Olympian Nikolaj Sorensen accused of rape: dance partner's path to Olympics in jeopardy
Nikolaj Sorensen and Laurence Fournier Beaudry have been a dance pair for over ten years. Initially, the pair represented Denmark but later went on to perform for Team Canada.
7:45 AM EST, January 6, 2024
This shift was due to Sorensen and Fournier Beaudry being ineligible to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Fournier Beaudry's Danish citizenship application was rejected as she did not fulfill one of the conditions, a 10-year residency requirement in the country.
To participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sorensen pursued and successfully became a Canadian citizen. The Danish federation had earlier granted him the approval to switch his affiliation, supporting his decision for explicit purposes.
The 34-year-old figure skater is now in the news but for a troubling accusation. According to a report by "USA Today," a figure skating coach has claimed she was allegedly raped by him in 2012.
The Canadian office of the commissioner for sports integrity has begun an investigation into an alleged sexual assault of an American figure skating coach and ex-skater. Documents obtained by "USA Today" reveal that the 22-year-old woman at that time reported that Sorensen restrained her against her will on a bed during a party near Hartford, Connecticut, according to the American newspaper.
While the accuser's identity has been kept confidential, her account of the alleged incident has been included in the article.
"He held down my collarbone to the bed with his left hand. The force was so intense that I struggled to breathe. As he covered my mouth with his right hand, my struggle for breath intensified. In fear of my life, I let my body go limp as he raped me," the American woman reported.
The newspaper adaquately tried several times to get a comment from the skater about the allegations. However, he chose not to comment. It's known only that he deactivated or erased his official Instagram account.
