Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen
Canadian ice dancers Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen are gunning for gold this season. We caught up with them before they depart for Espoo, Finland, to kick off their 2023-2024 season at Finlandia Trophy. The 2023 Four Continents silver medalists reflect on their breakthrough 2022-23 season and update us on their off season-training as they look forward to the next six months of competition.
Coming off a successful season, Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen, flash back on goal-setting last season which helped to catapult them to the upper echelons of the sport. The duo talks about winning their first Challenger, Grand Prix and Canadian Nationals gold. Other milestones for the team included qualifying for the Grand Prix Final, medaling at the Four Continents Championships and achieving personal best scores. They also discuss cracking the illustrious “top five” at the 2023 World Championships and the fine-tuning to programs in advance.
Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen also respond to the public opinion that they should have placed higher than fifth in Saitama, Japan, including their goose-bump evoking reaction to tweets by Olympian ice dancer and commentator, Ben Agosto.
Tune in as they detail their choice of rhythm dance music from the movie “Top Gun” and the inspiration behind the soundtrack, including “entertaining,” “tension” and “sensuality.” They also expand on the genre including the culture and feeling of the 80s.
The team describes the moment – mere days before the 2023 World Championships – that coach Marie-France Dubreuil informed them of their free dance music for this season, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” They open up on her reasons for the choice and their innovative story-telling approach to this well-known musical. They also describe the musical decision-making process with the I.AM team.
Lastly, Fournier Beaudry and Soerensen lay down their golden aspirations in Montreal, Quebec. at the 2024 World Figure Skating Championships and hint that while they approach their competitive career season-by-season, they may have Olympic aspirations.
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