Gilles and Poirier Lead Canada’s Figure Skating Team to 2026 Olympics

The Canadian figure skating team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics has been announced, featuring a strong lineup of twelve athletes. Leading the team are accomplished ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who have gained recognition for their performances at recent world championships.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier: Olympic Veterans

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will represent Canada at their third Olympic Games. The duo previously competed in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022, earning silver medals at the past two world championships. Poirier, with extensive experience, will make his fourth Olympic appearance, having also participated in the 2010 Winter Games held in Vancouver.

“Piper and I are honoured to be selected for our third Olympic Games alongside this incredible team,” Poirier expressed. “We’re so excited to represent Canada once more and hope to bring a medal home with us.”

Debut of the Pairs Team

Joining them is the pairs team of Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who will make their Olympic debut in Italy. Stellato-Dudek, at 42 years old, will break a record as the oldest female figure skater to compete at a Winter Olympics since Ethel Muckelt represented Great Britain in 1928.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps have showcased their talent by winning two medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season. They secured silver at the Grand Prix de France and gold at Skate Canada. Stellato-Dudek stated, “Maxime and I are honoured to represent the maple leaf in Milan. This selection represents years of work, discipline and belief, and it is a dream come true.”

Team Composition

Canada’s figure skating team will feature various events, including the team competition, ice dance, pairs, and singles for both men and women. The full roster includes:

• Ice Dance

  • Piper Gilles (Toronto) and Paul Poirier (Unionville, Ont.)
  • Marjorie Lajoie (Boucherville, Que.) and Zachary Lagha (St-Hubert, Que.)
  • Marie-Jade Lauriault (Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que.) and Romain Le Gac (Laval, Que.)

• Men’s Singles

  • Stephen Gogolev

• Pairs

  • Deanna Stellato-Dudek (Chicago, Illinois) and Maxime Deschamps (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.)
  • Lia Pereira (Milton, Ont.) and Trennt Michaud (Trenton, Ont.)

• Women’s Singles

  • Madeline Schizas (Oakville, Ont.)

Timeline for the Olympics

The figure skating events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics will take place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena from February 6 to 19. Canada will be looking to build on its legacy in figure skating and hopes to secure medals across various categories.