Repercussions of Papadakis' book & Cizeron's response

[Taso]

This is my Story was Fergie's experience in the Royal Family. I Tonya was a movie but i believe she also wrote a book. Same theme, something bad happened to me and here is what it was.........Mommie Dearest is another one.

To be honest, I really could care less about the book in question and am quite surprised at the outrage my comment engendered.

To create awareness in the skating world about bad things is likely better covered by investigations and reports of official wrongdoings/abuse/charges/etc.

If you have read any threads here, you might have noticed a pattern that INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS OF OFFICIAL WRONGDOINGS/ABUSE/CHARGERS/ETC. ARE OFTEN NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWED UP UPON BY AUTHORITIES AND FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS IN PART BECAUSE THIS SPORT IS SO INTERNATIONAL, ALONG WITH HISTORICAL PATTERNS OF NEGLECTED CONTINUITY OF REPORTING BY VARIOUS LEVELS OF AUTHORITY FIGURES WITH RESPECT TO SKATER REPORTS.

But I am sure I am wasting my breath since you haven't noticed this trend yourself through dozens upon dozens of pages with reporting issues over many years.

 

[cholla]

This is my Story was Fergie's experience in the Royal Family.

Sorry I read a book with the same title and it wasn't at all something like this!

Mommie Dearest is another one.

Well, Catherine Papadakis is fortunately no Joan Crawford.

To be honest, I really could care less about the book in question and am quite surprised at the outrage my comment engendered.

I think the outrage comes from the fact Papadakis' book speaks out against an extremely dysfonctional and perverse system that has damaged a lot of athletes and you seem to consider this as merely trivial personal babbling.

To create awareness in the skating world about bad things is likely better covered by investigations and reports of official wrongdoings/abuse/charges/etc.

And it is because in the past investigations and reports have not been made, because victims, knowing they won't be heard, don't report abuse or give up after trying, that some other people eventually speak up. If you think that pressing charges is enough, then you have no idea of how things work despite it has been depicted again and again on this board, and by other skaters. Your posts make it sound like the victims are to blame because they don't do things right. And you're surprised you're sparking outrage, really?

But OK, I agree with @Taso, we are obviously wasting our breath.

 

[overedge]

Part of the reason for the book, IMO, is that investigations and reports rarely result in any substantive action or long-term change.

For evidence that they don't work, you don't have to look any further than one of Guillaume's current coaches still being involved in the sport.

 

[Vagabond]

This is my Story was Fergie's experience in the Royal Family.

No wonder why I couldn't find it with an Internet search! The book was published under a different, but similar, title.

I have to say that neither Prince Harry, Fergie, nor even Tonya Harding is particularly known for having a controlling and demanding skating partner, but perhaps you, without having read Papadakis's book, see other parallels.

 

[Winnipeg]

Well, I certainly know where I stand on this topic! I have a view based on past experiences, stated it and am totally supportive and open to others who disagree with what I have posted.

 

[MacMadame]

To create awareness in the skating world about bad things is likely better covered by investigations and reports of official wrongdoings/abuse/charges/etc.

Skating culture is very toxic at times and (some) places. But not everything that is toxic is actionable. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be talked about as part of changing that culture. Some examples:

1) The boy's wishes and ideas are more catered to than the girl's
2) People are pressured to do things they don't want to and may be harmful to them in the long run, "for the good of their career," Such as:
a) staying in the closet
b) delaying surgery until the season is over (or even later than that)
c) breaking up with a romantic partner
d) staying with a certain coach who isn't ideal for them or is emotionally abusive
e) ignoring substance abuse from a partner/parent of a partner/famous coach

So exactly who should these things be reported to? The emotional abuse is actionable but very hard to prove and there may be passive-aggressiveness going on that is borderline as well. The rest is not actionable and many can be chalked up to "you made these choices." But that doesn't mean they aren't toxic. And toxicity will never change if swept under the rug.

This doesn't even get into how investigations and reports which are normally carried out in secret with only a brief description of the outcome are going to change the culture.

