The 2017 French Figure Skating Championships take place Dec. 14-16 in Nantes. Teams for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, Europeans and Worlds will be determined following this event. Reigning pairs champions Vanessa James and Morgan Ciprès have withdrawn. James hurt her left shoulder on a quad throw in practice and was forced to withdraw. Despite not competing, James and Ciprès will most definitely be named to the Olympic, European and World teams. Many expect this pairs duo to challenge for medals at all three competitions.
At this time, it is unclear what the plan will be for the second pairs team of Lola Esbrat and Andrei Novoselov. To earn a place at the Olympic Winter Games Novoselov will need French citizenship, which he currently does not have and unless that comes through in the next month, that team will be watching the Games at home on television. Update: Novoselov did not obtain French citizenship and the pair split.
Ice dancers Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron are headed to PyeongChang with a solid shot at claiming gold. If they are successful in that venture, they will be the first French team in 16 years to wear an Olympic ice dance crown. Marina Anissina and Gwendal Piezerat were the last to do so in 2002.
It is predicted that the sole berth in the ladies discipline will go to Maé-Bérénice Méité, who has achieved better results on the international stages this season than her domestic rivals. But, she will be challenged by Laurine Lecavalier who has her heart set on competing in PyeongChang.
Chafik Besseghier and Romain Ponsart will battle it for the lone spot France has in the men′s event at the European and World Figure Skating Championships and 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
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