French Olympic champion Papadakis claims she was under partner's 'control' / Photo: © AFP
French Olympic champion Papadakis claims she was under partner's 'control'
France's 2022 Olympic ice dance champion Gabriella Papadakis has spoken out about the world of figure skating, telling AFP she found herself in "a dangerous situation for my physical and mental health".
In a new book she reflects on her relationship with Guillaume Cizeron, her partner at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games where they took silver, and also in Beijing four years later where they claimed gold.
She claims in the book 'Pour ne pas disparaitre' (So as not to disappear) that she was under Cizeron's "control" throughout their career together, recounting how she was "terrified" at "the idea of finding myself alone" with him.
Cizeron, who is competing in next month's Milan-Cortina Winter Games with a new partner, has denounced "defamatory remarks" and is considering legal action.
Papadakis, 30, told AFP: "The relationship I had with my former partner is symptomatic of that system.
"I may have been under a kind of control and experiencing things that were not acceptable, but in fact, that relationship reflects the system.
"It's not unique, it's very common. There are still plenty of people living it today."
Papadakis said the world of figure skating "can be very difficult for women".
"Like many in this environment, I sometimes struggled to fit in," she added, describing her sport as "very oppressive".
Despite that she initially wanted to continue with Cizeron, with whom she was a five-time world champion and seven-time champion of France, after Beijing.
She explained: "Even though I had the crowning achievement of an Olympic gold medal, I wanted to keep living my passion.
"I had already started therapy and I hoped to come back under better conditions, to change things at my level, and to set a different example than the one I grew up with.
"I tried to change things, but it didn't work -- the conversation wasn't open.
"Little by little, I realised I was in a dangerous situation for my physical and mental health."
Speaking out about her experiences has cost her a chance of working as a television analyst at the 2026 Olympics.
"I was supposed to go to Milan as a commentator with NBC," she said.
"Unfortunately, they called me a few days ago because after the cease-and-desist from my former partner, they changed their minds, which makes me very sad.
"I regret it, but at the same time, I knew that by writing this book, it would unfortunately affect my career. For people who speak out against systems of oppression, it never goes very well."
(M.Dylatov--DTZ)
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