The controversial French pairing of Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron edged out Staff USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates to take residence gold within the 2026 Olympic ice dance competitors.
It is Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron’s first Olympic gold as a pair, however Cizeron’s second as a person. He topped the rostrum within the 2022 Video games alongside his retired accomplice Gabriella Papadakis.
A 3-way shootout for the rostrum
In the long run, it was at all times going to come back down to a few groups: Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, Chock and Bates of the USA and Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron of France. The three beforehand starred in Netflix’s in style documentary “Glitter and Gold,” highlighting the ups and downs of making ready for an Olympic ice dance marketing campaign.
What was shocking, and certainly telling, was simply how a lot every crew’s free dance efficiency mirrored its public notion. Gilles and Poirier’s “Vincent” was singular and heartfelt, stuffed with distinctive particulars and private touches. Chock and Bates’s “Paint it Black” was aggressive, bold and targeted, and it hit with navy precision. Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron’s “The Whale” was technically proficient and artistically untouchable, however muddy, darkish and finally tough to help.
It did not matter. The three groups skated so as, put up consecutive private bests and allowed the chips to fall precisely as they’d within the rhythm dance. Gilles and Poirier took third, Chock and Bates took second and Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron nudged their manner into first.
