It’s one of the best medal chances for France at these Olympics and they’re about to make their debut today. Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron will try to win the gold medal in Beijing, four years after their cruel second place in South Korea. Based in Montreal, Canada, the skating couple have dominated the discipline for several years now and these Olympics could be their consecration. Beyond this brilliant sports career, the 27-year-old skater decided in April 2021 to release his autobiography, My greatest victoryin which he talks about his private life, from his coming out to the homophobic attacks he suffered when he was younger.
He also reveals a rather surprising anecdote about the one who had an important role in his coming out, his first friend Deborah. “It’s her beauty that seduces me, her laugh too, and I must also please her because we are approaching. Finally, in my opinion, it is her who is approaching, I do not see myself taking the first step”remembers Guillaume Cizeron in his book, before continuing: “I love her, she loves me back and shows it to me, this is the first time I have the feeling of loving a girl and I tell myself that if there is one chance that I will become straight, that chance is called Deborah”.
It seemed impossible to say, completely impossible, I was paralyzed with shame
Despite this desire, Guillaume Cizeron does not manage to feel desires for the young woman and will end up revealing to her “his secret”. “Deborah is the first person I’ve confessed to being gay to. It seemed impossible to say, completely impossible, I was paralyzed with shame”, says the skater who felt an unblocking at that time. He finally “could conceive of revealing his homosexuality to his sisters” Blandine and Aurélie, as well as her father Marc.
If today everything is not easy and he unfortunately faces criticism, Guillaume Cizeron has found the courage to talk about his sexuality and he owes it in large part to Deborah.