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FBI protects threatened French couple
MINNEAPOLIS (CP) The FBI has been called in to protect French ice dancers Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat after Peizerat received threats before arriving for the world figure skating championships.The French won bronze Olympic medals last month when Canadians Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz finished fourth and their coach, Natalia Dubova, complained of rigged judging.
Didier Gailhaguet, the director of the French skating federation, has been assured by USFSA head Morry Stillwell that security will be tightened. The dance event begins Tuesday.
Peizerat has received threats in Lyon on his cell phone, Gailhaguet told the USFA. As well, the International Skating Union office in Lausanne, Switzerland, has received letters of protest over the Olympic results.
Gailhaguet suggests Canadian skating fans might be among those responsible for some of the harrassment. How would he know their nationality?
"He says it is because of their accent," a source explained.
A sample of a post-Olympic call received by Peizerat, according to Gailhaguet: "Hear me (expletive), you better not come because you will be beaten up."
Given the sport's recent history, anything outside the ordinary is possible.
In 1994, the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan fiasco was big news. Kerrigan was attacked by a club-weilding acquaintance of Harding's during a practice in Detroit.
In 1996, a man stalked American teen Michelle Kwan and was apprehended in the Paris Bercy arena with a knife in a pocket.
Gailhaguet demanded protected for his skaters in a March 23 fax to the USFSA.
Anissina and Peizerat were among teammates honored by French President Jacques Chirac after they won Olympic medals. In a special ceremony in Paris, they were awarded national medals of merit.