Winter Olympics star suffers wardrobe malfunction after nip slip value rival gold medal
The Canadian ice dancer avoided a potentially costly wardrobe malfunction during the rhythm dance at the Winter Olympics
The incident occurred during a routine spin(Image: Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
A Canadian ice-skating pair at the Winter Olympics narrowly avoided the same wardrobe disaster that struck Gabriella Papadakis in 2018.
The 30-year-old had suffered a costume malfunction eight years earlier while competing alongside Guillaume Cizeron, which exposed her chest.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier glided onto the ice for the rhythm dance portion of the contest, achieving a score of 86.18 and securing a podium position before the free dance segment. But this could have taken a drastically different turn had Gilles not demonstrated quick thinking during their routine.
Whilst the duo executed their combination of pirouettes and aerial manoeuvres across the rink, Poirier’s sleeve got attached to his partner’s tights. Olympic regulations dictate that should any element of the performers’ attire make contact with the ice surface, an immediate points penalty would be imposed.
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
However, Gilles refused to allow such a setback. The 34-year-old executed a swift rotation and seized the loose material that was fluttering around her, gripping it firmly for the remainder of their performance.
As the routine ended, Gilles demonstrated further savvy by positioning her hand behind her back, concealing the damaged fabric from view.
With the competition very tight at the top, Gilles maintained her partnership’s chances of securing bronze through her swift reactions. Papadakis might have wished she’d employed similar quick thinking during her wardrobe mishap in 2018, which could have kept her on track for Olympic glory.
The French skater had been among the leading contenders for Olympic gold that year with partner Cizeron. During a spin, Papadakis’s costume became unfastened and revealed her nipple, resulting in their marks being reduced.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
While they managed to secure silver in South Korea, the episode left its mark on both competitors. Papadakis said: “My costume opened up. It was difficult.
“It’s the first time that something like that happened. I tried to stay focused and finish without anything else happening.”
Cizeron added: “It’s just frustrating to miss a few points just because of a costume issue. It’s not what we get ready for when we train. But you know, I’m so proud that we managed to pull out a program like that even with a difficulty like this.”
Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live on discovery+
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is running from February 6-22 and fans can enjoy more than 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.
Throughout the games, the £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription will provide access to TNT Sports 2, the home of 24/7 Olympic coverage.
