Romain Haguenauer: “I must say, I was shaken to read Gabriella’s point of view. I never witnessed any inappropriate or troubling behavior from either Guillaume or Gabriella, and certainly not the kind Gabriella now accuses Guillaume of.”
Romain Haguenauer, former coach of Papadakis–Cizeron, responded to Gabriella Papadakis’s recent statements, expressing surprise and stating he never witnessed inappropriate behavior or an oppressive atmosphere during their partnership.
original source: RMC Sport dd. 10th January 2026 by Arnaud Valadon and Clement Brossard
Romain Haguenauer, former coach of the Papadakis–Cizeron duo, speaks out. Still coaching Guillaume Cizeron, now partnered with Laurence Fournier Beaudry, the coach of the 2022 Olympic gold and 2018 silver medalists defends himself against claims of an oppressive environment around Gabriella Papadakis and stands by his skater, Guillaume Cizeron. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on RMC Sport.
Q: Romain, what is your reaction to Gabriella Papadakis’s statements in her upcoming book?
Romain Haguenauer: I’ve read some excerpts. I also read Guillaume’s interview explaining the end of their career. It’s true that this touches on the complexity of high-level sport and ice dance, which involves two people – a professional couple. I coached Gabriella and Guillaume for about fifteen years, so we went through the end of adolescence and into adulthood together. I must say, I was shaken to read Gabriella’s point of view. I don’t know all the details. Of course, I respect both Gabriella and Guillaume equally. There’s no difference for me. They are two athletes whom my colleagues and I supported, coached, and guided not only for sporting results but also according to the values we promote. We were almost pioneers in skating for values like safety, inclusivity, and respect for everyone – between coaches, and of course, between partners. I was quite surprised.
Q: Did Gabriella Papadakis ever alert you?
Romain Haguenauer: As a coach, I don’t want to comment on personal matters either might have expressed, but I was never witness to inappropriate or troubling behavior from either Guillaume or Gabriella, and certainly not the kind Gabriella now accuses Guillaume of. She never came to me or any of my colleagues about what she now seems to reproach Guillaume for. They had problems, but not specifically as a couple – more external issues that inevitably affect a sporting career and relationships. From 2012 to 2022, I never witnessed any inappropriate behavior, nor was I ever contacted about it. Of course, as coaches, we’re aware of personal issues – Gabriella herself mentions difficult episodes, especially during COVID, when she talks about depression. We were there to support as best we could, and we were surrounded by professionals. I believe everything was done to support each of them toward their shared goal. Some traits I read about Guillaume, I never witnessed, and I don’t recognize the Guillaume described.
Q: Does the timing surprise you, given we’re a month from the Milan-Cortina Olympics?
Romain Haguenauer: Yes, absolutely. Gabriella has the right to speak out whenever she wants. When they decided to separate, both spoke out, even if their versions differ. By then, neither was training with me anymore. Until 2022, I saw nothing. In fact, they were an example of kindness, camaraderie, and professionalism toward each other and their goals. So I’m extremely surprised to read some things, especially those I experienced up close. I don’t want to give a personal view, but there are situations I don’t recognize at all, or at least not as Gabriella describes. That must be respected.
Q: The pair always promoted inclusive and respectful values in their programs…
Romain Haguenauer: Yes, absolutely. To achieve the success they did, you have to create unity in the couple. Artistically, I think Gabriella was always present and included in the choices she now questions or realizes she may not have been proactive about. That’s her perspective. I never felt that, and from a sporting point of view, their programs were the best proof. Gabriella was as important as Guillaume in the pair. That’s what made them unique – their connection, their modernity, and the fact that they didn’t fall into the clichés she now says she suffered from. It’s the opposite of what we did. The sport has changed and still needs to change, but together, with their mutual choices, they worked to break those stereotypes. We often discussed this, all three of us and with the whole team. The best proof is to look at them: both were on the ice, and you can’t say Gabriella wasn’t present or was sidelined. That was never the goal, and I think the results show that.
Q: Could Guillaume Cizeron and his new partner Laurence Fournier-Beaudry be destabilized with major events coming up?
Romain Haguenauer: It’s never pleasant. It’s a shame to see such personal matters aired publicly, especially since these are very personal feelings and perspectives, and they must be respected. I respect them. I’m surprised by some views and statements, which, for me and my colleagues, don’t match our experience. I know Guillaume was very affected, even shocked, by how some concrete situations are presented in Gabriella’s account. He explained himself. I don’t think the goal is to go back and refute every statement. As a coach, I can only say I wasn’t witness to most of what Gabriella reproaches Guillaume for. That doesn’t mean she can’t express her feelings – a feeling is a feeling. It’s a kind of divorce. We’ve all been through that. But the words chosen seem extremely strong compared to the reality we experienced. For Guillaume, it was important to explain why. He wanted to focus on his new partnership, and at the end of the first part of the season, though he didn’t want to talk about it, he did, and from what I read, it matches my experience. He’s training well, preparing for the European Championships calmly, but it’s never pleasant to see personal matters aired, especially if you feel they don’t match your reality. I’ve been with Guillaume all week; he’s focused with Laurence on his sporting goals and preparing as best he can, and everything is fine.
Related topics: Gabriella Papadakis, Guillaume Cizeron, Romaine Haguenauer
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