Figure skaters' ultimate redemption after Winter Olympics 'nightmare'

French figure skating duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron have bounced back from their 'worst nightmare' at the previous Winter Olympics to win gold in Beijing.

Papadakis and Cizeron's hopes of gold went up belly up at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games when the former's dress partially came apart on the ice at the beginning of their rhythm routine.

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They were able to complete the routine, but the wardrobe malfunction was an obvious distraction that ultimately pushed them out of gold medal contention.

It was an absolutely heartbreaking moment, especially considering they were able to claim silver thanks to a then world record performance in their subsequent free dance routine.

Instead of succumbing to the 2018 heartbreak, Papadakis and Cizeron doubled down in their efforts to prepare for the Beijing Games in 2022, despite limited opportunities to compete in the 18 months prior thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

If there were any residual nerves following the 2018 catastrophe when the pair took to the ice on Valentine's Day they were nowhere to be seen, as the popular French pair stormed to redemptive gold medal.

They set another new world record score, in the rhythm routine no less, to put themselves in prime position for gold before they stamped it home with a performance to “Elegie” by French composer Gabriel Faure which netted them a score of 136.15.

It put them well ahead of silver medallists Russia’s Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov, with American duo Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue picking up bronze.

Thrilled to win gold, Cizeron said he and Papadakis had worked hard to put the 2018 disappointment behind them - but admitted it was nice to get some 'revenge'.

“We are in a totally different place from where we were four years ago,” he told Eurosport after their rhythm dance record.

“Mentally and in terms of preparation too. We did not have a good memory of the short program there.

“We are super happy with our performance so indeed, it is a little revenge."

French ice skaters Papadakis & Cizeron claim gold medal redemption

Papadakis was equally thrilled by the result, after going through one of the worst possible misfortunes a figure skater could have had on the big stage four years ago.

After winning gold, it was clear she simply couldn't believe that she and Cizeron would forever be Olympic champions.

“I think we don’t believe it yet. Honestly it feels completely unreal,” she said.

“We have been waiting for this. This is the medal that we wanted. My brain doesn’t understand it.

“We worked a lot. We built upon the last Olympics. We started winning and everything and knew it was possible.

“For years this was the only medal that we wanted and the past four years were just about that moment.”

It was a far cry from the disappointment of 2018.

At the time, Papadakis described the moment her dress came apart as her 'worst nightmare'.

“It was pretty distracting, kind of my worst nightmare happening at the Olympics,” Papadakis said in 2018.

Papadakis and Cizeron were scored highest for their straight line lift, synchronized twizzles, combination spin and curve lift.

They also received 10 out of 10 points for program composition.

With AP

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