, stating, “I’m one of the lucky ones.” Her partner, Sam Williams, even took to Instagram to praise the book, calling for more courage and conviction in addressing systemic issues in figure skating.
The Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony is set for February 6 in Italy, coinciding with the start of the ice dancing competition.