 

[cholla]

Well, I certainly know where I stand on this topic! I have a view based on past experiences, stated it and am totally supportive and open to others who disagree with what I have posted.

Thank you. My only (and last) remark is that I have had some very bad experiences in my life and I have never based my view only on the way I reacted because I have never expected others to react like me. Everyone is different, hence a large variety of reactions to a same trauma or problem. But to each its own.

Something else: it seems people were shocked to see Sörensen in Sheffield. I know he was in Angers and didn't see him there but I finally crossed path with him and the people he was with between practice and main rink one day. He had no accreditation and wasn't there as a member of IAM, he was in the public with a ticket I assume he paid for. As long as he doesn't work, I also assume that nothing can prevent him from entering an arena as a spectator. He is free to travel with his significant other and to applause her success. That would be different if he was in the K&C, or anywhere near the boards. Is he really part of FB/C coaching team, like actively working with them in Montreal? I thought he was still suspended waiting for an umpteenth review of his case.

 

[MacMadame]

Is he really part of FB/C coaching team, like actively working with them in Montreal? I thought he was still suspended waiting for an umpteenth review of his case.

The case is in a sort of limbo. The suspension was overturned on a technicality (lack of jurisdiction) and that decision is being appealed.

As for the team actively working with Soresen, there have been reports of him at the Boards during practice at IAM. Those reports are from a while ago but after the suspension.

 

[cholla]

The case is in a sort of limbo. The suspension was overturned on a technicality (lack of jurisdiction) and that decision is being appealed.

As for the team actively working with Soresen, there have been reports of him at the Boards during practice at IAM. Those reports are from a while ago but after the suspension.

I know the overturned suspension has been appealed but I thought it meant he was again suspended pending a new decision. If I remember well, besides the jurisdiction thing, he also argued that he had had to sign a convention for athletes protection "under duress" to go to a competition. Why would he NOT sign such a convention to begin with? How come nobody wondered about this simple fact? The whole thing has been dragging on for a while now. He is about to turn 37 so he can't hope to resume competitive skating (especially now that his GF has found God to partner with). So when he doesn't travel around to support Laurence from the stands, he peacefully works with IAM and everyone keeps this under a tight lid? What a wonderful world this all is...

 

[MacMadame]

I thought it meant he was again suspended pending a new decision.

I didn't but you may be correct.

 

[cholla]

I didn't but you may be correct.

When he came to GP de France, he was suspended. He was in the public. Then the suspension was overturned. Then the overturn was overturned... At Euros he was in the public again. In my mind it meant that the suspension had resumed, otherwise he would have had credentials and been at the boards or not far. But that's only my own logic, and even I, don't trust it most of the time!

 

[Sylvia]

Jan. 16:

Who is commenting on dance at the Olympics for NBC? Will there be no former ice dancer on the team?

I only just noticed that NBC Sports published an updated press release re. commentators on Jan. 29: https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/...f-the-milan-cortina-2026-olympic-winter-games

FIGURE SKATING: Terry Gannon, working his ninth Olympics, will reprise his role as lead play-by-play commentator for Olympic figure skating alongside lead analysts Tara Lipinski, the 1998 Olympic gold medalist, and three-time U.S. figure skating champion Johnny Weir. 1988 Olympic bronze medalist Tracy Wilson will serve as an ice dance analyst in her fifth NBC Olympics assignment. Lipinski and Weir are working their seventh Olympic assignments together and fourth Winter Games on figure skating coverage. Andrea Joyce, in her 14th Olympic assignment with NBC (18th overall), will serve as a figure skating and short track speed skating reporter.

 

[Allskate]

Jan. 16:

I only just noticed that NBC Sports published an updated press release re. commentators on Jan. 29: https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/...f-the-milan-cortina-2026-olympic-winter-games

Tracy Wilson is interesting on multiple levels. She's a good choice, especially if they want to appear unbiased. This isn't the role she was expecting to play for these Olympics. I wonder if this means anything in terms of Jason going to Worlds since she's his main coach.

 

[SkateSand]

Tracy is a good choice. I'm glad they are going to have an ice dance analyst since Tara and Johnny certainly aren't.

