Papadakis publishes book; Cizeron challenges claims

[BlissfulSynergy]

https://www.oskaloosa.com/sports/national_sports/ice-dance-champion-cizeron-accuses-ex-partner-papadakis-of-smear-campaign-ahead-of-olympic-games/article_13880b41-1ec4-5da3-8991-df6b50723d98.html

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/ice-dance-champion-cizeron-accuses-ex-partner-21292413.php

OMG. Just in time for the Olympics. I figured there would be something scandalous that broke out during or in the lead-up to the Olympics. There usually is. Side-eyeing timing of this book's release.

I'm also concerned about the feeling I have of certain powers-that-be in the sport pulling hard for Chock/ Bates to win Olympic gold [e.g., having Papadakis in the booth effusively praising C/B, who are direct rivals to her former partner, Cizeron, now partnered with Fournier-Beaudry]. C/B are not better than everybody else in the ice dance field. Winning medals at the Olympics should be about the athletes' performances and abilities, not about who is heavily favored and backed; not about the airing of past bitter personal conflicts. What a sad state of affairs.

Plus, if Gabby has such serious, biased feelings about her former partner, I do not think she should be in the NBC/ USA commentating booth covering his and his competitors' performances. It's a conflict of interest. IMO, Gabby is not a good ice dance commentator anyway. Jean-Luc Baker, Mark Hanretty, and even Ben Agosto, are far better, as were Tanith Belbin and Charlie White years ago.

 

[Miya88]

She is doing it for purpose, unfortunately.
Papadakis is NOT obejctive at all, She shouldnt be commenting at NBC. She supports Americans obviously, on insta she is open about it. So NBS doesnt mind that she loves C/B, I think.
C/B are bad skaters and they are pushed by american federation. Their skating is just bad.

I am shocked how Aymoz is getting away with everything, he is coached by some people who supported abusers, lol. And Gabrielle cheers for him,to.

 

[pearly]

The "Chock and Bates are bad skaters" narrative has got to end. Yes there are politics, reputation, and power games involved. There are better skaters out there - Cizeron for one. But these people are not BAD skaters. I'd like to see your average Twitter warrior (the place where I most often see their skating skills ridiculed) go out and try skating. Not turning, not jumping, not spinning, just skating. Try holding an edge and then report back.

If I had a cent for each time I read a "Bock can't skate" tweet... coming from people who have never stepped on the ice and cannot tell one turn from another.

 

[TontoK]

Her allegiance or loyalty to Cizeron is entirely optional on her part. She owes him nothing. I think it's clear where she stands.

As for the timing, her book release is probably timed to give her the most benefit. Nothing at all unusual about that.

If what I've read she alleges is true, then Cizeron makes Alex Shibutani look like God's gift to women. Of course, as you note, he's suing her. So who knows.

But I forget where we are. Are we believing all women or not this week?

And I hope Chock and Bates wipe the ice with the French.

 

[Miya88]

And I hope Chock and Bates wipe the ice with the French.

Why?
Judges will do their job, thats all. Americans are NOT able to wipe the ice with the french, they need help from the judges.


It's amazing how people want the Americans to win so that only Cizeron doesn't win.

 

[Ziotic]

Her allegiance or loyalty to Cizeron is entirely optional on her part. She owes him nothing. I think it's clear where she stands.

As for the timing, her book release is probably timed to give her the most benefit. Nothing at all unusual about that.

If what I've read she alleges is true, then Cizeron makes Alex Shibutani look like God's gift to women. Of course, as you note, he's suing her. So who knows.

But I forget where we are. Are we believing all women or not this week?

And I hope Chock and Bates wipe the ice with the French.

You can believe her truth, but also be aware that every person has a different perspective on every situation.

Not all people have the same thought process or interpretation of a given situation. Those are predicated on lived experiences.

Different lenses will see the same situation very differently.

Two things can be true and contradictory.

 

[pearly]

I know my skating and I know something about skating skills. Are there better skaters? Yes. Are there worse skaters in terms of skating skills who are competing? Also yes. Let's stop saying people can't skate or are bad skaters because of that. They are not the fastest team out there, nor do they have deepest edges. Madison's knee bend often bothers me. This does not make her a bad skater.

 

[TontoK]

You can believe her truth, but also be aware that every person has a different perspective on every situation.

Not all people have the same thought process or interpretation of a given situation. Those are predicated on lived experiences.

Different lenses will see the same situation very differently.

Two things can be true and contradictory.

I don't know. She sounds very specific in her telling of the story, and I've never signed on to "my truth." I'm a proponent of The Truth. Her story doesn't have a lot of wiggle room. She's either telling the truth or she's lying.

Honestly, your response sounds like "I can't disbelieve her, but I really like the French dance team."

 

[el henry]

Maybe a small point, maybe not...

My understanding from other articles is that Guillaume has not filed a suit, but sent what in US law would be a cease and desist letter. Which the publishers can respond to, or not.

And what in the world do Madi and Evan have to do with this and why are we talking about them? Gabi is French. The publisher is French. Everyone in this story is French.

