Laurence Fournier Beaudry: “I decided that instead of being the thinnest, I would become the strongest. And I want to show the new generation of skaters that a beautiful body is a healthy body.”
European ice dance champion Laurence Fournier Beaudry shares her journey toward embracing a healthy body image and hopes to inspire young skaters to value strength and health over thinness.
original source: Sports by Maya Bagriantseva
European ice dance champion Laurence Fournier Beaudry of France, who competes with Guillaume Cizeron, spoke with Sports correspondent Maya Bagriantseva about her view of the ideal athletic physique. Here’s a translation.
“Q: You still give your all in the gym. Usually, female dancers are afraid of building muscle.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry: I think attitudes have changed recently. I started going to the gym because I wanted to be thin. As a teenager, I struggled to accept my body. At that time, there was a clear image: female ice dancers had to be very slim and delicate. The ideal figure was like a ballerina’s. So I trained more and ate less – and the cycle continued.
At some point, things became unhealthy. I was in a depressed state and didn’t know how to break out of this vicious cycle. After a week of training, I’d wake up on Saturday and run 10 km. The next day, I’d run 15 km and swim 2 km in the pool.
That was when I teamed up with Nick (Sorensen), and we started dating – I confided in him about my struggles. He supported me a lot and helped me find a healthy balance. I’m very grateful to him, my sports psychologist, and my mother. I decided that instead of being the thinnest, I would become the strongest. I was taught how important muscles are. I decided that would be my advantage, not a weakness.
Q: Do you feel that this is becoming a trend in figure skating now?
Laurence Fournier Beaudry: It didn’t happen right away, but now it really is becoming the new norm – not just in sports, but for ordinary people too. Now, people think about their health, the gym is no longer exotic, and athletic style has even entered street fashion – just look, everyone’s wearing Lululemon leggings. It’s become fashionable to be happy and take care of your body, not to suffer trying to look like someone else.
In figure skating, alongside elegance and the ability to show beautiful lines, a healthy body is now valued. When I was growing up, I didn’t have such examples, but now I want to show the new generation of skaters that a beautiful body is a healthy body.”
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