Two former Olympic figure skaters have joined forces to campaign for same-sex pairings in the sport. Gabriella Papadakis and Madison Hubbell performed a moving routine together at the premiere of the Art on Ice Gala in Switzerland on Saturday, February 8.
Having known each other for seven years, the pair were rivals during their competitive careers. Hailing from France, Papadakis is a five-time World Champion who won Olympic gold in 2022. Meanwhile, Hubbell, an American ice dancer, is a two-time Winter Olympics medalist and four-time World medalist.
They chose to dance together “for fun” while training in Montreal’s Ice Academy, sparking their interest in campaigning for same-sex pairings.
“We realised that it was quite cool and that it was quite enjoyable and we said to ourselves, when we’re finished with our competitive career, we’ll try it for real,” Papadakis told AFP.
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Initially, they saw same-sex pairings as an opportunity to allow more women and girls to be ice skaters. Hubbell explained to Reuters that because there are fewer men and boys in the sport, many of their female counterparts can be left behind.
“There’s a limit to how many people right now are participating,” she said.
The wider impact has also become clear to them, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ ice skaters.
“It wasn’t our basic intention but we realise what it can represent, what it can show, for us, it’s something that is close to our hearts,” Papadakis commented. “I also realised while skating with Madison, is that there were codes that I had never really questioned all my life.”
Hubbell added, “With this project, we dream of a future where everyone can find their place on the ice regardless of their vision or identity.”
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At the moment, Skate Canada is the only governing body that allows same-sex pairings to compete nationally, a rule that came into place in 2022.
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