Former U.S. ice dancer comes forward in Nikolaj Sørensen sexual assault case

Yahoo Sports2h ago12 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Ashley Foy, a former U.S. ice dancer, has publicly identified herself as a survivor in the Nikolaj Sørensen sexual assault case. She expressed her determination to speak out despite fears of professional retaliation.

Key points

Ashley Foy identifies as a survivor in the Sørensen case
Foy expressed fear of professional retaliation for speaking out
Sørensen's six-year competition ban was overturned in June 2025
The ban's overturn is under review by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada
Foy's friends faced severe consequences for coming forward

Mentioned in this story

Ashley FoyNikolaj SørensenBridget NamiotkaGabi Papadakis

The ongoing sexual assault case against Canadian Olympic ice dancer Nikolaj Sørensen has a shocking update as the survivor of the assault has come public.

In interviews with Broken Ice and USA TODAY sports columnist Christine Brennan, Ashley Foy, a former United States ice dancer and currently a coach in the Netherlands, said that she "[does not] care what professional retaliation I face anymore. I can't bear to face another person talking about this case to me not knowing I'm the victim."

Foy mentioned that she had originally not wanted to come forward due to experiences her friends suffered. She mentions that her childhood friend Bridget Namiotka died after being bullied for coming forward, while another friend Gabi Papadakis lost her job for a similar reason.

What's the status of Nikolaj Sørensen's ice dancing ban

In 2024, amid the investigation into allegations of sexual assault against a then 22-year-old woman, Sorensen was banned from competing in ice dancing for six years. However, that ban was overturned in June 2025, but that decision is still being argued over by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada with a final decision yet to be announced.

Sorensen's ice dance partner and girlfriend Laurence Fournier Beaudry has expressed support for her partner, while Sorensen himself has denied all allegations.

In February 2026, following the release of the Netflix documentary "Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing", USA TODAY reported that Foy — still wishing to remain anonymous at the time — was unhappy with the documentary, believing it gave Fournier Beaudry a platform to defend Sorensen and denounce survivors of sexual assault.

Q&A

Who is Ashley Foy and what did she say about Nikolaj Sørensen?

Ashley Foy is a former U.S. ice dancer who has come forward as a survivor in the Nikolaj Sørensen sexual assault case, stating she can no longer endure the silence surrounding her experience.

What is the current status of Nikolaj Sørensen's competition ban?

Nikolaj Sørensen was banned from ice dancing for six years in 2024 due to sexual assault allegations, but this ban was overturned in June 2025 and is currently under review by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.

What impact did bullying have on Ashley Foy's decision to come forward?

Ashley Foy initially hesitated to come forward due to the tragic experiences of her friends, including the bullying that led to the death of her childhood friend, Bridget Namiotka.

What are the allegations against Nikolaj Sørensen?

Nikolaj Sørensen faces allegations of sexual assault against a then 22-year-old woman, which prompted an investigation and subsequent competition ban.