A newly released memoir from a former Olympic gold medalist is stirring up controversy in the figure skating world just weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin.
The tell-all book, written by retired French Olympic champ Gabriella Papadakis, sheds light on her behind-the-scenes experience with her former partner Guillaume Cizeron, 31. In the book, "Pour ne pas disparaître," the 30-year-old skater calls Cizeron "controlling, demanding," and "critical."
She also claimed that at one point, it got so bad that she refused to skate with Cizeron without a coach present, as she often felt she was “under his grip.”
Papadakis is now paying for sharing her story.
She's been let go from her job as an NBC analyst at the upcoming Milan Olympic Games, as the network says it finds the French ice dancer's memoir a "conflict of interest."
“We respect Gabriella’s right to tell the story of her life and career. At the same time, her new book creates a clear conflict of interest,” NBC told "Sportico" last week.
“Our responsibility is to deliver coverage that our audience can trust to be free of bias—whether actual or perceived—and we regret that is no longer possible given the circumstances.”
READ MORE: USA Olympic figure skating team 2026: Meet the full roster for Milano-Cortina, from Ilia Malinin to Alysa Liu
Cizeron slams former partner's claims
NBC was not alone in pushing back against the tell-all, as Papadakis' former partner, Cizeron, has also publicly denounced the book, telling the French media it's nothing but a "smear campaign."
“The book contains false information, including statements I never made, which I consider serious,” Cizeron said. “For more than 20 years, I have shown deep respect for Gabriella Papadakis, despite the gradual erosion of our bond, our relationship was built on equal collaboration and marked by success and mutual support.”
Papadaki and Cizeron were skating partners from childhood up until their split in 2024. Together, they broke 34 records and won two Olympic Medals. The couple won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2022, a silver in 2018, five World Championship gold medals, and multiple European titles.
Cizeron is now preparing to skate in the 2026 Winter Olympics with a new partner, Laurence Fournier Beaudry, while Papadakis will sit out the Milan-Cortina games.
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