French figure skating champion Papadakis claims she was under her partner's 'control'

Retired French figure skater and Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Gabriella Papadakis poses for a photo session in Paris, on January 15, 2026. JOEL SAGET / AFP

France's 2022 Olympic ice dance champion Gabriella Papadakis has spoken out about the world of figure skating, telling Agence France-Presse (AFP) that she found herself in "a dangerous situation for my physical and mental health."

In a new book, she reflects on her relationship with Guillaume Cizeron, her partner at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where they took silver, and also in Beijing four years later, where they claimed gold. She claims in the book Pour ne pas Disparaitre ("So as not to Disappear") that she was under Cizeron's "control" throughout their career together, recounting how she was "terrified" at "the idea of finding myself alone" with him.

Cizeron, who is competing in next month's Milan-Cortina Winter Games with a new partner, has denounced "defamatory remarks" and is considering legal action.

'Very oppressive'