►►Beijing 2022 champion Guillaume Cizeron retained his Olympic ice dance title at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games on Wednesday, winning with new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
MILAN-Skating to music from the film The Whale, Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry produced a near-flawless free dance to score 135.64 points and finish with a total of 225.82. They edged reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States, who placed second on 224.39. Chock and Bates, who are married, had won team gold on Sunday. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, silver medalists at the world championships, took bronze with 217.74.
« It’s just surreal, » Cizeron said. « To look back at everything that we’ve been through. The determination and strength of this one and of our team, the support that we’ve had, the love that we’ve had.
« It has a very particular taste, this medal. It was a huge challenge. We went for it and we couldn’t be happier. »
Cizeron became the first ice dancer to win Olympic gold with two different partners. The French skater captured the title at Beijing 2022 with Gabriella Papadakis. He teamed up with Fournier Beaudry last March, and the pair quickly rose through the ranks, winning the European title in January.
« I had a very particular mindset the whole week, » Fournier Beaudry said. « Just being here, surrounded by my coaches, my family and Guillaume gave me so much trust and so much confidence. When I stepped on the ice today, I felt it was going to go our way.
« I really wanted to enjoy the moment out there. We’re never going to get those moments again. Just enjoying being on the ice with Guillaume and sharing that journey is really amazing. »
Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri finished fourth with 209.58 points.
« We knew there were many people in the audience who came just for us, many friends and family, » Guignard said. « We knew we were skating for them, and we put our whole heart on the ice. »
By Xinhua
