Charlène Guignard: From Brest to the Olympic Ice
In Milan, Charlène Guignard (36), originally from Brest, France, but now representing Italy, is competing in her fourth Winter Olympic Games. This is poised to be a final, poignant performance on ice with her partner, Marco Fabbri, as they aim for a podium finish. Her subtle French accent hints at her journey.
Seventeen years spent on the other side of the Alps – “almost half her life” – have left an indelible mark on the 36-year-old. Today, Charlène is both the most Milanese of Breton women and the most Breton of Milanese. And it’s on home ice that she experiences her fourth Winter Olympics, under the Italian flag.
A Home Advantage
She resides just a quarter of an hour from the Mediolanum Forum, the venue for this year’s figure skating events, and has already familiarized herself with the potential stage for her Olympic exploits. While she typically trains on the ice rink designated for short-track speed skating during these Games, the arena holds no secrets for her.
“It’s going to be strange to compete in such an important event in a place that’s part of our daily lives,” she confides, observing the gradual transformation of her adopted city as preparations for the event unfold. “We’ve been training in Bergamo, an hour away from home, for about a month. We’re a bit removed from the Milanese buzz, which helps us stay focused on training.”
Rooted in Brittany
Despite a busy schedule including a European Championship (where they won silver) and the Olympics, Charlène felt the need to return “to the end of the world” during the holidays. A necessary break. “I needed to recharge, to make a real stop in Brest. Seeing my brothers, my mother, my grandparents always feels good.”
The path she’s traveled sometimes feels surreal. “When I was little, I said I wanted to compete in the Games, like many others. But I never imagined reaching this level,” she confesses, having first stepped onto the ice at three and a half years old, following her older brothers at the Rïnkla Stadium in Brest.
Italian by Choice, Breton at Heart
Behind the athlete who became an Italian citizen in 2013, the Breton girl who grew up in Relecq-Kerhuon is never far away. It resurfaces in her returns home, in small details and habits. “Crêpes on Sundays, without a doubt! With the billig (buckwheat flour), I discovered I had a knack for it, even though I’d never made them before.” A gesture passed down without instruction, a subtle reminder of her origins.
Since 2010, her life has been in Milan, alongside Marco Fabbri. Together, they form an inseparable duo, both on and off the ice. A couple with an impressive record, but still seeking an Olympic podium in ice dance (14th, 10th, then 5th). Four years ago, the idea of retiring was considered. Until the opportunity to compete at the home Games became undeniable.
“It was a unique chance,” she recalls. “If the Games hadn’t been here, we probably would have stopped sooner. Subconsciously, it pushed us.” Recent results have solidified their decision: European titles, World Championship medals… the momentum was too strong to interrupt. “We couldn’t qualify and then give up. With our results, we were right to continue. Whatever happens, we’ve remained at the highest level for four more years, and that was essential.”
A Final Dance
In Milan, Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri are known as “the oldest couple in the competition.” They’ve turned experience into a strength. “We’ve always sought to improve, to push our limits. Some couples reach a peak and settle there; we constantly work on all aspects.” The flame, however, hasn’t dimmed. “The sensations, the emotions… it’s incomparable to anything else.” An adventure made even more intense because it’s shared.
“We share everything: the successes, the struggles. This common strength helps us enormously.” In the heart of Lombardy, the road to the podium remains uncertain, especially with the unexpected return of France’s Guillaume Cizeron alongside Quebec’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry, recently crowned European champions ahead of the Italian duo. In a discipline subject to judges’ appreciation and a shifting hierarchy, Charlène Guignard moves forward without overthinking.
“Our goal is to skate as we know how, to show who we are. Of course, we’re here for the medal. It won’t be easy, but we’ll fight until the end.” From Brest to Milan, from a neighborhood rink to the Olympic arena, Charlène Guignard has never stopped moving forward. Italian by choice, Breton by roots, she’s not just skating for a medal. Behind this final Olympic dance lie seventeen years of self-imposed exile and a lifetime dedicated to the ice. Perhaps the most difficult, certainly the most memorable.
Charlène Guignard: Key Facts
- Born August 12, 1989, in Brest, France
- Began skating in 1993
- First partner: Guillaume Paulmier (2006-2009)
- Began partnership with Marco Fabbri in 2010
- Became an Italian citizen in 2013
- Fourth Olympic participation (after Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, and Beijing 2022)
- Eight-time Italian Champion (2019-2026)
- Three-time European Champion (2023-2025)
- World Championship Silver Medalist (2023)
