Among the 3,000 athletes entered in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics which start this Friday (1 p.m. French time), 88 will defend the tricolor colors and two will represent our Loire department. Guillaume Cizeron and Tiffany Gauthier. The ice dancer will aim for nothing less than a gold medal after the silver one brought back from PyeongChang with his partner Gabriella Papadakis. For her part, the Saint-Etienne skier will try to play the spoilsport.
Guillaume Cizeron, golden goal
In 2018, the Olympic gold, which was already promised to him, escaped Guillaume Cizeron by 49 hundredths of points. In question a perfect performance of the titled Canadian couple and a costume problem for his partner Gabriella Papadakis on the short program. In Beijing the Clermontoise and the Montbrisonnais expatriates in Montreal are the great favorites of the competition which opens this Friday.
Four times world champions and five times European champions, they will still have to beware of the Russian couple Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov reigning European champion for the second consecutive time on January 15th. Where Guillaume Cizeron and Gabriella Papadakis had skipped, considering the sanitary conditions not safe enough in Estonia. Remained in Canada, the couple preferred to refine his preparation and will now have to deal with the pressure that comes with the biggest challenge of their careers.
- The program of Guillaume Cizeron and Gabriella Papadakis: Rhythmic dance on February 12 at 12 p.m. (French time). Free program on February 14 at 2:15 a.m.
Tiffany Gauthier without pressure
For her second Olympiad after that of PyeongChang in 2018 (13th in the downhill and 22nd in the Super-G) Tiffany Gauthier relishes. Because for four years, she has not been spared from injuries and his “old knees” as she calls them herself, do not always allow her to aim for the podiums. But Tiffany Gauthier hangs on and in December she even snatched an 11th place in the Super-G in Saint-Moritz.
A performance that allowed him to take his place in a tricolor delegation led by Tessa Worley. The double world champion carries the hopes of French women’s skiing on her shoulders alone. “Apart from Tessa, it would take an achievement acknowledged Alberto Senigagliesi the head of women. AT Tiffany Gauthier to prove otherwise on the Yanking track nicknamed “Rock”. A playful track where everyone can express themselves.
- Tiffany Gauthier’s program: Super-G on February 12 at 4 a.m. (French time). Descent on February 15 at 4 a.m.