News and updates à la Française, part quatre

[cholla]

I talked to Geoffrey Brissaud prior to the Finale and they have absolutely not left IAM. Geoffrey's reaction: "where did you hear this sh*t? We are not dumb enough to commit career suicide!" And he told me that if it was the case, he would have advised me anyway (Geoffrey is among the very few FS people with whom I have ties outside of skating, so I'm generally not too badly informed about their career moves.) They are, as every single year, back in France to prepare for Nationals and Euros, and they are avoiding time consuming and tiring overseas travels. That's all folk, no more speculation needed.

 

[Sylvia]

Team France had a 35-minute press conference before the start of the GP/JGP Final (in French & English with translations), uploaded by Ice Skating International Online on Dec. 5, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl4IkJU2pXg

 

[cholla]

Interview with Kevin Aymoz: sloppy SP, coffee and cooking recipe! (English version)

 

[Sylvia]

French Nationals info was publlished today (Dec. 11, 2024): https://www.ffsg.org/Championnats-de-France-Elites-378
Competition will take place in Annecy on Friday & Saturday, Dec. 20-21.

Dames
– Stefania Gladki
– Léa Serna
– Clémence Mayindu
– Eve Dubecq
– Maïa Mazzara

Messieurs
– Kevin Aymoz
– François Pitot
– Luc Economides
– Samy Hammi
– Xavier Vauclin
– Landry Le May
– Corentin Spinar
– Gianni Motilla
– Davide Lewton-Brain
– Ilia Gogitidze
– Joshua Rols
– Ian Vauclin
– Jean Médard
– Daniel Verbat
– Alan-Daniel Fisher (debuted this season on the JGP in pairs with Clelia Liget-Latus)

Couples
– Aurélie Faula / Théo Belle
– Camille Kovalev / Pavel Kovalev
– Louise Ehrhard / Matthis Pellegris

Danse sur glace
– Evgeniia Lopareva / Geoffrey Brissaud
– Loicia Demougeot / Théo Le Mercier
– Marie Dupayage / Thomas Nabais
– Natacha Lagouge / Arnaud Caffa
– Lou Terreaux / Noé Perron
– Eva Bernard / Amedeo Bonetto

 

[her grace]

So it looks like Bernard/Bonetto have officially moved up to seniors; they were on the JGP earlier this season, but have done Senior Bs since.

This is a good move for them since they weren’t a realistic contender for Jr. Worlds. May as well get an early start on their contemporaries at the senior level.

 

[cholla]

In case some of you are wondering why Lorine Schild isn't on the list: she is injured.

 

[Hindernisse]

An interview with Marie Dupayage and Thomas Nabais by Ice-dance.com: https://www.ice-dance.com/site/dupayage-nabais-balancing-artistry-and-ambition/

 

[Sylvia]

For those without access to the French Nationals thread in Kiss & Cry, link to the results page: https://www.ffsg.org/resultats/2024-2025/ELITES2024/index.htm
National champions: Aymoz, Lopareva/Brissaud, Kovalevs, and Stefania Gladki (199.78)!

FFSG published the French team for Euros on Dec 24: https://www.ffsg.org/Selections-championnats-d-Europe-de-patinage-artistique-2025

Men - Kevin Aymoz, Adam Siao Him Fa
Women - Lea Serna, Lorine Schild
Pairs - Camille Kovalev/Pavel Kovalev
Ice Dance - Loicia Demougeot/Theo le Mercier, Natacha Lagouge/Arnaud Caffa, Evgeniia Lopareva/Geoffrey Brissaud

“Rue Surya Bonaly” was inaugurated on December 20 in Champigny-Sur-Marne:

ANCRÉ on Instagram: "À Champigny-sur-Marne, l’ultime revanche de Surya Bonaly. La légende du patinage artistique a inauguré ce 20 décembre une rue à son nom, dans ce qu’elle qualifie de ville d’adoption. C’est ici qu’elle était arrivée en provenance

3,718 likes, 80 comments - ancremagazine on December 26, 2024: "À Champigny-sur-Marne, l’ultime revanche de Surya Bonaly. La légende du patinage artistique a inauguré ce 20 décembre une rue à son nom, dans ce qu’elle qualifie de ville d’adoption. C’est ici qu’elle était arrivée en provenance de...

www.instagram.com

 

[cholla]

Interview with Léa Serna on Patinage Magazine website (in English)

 

[cholla]

A short interview with Lopareva/Brissaud by... themselves. (In English)

 

[Evgeniafan]

When is French Junior Nationals? Or did I miss it?

 

[Andrea82]

When is French Junior Nationals? Or did I miss it?

From 31th January

Annonce CHF Junior Villard de Lans 2025 (définitive).pdf

drive.google.com

 

[cholla]

An interview with Djamel Cheikh, National Technical Director of French fed. A nice change compared to his 3 predecessors who never agreed to be interviewed. He answered to my request within a few hours, then the day of the meeting he was very talkative, easy going and funny. I tried to interview Mrs Noury, the President, but hit a wall. She didn't answer my mail, so I cornered her at Nationals, but she had no time for questions. She's known no to trust any media. As I never give up, I plan to trap her in Tallinn I hope the interview of her Tech Director will play in my favor!

