“It was classified as a fall, but it didn’t necessarily have to be since he didn’t place his hand on the ice. But the judges have been strict with everyone.” Annick Dumont, a national coach on Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry’s rhythm dance
Cizeron and Fournier Beaudry Debut Rhythm Dance Program at Internationaux de France
original source: franceinfo.fe dd. October 18th 2025 by Anais Brosseau
Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry debut their rhythm dance program at the Internationaux de France, overcoming a costly mistake and adjusting to a new routine, while setting their sights on future success. Here’s a translation of their comments posted in Franceinfo.
Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry made their debut as a pair in their new rhythm dance program on Saturday, October 18, in Angers at the Internationaux de France. However, their performance was marked by an unusual mistake from Cizeron.
A misstep by Cizeron, where he slipped while sliding on one knee and placed his other knee on the ice, cost them a one-point deduction and left them unable to score points for their step sequence.
“It was classified as a fall, but it didn’t necessarily have to be since he didn’t place his hand on the ice,” explained Annick Dumont, a national coach and consultant for France Televisions. “He should have been on the edge of the blade, but instead, he tipped over by going on the toe pick. They lost five to six points because of it, and without that, they would be in first or second.”
Additionally, several technical elements from their routine were graded at Level 2 or 3, rather than the maximum Level 4 to which they are accustomed. “The judges have been strict with everyone,” observed Dumont.
Reflecting on their performance, Cizeron said, “We were technically very clean from the beginning to the end – up until that little mistake, which probably cost us five to six points, maybe even more. That’s the nature of ice dance; there’s no room for error.”
Still unsure of the exact cause of his mistake, Cizeron admitted, “I’d need to review the video to figure out what happened. Everything happened so quickly. I might have pushed too hard, put in too much intensity. It’s a mistake I won’t repeat, but it’s also a valuable lesson for future competitions.”
Dumont speculated that emotional pressure might have contributed to the slip. “Everyone’s watching them, and that kind of attention drains a lot of energy. I think they were very fatigued by the end,” she shared.
After being forced to change their program due to music regulations tied to the rhythm dance theme, the skaters adapted to a new score, Madonna’s Vogue. The performance saw Cizeron dressed in a sleek black bodysuit, while Fournier Beaudry wore a pink bustier inspired by Jean-Paul Gaultier, embracing a fresh stylistic direction. This marked their first international performance as partners.
“I was nervous before starting, but once I stepped onto the ice, I found my calm,” admitted Fournier Beaudry, who is still awaiting French naturalization. “I’m very happy with how I felt during the performance, and I truly enjoyed myself.”
Related topics: Grand Prix de France, Guillaume Cizeron, Laurence Fournier Beaudry
Leave a Reply