Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, reigning Olympic ice dancing champions, end their sporting careers

The French couple, five-time world champions, have not participated in any competition since March 2022.

A one-year “little break”, announced in June 2022, which will ultimately not end. More than two years after their last competition, the Worlds won in March 2022 in Montpellier, Gabriella Papadakis (29 years old) and Guillaume Cizeron (30 years old) announced, Tuesday December 3, “to end their careers and go their separate ways”they specify in their joint press release. Partnered since the ages of eight and nine, Papadakis and Cizeron have won five European titles (between 2015 and 2019), five world titles (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022), and one Olympic title (2022).

“We couldn't have dreamed of a more beautiful career, they explain in the press release. It is with immense gratitude that we decide to turn the page. A huge thank you to our public for the pleasure shared with us on the ice. We take away wonderful memories.”

After their Olympic and world titles in 2022, Gabriella Papadakis felt the need to step away from competition for mental health reasons. Recovering from burnout, she had resumed ice dancing and the duo had participated in shows and exhibition galas around the world in recent months. They also collaborate, each on their own, on the choreographic part, with other skaters.

“I want to learn lots of things, have fun, continue skating for a long time, declared Gabriella Papadakis to franceinfo: sport in March 2024, about her post-career. Maybe in my own shows? she said with amusement. I would also like to do things in other artistic circles, even if it means joining them with skating. Writing, theater, music that I really like. I want to mix all my passions a little”.