Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron to skate together for France

[norwegianfairytale]

In the French fed press release they seem very clear about that are aiming for Milano and will go there. That kinda puzzles me a bit. First of all - it seems like they are pretty sure citizenship will happen soon, second of all - they seem sure they will be good enough to get one of the spots in this short space of time. The overwhelming support of the fed is a bit concerning. You know the fed has done strange things before at Worlds selection, and it´s a good thing that minimums are required for Worlds or otherwise I could totally have seem them replacing D/LM right away for Worlds in Boston.

Question: Does anybody know if they will possible get a returning skater/team spot at GP next season? Alysa got one, but how does that work? I mean could Cizeron get one because of last OG? Does the returning skater thing have an expiration date? And how does it work when there are new teams forming?

 

[saine]

and perhaps you will get Beaumont back soon The way their season is going, I don't know what will happen to BaBe.

There was a rumour this week on Twitter/X that they split. They're still on the World Standings list, but FB/S were removed already.

 

[saine]

Question: Does anybody know if they will possible get a returning skater/team spot at GP next season? Alysa got one, but how does that work? I mean could Cizeron get one because of last OG? Does the returning skater thing have an expiration date? And how does it work when there are new teams forming?

I'm assuming they'd qualify under the Split Couple rule:

Pairs or Ice Dance Couples, who were previously in the top 7 to 12 of an ISU World Figure Skating Championships in the past three seasons (2022, 2023 or 2024) but who split and now have a new partner, may always be chosen as an Organizing ISU Member Skater as per paragraph 2.2. f) and in addition, may be considered as an Organizing ISU Member’s Choice as per paragraph 2.2. g). They will be ranked in the list of Grand Prix Season’s Best scores by taking the season’s points of their partnership with their most recent previous partner, if proof is given in writing by their ISU Member that they intend to continue their competitive career and their return is announced and confirmed by the date of the annual Selection Meeting. Such Pairs/Dance Couples are defined as a “Returning Split Couple” and such Returning Split Couples do not need to fulfill the requirement of a minimum Grand Prix score.

So it'd be for the 2023-24 season, and they could use the SB of 214.08 to be ranked. They could also get a host spot at Grand Prix de France to get two spots right away.

 

[Lamente Ariane]

It will all depend on the RD theme I am sure their FD will be very beautiful

Well, I’m sure they will be beautiful but I’m not so sure the FD won’t be and/or contain pretentious voice overs.

 

[Lamente Ariane]

In the French fed press release they seem very clear about that are aiming for Milano and will go there. That kinda puzzles me a bit. First of all - it seems like they are pretty sure citizenship will happen soon, second of all - they seem sure they will be good enough to get one of the spots in this short space of time. The overwhelming support of the fed is a bit concerning. You know the fed has done strange things before at Worlds selection, and it´s a good thing that minimums are required for Worlds or otherwise I could totally have seem them replacing D/LM right away for Worlds in Boston.

Question: Does anybody know if they will possible get a returning skater/team spot at GP next season? Alysa got one, but how does that work? I mean could Cizeron get one because of last OG? Does the returning skater thing have an expiration date? And how does it work when there are new teams forming?

I’m confused too, especially because I find it hard to believe judges will get on board immediately, at least to the point of getting comparable results to what each of them is accustomed to. Even if they gel perfectly (which tbh that photo does not convince me) it is pretty typical for a new dance team to not achieve great results their first season together. Just look at Smart/Dieck! So I hope they are not setting their expectations too high or taking success for granted based on past partnerships.

 

[4everchan]

I’m confused too, especially because I find it hard to believe judges will get on board immediately, at least to the point of getting comparable results to what each of them is accustomed to. Even if they gel perfectly (which tbh that photo does not convince me) it is pretty typical for a new dance team to not achieve great results their first season together. Just look at Smart/Dieck! So I hope they are not setting their expectations too high or taking success for granted based on past partnerships.

I think they are individually much better than Smart/Dieck and have the advantage of sharing the same coaching team for a decade... I expect them to gel faster than some other teams.... time will tell...

 

[4everchan]

In the French fed press release they seem very clear about that are aiming for Milano and will go there. That kinda puzzles me a bit. First of all - it seems like they are pretty sure citizenship will happen soon,

Sometimes, when you want things to happen, though there are missing parts to it (citizenship) you just tell everyone what you want and then, it does happen If they start competing and doing well, the French Fed and public opinion will pressure the gvt to give her an accelerated citizenship. How could the French gvt deny Guillaume, an Olympic champion, access to the next games ? Politics will work in their favour...

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I think this is an recent interview with them? I didn´t really recognize Laurence.

Can someone translate what they are saying?

 

[Ella339]

I think this is an recent interview with them? I didn´t really recognize Laurence.

Can someone translate what they are saying?

"On vise toute la saison, je pense qu'on va faire une saison sportive assez classique" = "We're aiming for the whole season, I think we'll do a pretty standard athletic season".

The rest is mostly fluff, she has family in France and will be "adopted by France" "soon".

Does this mean they're aiming for a single season?... Honestly, I'd be surprised. If they find success, I could see them wanting to break all the records, and try to stick around until the French Alps Games.

(In which case, can you imagine the tantrums if Guillaume Cizeron ends up with the most OGMs in the end? The drama will be incredible. )

 

[4everchan]

I think this is an recent interview with them? I didn´t really recognize Laurence.

Can someone translate what they are saying?