 

[Judy]

When he came to GP de France, he was suspended. He was in the public. Then the suspension was overturned. Then the overturn was overturned... At Euros he was in the public again. In my mind it meant that the suspension had resumed, otherwise he would have had credentials and been at the boards or not far. But that's only my own logic, and even I, don't trust it most of the time!

The only information I could find was that the suspension was overturned in June 2025.

 

[Katha]

The tension here is I think to a certain degree also that no one can be made to disappear, to be tacky about it. Papadakis wrote a book about a toxic system in figure skating that, let's be honest, everyone has known about for decades. As is her right. To a certain degree her nuanced thoughts are being hijacked by rage bait headlines, because that is what sells.

On the other hand, FB/C are free to skate together and there's nothing to stop them. I've seen some people online say that they shouldn't be allowed. But on what grounds? Neither is accused of a crime, not by Papadakis either. The Sorensen of it all is more complicated, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence that he's coaching if/when he's not allowed? And he is indeed free to buy himself a ticket and support his life partner.

So Papadakis can write and talk whatever she wants and Cizeron just has to deal. And Cizeron is free to skate and Papadakis also has to deal with seeing him build a new partnership. I think the notion many fans have that either side can be drowned out and made to go away won't work. But many of the discussions circle around exactly this: Make it all easy, make one side go away.

 

[Dobre]

Tracy Wilson.

And I already thought this was the worst ice dance season I could remember.

 

[Katha]

Yah. I still haven't forgiven her the screeching for Bourne/Kraatz and the years of Grishuk/Platov slander. Yeah, they were a trainwreck off ice seemingly, but the way she tried to portray them as hacks who couldn't skate was just absurd. One of the best ice dance pairs of all time, miles ahead of their competition as technicians. Yet she soured a whole generation of NA audiences on them. Booh.

 

[cholla]

The Sorensen of it all is more complicated, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence that he's coaching if/when he's not allowed?

I don't remember reading anything hinting towards this here and I have never considered it could be the case. My question was: is he allowed to coach while his case is again under review. If he is coaching, than the answer is obviously yes.

 

[kosjenka]

My impression about Sorensen situation is that IAM has decided to be smart and have him not involved in anything during this launch and Olympic season because they already have enough problems and distractions.
I don’t see any legal sensible reason why he should not be allowed to attend competitions as a member of public.
Now, if this is smart, actually for his longtime partner and her situation… that’s another topic

 

[flyingsit]

Tracy is a good choice. I'm glad they are going to have an ice dance analyst since Tara and Johnny certainly aren't.

If only they would have someone for pairs as well.

 

[Vagabond]

On the other hand, FB/C are free to skate together and there's nothing to stop them.

As I have posted upthread, IAM has a policy against abuse, and Papadakis has written that Lauzon called Cizeron abusive in her presence but took no further action. Therefore, while there is nothing stopping Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron from skating, IAM should have kicked him out ages ago.

 

[Vagabond]

If only they would have someone for pairs as well.

And Singles.

 

[pat c]

As I have posted upthread, IAM has a policy against abuse, and Papadakis has written that Lauzon called Cizeron abusive in her presence but took no further action. Therefore, while there is nothing stopping Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron from skating, IAM should have kicked him out ages ago.

How does something like IAM work? contract with individual teams or the skating fed and the teams or? And what do the contracts specifically say about certain things? Not that I'm sticking up for IAMS but who has the power?

 

[Vagabond]

How does something like IAM work? contract with individual teams or the skating fed and the teams or? And what do the contracts specifically say about certain things? Not that I'm sticking up for IAMS but who has the power?

Is there some reason why you replied to my post with these questions? Why don't you look this up yourself?

 

[tony]

Is there some reason why you replied to my post with these questions?

Because she's asking questions that stem from what you referenced?

Why don't you look this up yourself?

Because it's a message board where people ask a lot of questions-- even for things likely much more easily accessible than the IAM policy.

 

[pat c]

Is there some reason why you replied to my post with these questions? Why don't you look this up yourself?

No reason, springboard. I have, and I'm not finding what I'm looking for.