 

[Karen-W]

FFSG has announced their Worlds team -

Fédération Française des Sports de Glace - FFSG on Instagram: "📣 Découvrez les sélections officielles des patineurs qui représenteront la France lors des Championnats du Monde de patinage artistique ! Cette prestigieuse compétition se tiendra à Bosto

1,526 likes, 8 comments - ffsportsdeglace on February 18, 2025: "📣 Découvrez les sélections officielles des patineurs qui représenteront la France lors des Championnats du Monde de patinage artistique ! Cette prestigieuse compétition se tiendra à Boston (Massachusetts) aux États-Unis, du 25 au...

www.instagram.com

Aymoz, Siao Him Fa, Schild, Kovalevs, Lopareva/Brissaud and Demougeot/Le Mercier

 

[zigzig]

FFSG has announced their Worlds team -

Fédération Française des Sports de Glace - FFSG on Instagram: "📣 Découvrez les sélections officielles des patineurs qui représenteront la France lors des Championnats du Monde de patinage artistique ! Cette prestigieuse compétition se tiendra à Bosto

1,526 likes, 8 comments - ffsportsdeglace on February 18, 2025: "📣 Découvrez les sélections officielles des patineurs qui représenteront la France lors des Championnats du Monde de patinage artistique ! Cette prestigieuse compétition se tiendra à Boston (Massachusetts) aux États-Unis, du 25 au...

www.instagram.com

Aymoz, Siao Him Fa, Schild, Kovalevs, Lopareva/Brissaud and Demougeot/Le Mercier

As expected. Schild is reliable but I prefer Serna's skating much more. In any case bonne chance to them all.

 

[Ananas Astra]

Apparently, Guillaume Cizeron has teamed up with Laurence Fournier Beaudry and they want to represent France at the Olympics.

 

[Ananas Astra]

It's official: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGsqJY8IiAB/

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

https://www.ffsg.org/IMG/pdf/2025.02.18_-_ffsg_guillaume_cizeron_de_retour_a_la_competition_avec_laurence_fournier_beaudry_1_.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1GaC0zJlP6vsFpvEKTPEoorrM8y8N1SdHOggCqtunyeaaChr8vaN2CX6A_aem_DHdcizEKVH9LQYsWlfu8PA

The press release from the federation. Their first competition will be in August, then go to the French Masters, 1 or 2 GP.

Is it August yet?

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

Guillaume Cizeron reprend la compétition en vue des JO 2026

Le champion olympique de danse sur glace Guillaume Cizeron (30 ans) va reprendre la compétition avec une nouvelle partenaire, la Québécoise Laurence Fournier Beaudry (32 ans), sous les couleurs de la France.

www.lequipe.fr

Actually, this story from L’équipe mentions their future competitive schedule.

 

[Primorskaya]

Ooooh, interesting. That should liven things up a fair bit in the ice dance field.

 

[Karen-W]

Guillaume Cizeron reprend la compétition en vue des JO 2026

Le champion olympique de danse sur glace Guillaume Cizeron (30 ans) va reprendre la compétition avec une nouvelle partenaire, la Québécoise Laurence Fournier Beaudry (32 ans), sous les couleurs de la France.

www.lequipe.fr

Actually, this story from L’équipe mentions their future competitive schedule.

So, for those of us who don't have access behind the paywall, can you share that information?

 

[Andrea82]

I guess the August competition may be the Championnats Québecois d'été.

 

[Karen-W]

I guess the August completion may be the Championnats Québecois d'été.

That would be my guess as well. Friendly ground & all that.

 

[Evgeniafan]

I guess the August competition may be the Championnats Québecois d'été.

What is this competition. I don't think I've seen it before.

 

[Stephanie]

So, for those of us who don't have access behind the paywall, can you share that information?

It says they teamed up in January.

The competition plan is something at the beginning of August (must be Quebec summer provincials as mentioned above), French Masters, and then one or two GP.

 

[Jammers]

Apparently, Guillaume Cizeron has teamed up with Laurence Fournier Beaudry and they want to represent France at the Olympics.

Must be the 2030 Olympics because i don't see how she gets citizenship in less than a year.

 

[Stephanie]

The l’Equipe article states that the goal is the 2026 Olympics.

 

[Kateri]

Must be the 2030 Olympics because i don't see how she gets citizenship in less than a year.

@taz'smum mentioned that France can fast-track citizenship for elite athletes.

 

[kirkbiggestfan]

A recent example would be Joel Embiid. He is a NBA star from Cameroon. He wrote a letter to Macron asking for French citizenship. The hope was that he would play for France in the Paris Olympics. He got the citizenship very quickly. Then, Team USA started recruiting him badly and he ended up playing for them. Embiid never lived in France but spoke French. Back in the days, Marina and Vanessa got political help too. It became harder to do that lately, but everyone is telling me that this will not be an issue for the partner of an OGM.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Wait what? It’s March 1 not April 1. Nice try FSUers, I’m not going to bite.