“In my own career with Vika, we tried to get in sync that quickly, but it never worked out. But this genius did it right in the Olympic season. To me, that’s legendary. I couldn’t do it myself, but he did.” Nikita Katsalapov on Guillaume Cizeron

World ice dance champion Nikita Katsalapov shared his thoughts on the 2026 Olympic champions from France, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.

original source: Sports

Nikita Katsalapov praised French Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, stating that no current ice dance pair comes close to their quality and that Chock and Bates had no real chance of beating them. Here’s a translation.

“Nikita Katsalapov: I followed the whole season and saw that, although I didn’t really like it at first, it was still very talented.

And by the end of the season, by the Olympics, the way they approached it – I was completely shocked. In my own career with Vika, we tried to get in sync that quickly, but it never worked out. But this genius did it right in the Olympic season. I just wanted to support him, because to me, that’s legendary. I couldn’t do it myself, but he did.

Q: Do you like their style? Is that what dance is?

Nikita Katsalapov: I’ll get to that. We saw this style with his previous partner – it’s exactly the same to me. But it’s just as cool as it was in prime time when he skated with Gabriella. For me, it’s mind-blowing – getting this pair in sync so quickly.

Q: Could they go another Olympic cycle?

Nikita Katsalapov: With the current pairs – easily. Right now, I don’t see any rivals even close who can show that level of quality on the ice. The quality of everything, absolutely. And he has a relationship with his partner, he has skating quality, great elements, musicality. There’s no one else showing that.

Q: Tell me, did Chock and Bates have any chance of beating them? Or is it really a different level?

Nikita Katsalapov: I think Evan Bates was as upset as a person can be, completely out of it, when Guillaume came back. He was just holding on as best he could, I think, for Madison. We’ve been competitors for a long time and know each other well. I’ve seen his best programs and best years. And he’s just tired. At the Olympics, he gave everything he had left, all his strength. And he was so upset. You probably saw it.

Q: Yes, we saw it.

Nikita Katsalapov: It was written all over his face at the medal ceremony.

Q: But did Chock and Bates have a chance?

Nikita Katsalapov: No, of course not. Guillaume is much stronger in everything.”

Related topics: Guillaume Cizeron, Madison Chock Evan Bates, Victoria Sinitsina Nikita Katsalapov