I can translate

Guillaume says : he loves skating and he has nothing to lose but he feels he still had things to do and there is deep love for dance

Laurence says : i first represented the country of my partner to promote the sport in smaller countries... then i couldn't get citizenship so I represented Canada... but a lot of my family comes from France (doesn't mention from how far cause many French Canadians/Québécois can trace their roots to France easily lol)... so it feels natural

Guillaume (whose accent by the way is much closer to Québécois than it used to be) We are a bit a sort of hybrid couple as I am French but have been adopted by Québec for many years now and Laurence is Québécoise but soon to be adopted by France

They are planning to skate a traditional season with the hope of going to the Olympics.... They know each other since they are young teenagers (13)... and he wouldn't have done it with someone he didn't know... Of course, 2026 is just around the corner so it's very close but that's also exciting.

 

[4everchan]

I’ve no idea of what motivated Skate Canada to release Laurence without fuss, but I like to think that perhaps they a) wanted to return the favor of France having released World medalist Vanessa James to skate with Eric Radford in the last Olympic season and b) did not want to stand in the way of Laurence being able to end her career on a high note.

Do not forget that if France indeed released Vanessa, she did already have Canadian citizenship...

Also, it’s not as if there is an unaffiliated and sufficiently capable Canadian male partner available for her to skate with.

And that is correct. As I said, I tried and tried and tried but nobody came to mind. Lolo is already 32 and has been in the elite for many years now... I cannot imagine many skaters other than Guillaume at this point for her, unless Scott Moir had decided to come back

 

[4everchan]

@norwegianfairytale this is just how skaters look without huge make-up

 

[icetug]

I think it's interesting interview to answer some of the questions you may have:

INTERVIEW. "Un nouveau partenaire à un an des Jeux, un défi inédit", avoue Guillaume Cizeron, sorti de sa retraite pour viser les JO 2026 avec Laurence Fournier

Trois mois après avoir annoncé, avec Gabriella Papadakis, "mettre un terme à leur carrière", le champion olympique de danse sur glace a annoncé son retour à la compétition, dimanche, aux côtés de la Canadienne Laurence Fournier, à moins d'un an des JO de Milan-Cortina.

www.francetvinfo.fr

 

[norwegianfairytale]

@norwegianfairytale this is just how skaters look without huge make-up

Just to be clear, she looks very good without make up. I just didn´t recognize her

 

[Skater Boy]

So I am somewhat confused. Can someone explain how fast and how likely will she get her French citizenship and can they compete at the 2026 olympics. Also, curious are Sorenson and Laurence still a couple off ice?

 

[Ruthypegs]

I don't think Jean-Luc would come back.. He also had his share of injuries and issues. The UK already has two very good teams and perhaps you will get Beaumont back soon The way their season is going, I don't know what will happen to BaBe.

I hadn't realised that Jean-Luc had been injured. He's such a fantastic skater and personality - I'll keep hoping he may return to competition one day, or that I get the chance to see him skate again.

That's a pity that things aren't going so well for Peter B and Nadiaa. (I'm hoping that Ashlie and Atl will find respective partners and we'll still have them skating for GB, too - a big shame they split - they were such a promising team.)

 

[4everchan]

I think it's interesting interview to answer some of the questions you may have:

INTERVIEW. "Un nouveau partenaire à un an des Jeux, un défi inédit", avoue Guillaume Cizeron, sorti de sa retraite pour viser les JO 2026 avec Laurence Fournier

Trois mois après avoir annoncé, avec Gabriella Papadakis, "mettre un terme à leur carrière", le champion olympique de danse sur glace a annoncé son retour à la compétition, dimanche, aux côtés de la Canadienne Laurence Fournier, à moins d'un an des JO de Milan-Cortina.

www.francetvinfo.fr

Very in depth article. Thank you for sharing.

So her grand-father "lives" in France for about 10 years now.. So that's probably her way in.

 

[RatedPG]

Wow!! This is exciting news. Cizeron is my favourite male ice dancer of all time and Laurence has an unfinished career due to the Nik situation.

I’m torn now… my current fave ice dance team is LaLa. But, this team has so much potential. I guess I will get behind the team with the better programs and ice dancing.

This is a bit of a set back for Lopareva/Brissaud. They just won a silver medal at Europeans, and May no longer be the best from France.

 

[4everchan]

and here
GC : Et j'ai vu, dans la situation dans laquelle se trouvait Laurence [elle s'est séparée de son binôme Nikolaj Sorensen, qui a été suspendu indéfiniment, en octobre dernier pour "maltraitance sexuelle"], une porte qui n'existait pas avant. Je ne serais pas revenu à la compétition avec quelqu'un d'autre. C'est vraiment ce projet-là qui m'a inspiré.

It's not clear 100% but he says
I saw the situation Laurence was facing (she split from her "partner Nikolaj Soerensen" who has been suspended indefinitely in last October for sexual misconduct), an option that wouldn't have been possible before. I wouldn't have come back with someone else. It is really at that moment that this project inspired me.


My reading : i tend to believe that it means she splits on and off the ice with Nikolaj but binôme is not a term we use in Canada. It means a team of two, like partners for work etc... but I think French people use it loosely. So that's why I am tempted to believe they are no longer together... but do not quote me on this...

 

[RatedPG]

Very in depth article. Thank you for sharing.

So her grand-father "lives" in France for about 10 years now.. So that's probably her way in.

She always appeared very French to me. Her name and the fact she can speak French. Representing France seems to be their ticket to the upcoming Olympics. I had as locks for the podium. With in the mix, one of these teams will not podium.

I’m excited for next season! May the best ice dancers win!!