ZUrigo, 7 Feb. (askanews) -Legger, delicate and in perfect synchrony. A couple of dance on ice formed for the first time by two women. The Olympic champion and several times world gold, the French Gabriella Papadakis, famous in pairs on the ice with Guillaume Cizeron, this time he performed with the American Madison Hubbell, world vice -champion paired with Zachary Donohue.
The two skated together in the “Art On Ice” Gala in Zurich, performing steps and movements just like any mixed couple who performs in this discipline.
“Madison and I trained together for seven years in Montreal. In addition to being rivals, we were also friends. One day, during training, we skidded together for fun and we realized that it was very beautiful and pleasant – said Papadakis – we said to each other: when we have finished our competitive career, we will try seriously “.
“The reaction was extremely positive. I think people like to see something new, two women who skate together. It also represents a lot for several people “.
The champion, who retired from competitions, said that the project then also assumed a deeper value:
“It is something that is close to care. Madison is now a coach and has seen skate at the highest level girls who cannot find male partners and therefore could have the opportunity to skate together in a competition “.
In addition, he explained, “When I was young, I learned to skate with the idea that man leads and the woman follows. But skating with Madison I realized that I had never questioned these codes; I had simply accepted them and I thought: ok, it’s like that. It was skating with Madison that I started to question what we know and that, to begin with, it is quite restrictive “.
And Hubbell added: “I am enthusiastic that there are more and more people who want to overcome the limits and ask themselves … why not? This is, I believe, the conversation that Gabriella and I would like to start ”.
“I think in the future it would be really fun to train a team of two women who want to embark on a competitive career and this could perhaps be my dream in the next phase of the trip”.
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