 

[yfan1]

most of the judges cannot skate as well

And so we should enjoy the blind leading the even blinder. Amazing logic there.

 

[Ziotic]

I don't know. She sounds very specific in her telling of the story, and I've never signed on to "my truth." I'm a proponent of The Truth. Her story doesn't have a lot of wiggle room. She's either telling the truth or she's lying.

Honestly, your response sounds like "I can't disbelieve her, but I really like the French dance team."

I actually strongly DISLIKE the French dance team!

So right now, you interpreted me different than my intention as an example of how different people interpret different situations.

For the most part, peoples memories are unreliable and their feelings are often amplified after an altercation.

Sometimes my mom and I will have the same interaction with a server at a restaurant, then leave and she will say "OMG, he was so rude" but to me I'll be so confused since that is a completely different interpretation then me. It was actually repeated situations like this that led me to realize how wildly different people interpret others behaviour, tone, posture and language.

I would say its even more pronounced when different languages/cultures are in the mix.

 

[Miya88]

And so we should enjoy the blind leading the even blinder. Amazing logic there.

So why they should know how to skate? Amazing logic there.

 

[pearly]

excuse me?

most of the judges cannot skate as well

I wouldn't go as far as saying most judges cannot skate. Most people involved with skating are involved because they know the sport (a majority having started as skaters themselves). One does not just go on and become a judge overnight, the process requires a lot of experience, seminars, and tests. It takes years to be come an international judge and get invited to major championships.

 

[yfan1]

So why they should know how to skate? Amazing logic there.

Yeah, you're right. When trying to link an explainer video to something like, say, surgery, I should just link a video of people who've played Surgeon Simulator, and ask others to go watch it. You're making perfect sense, keep it up!

 

[Mathman]

As. a commentator on U.S. TV, Papadakis does tend to have high praise for Chock and Bates. I guess that's her job and what her new employers expect. I haven't heard her say much about the Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron partnership -- maybe we'll get an earful if Gabby does the Olympics for NBC.

 

[pearly]

As. a commentator on U.S. TV, Papadakis does tend to have high praise for Chock and Bates. I guess that's her job and what her new employers expect. I haven't heard her say much about the Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron partnership -- maybe we'll get an earful if Gabby does the Olympics for NBC.

I read somewhere today she is not on the list of commentators for Olympics.

 

[slider11]

I read somewhere today she is not on the list of commentators for Olympics.

I hope this is true. Considering her written allegations, it would be a huge conflict of interest for her to commentate at the Olympics if her accused are part of this competition.

 

[pearly]

I hope this is true. Considering her written allegations, it would be a huge conflict of interest for her to commentate at the Olympics if her accused are part of this competition.

Just checked and sure enough:

NBC OLYMPICS ANNOUNCES 82 COMMENTATORS FOR COVERAGE OF THE MILAN CORTINA 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

NBC Sports’ Talent Roster Has Won 41 Olympic Medals, Including 22 Gold

www.nbcsports.com

NBC Olympics announcers: Notable names at Milan Cortina 2026

NBC is bringing a slew of announcers to Italy for its broadcasts of the 2026 Winter Olympics

sports.yahoo.com

I want to be very careful in how I word this. I feel bad that Gabriella is losing connections and ties, possibly also opportunities, with the (only) world she knows so well. When I was reading the first responses from Guillaume - I think it was an interview where he discussed what Gabriella said and gave his initial responses - I could really tell what she was experiencing. Feeling ignored, unsupported, anxious about being near certain people and her sport - I know the feeling well. From my own experience, it comes from focusing on one thing and one thing only, so much that you lose connection with anything else and this one things becomes your entire reality and identity. Not having the right people in your life to counter balance it and to give you a bit of reality check... well, this is the result. And this is something you can recover from in time. Unfortunately, the SA makes it worse and much more difficult.

 

[TontoK]

I hope this is true. Considering her written allegations, it would be a huge conflict of interest for her to commentate at the Olympics if her accused are part of this competition.

Do I hate that she's losing opportunities? Absolutely. Do I see any other ethical decision for NBC? No.

I still wish Jean-Luc were the commentator. When he does the practices, I learn more in five minutes than I do in a two-hour telecast.

 

[pearly]

people have opinions, what's more everyone has eyes. Bates is just not on level of Scott Moir, Cizeron or Charlie White.

I think I was clear - the narrative is "Bock can't skate/are bad skaters". Use your eyes, but also use your words and elaborate to show you know what you ware saying. "In my opinion, Cizeron is a much better skater than Evan Bates. The French team moves across the ice better, they are faster, their knees are softer and they have deeper edges. They make their lifts look easier." If you wish, you can also make these statements negative and talk about how, in your opinion, the other team is slower, has weaker skating skills, and is less innovative. That's fine and you have presented your arguments. Until your own skating skills come near someone else's, you do not get to say that person is a BAD skater and be taken seriously.

Not all opinions are true or equally important. I can come to an astronomer club meeting and tell everyone there is no Jupiter. It doesn't make my statement true nor valid.