OLYMPICS: Figure skating-New French duo Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron lead after rhythm dance

MILAN – Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France delivered a stunning performance Monday night, winning the rhythm dance at the Milano Cortina Olympics in only their fifth international event together.

The duo, who teamed up last March, continued their rapid rise in the ice dance world by scoring 90.18 points—their personal best—for a sleek, fashion-runway-inspired performance to Madonna’s “Vogue.”

In a tight showdown, they narrowly edged out triple world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States, who impressed with a high-energy rhythm dance filled with rock-and-roll flair, scoring 89.72 points.

“We performed as well as we could, and now there’s a bit of anticipation to see where we’ll finish in the competition because we’re very ambitious. We came here to win gold,” Fournier Beaudry said.

Rounding out the top five were Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (86.18), British duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (85.47), and Italian favorites Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri (84.28). The free dance is set for Wednesday.

Cizeron, the reigning Olympic champion and five-time world champion with former partner Gabriella Papadakis, called his partnership with Fournier Beaudry “bonus time” after both had thought their competitive careers were over. Papadakis retired following the Beijing Olympics, while Fournier Beaudry’s former partner, Nikolaj Sorensen, faced a six-year suspension in 2024 for sexual maltreatment, which was later overturned on jurisdictional grounds.

After teaming up last spring, Canadian-born Fournier Beaudry received French citizenship in November, enabling her Olympic participation. The pair made an immediate mark internationally, winning both Grand Prix events before finishing second to Chock and Bates at the Grand Prix Final in December.

Monday’s performance showcased precise lines and sculpted movements, with Fournier Beaudry wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier-inspired pink corset and Cizeron in a minimalist black outfit. Their poses were sharp, stylized, and theatrical, resembling a high-fashion editorial spread on ice.

Best Performance Yet

“I think we gave the best performance we could tonight,” Cizeron said. “It wasn’t 100% perfect. We are very sensitive to what’s perfect and what isn’t as we skate, but we still managed to reach the end with focus and enjoyment. I really relied on Laurence and trusted our training.”

The pair worked with Brazilian voguing specialist Bieel Moraes to refine their sharp arm movements and authentic dance style. “It wasn’t easy to learn, but Moraes was an amazing artist. We wanted not just to do voguing but to understand the culture and vocabulary of the ballroom scene,” Cizeron said.

Chock and Bates, making their fourth Olympic appearance, aim to claim gold after contributing to two U.S. team titles, including this year in Milan. “The goal is multifaceted. It’s about preparation, handling the moment, being champions on and off the ice,” Bates said. Despite losing a level on their midline step sequence, the duo remains confident heading into Wednesday’s free dance.

The rhythm dance theme this season—“music, dance styles, and feelings of the 1990s”—turned Monday’s event into a nostalgic celebration, with fans enjoying hits from George Michael, Madonna, Ricky Martin, and the Spice Girls. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron initially chose Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus,” but were not allowed to use it as it was recorded in 1989. -Reporting by Lori Ewing, additional reporting by Rory Carroll and Agnieszka Flak, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters