Canada Ranks Among Top Five in Olympic Figure Skating Team Event
Team Canada is making a strong push in the figure skating team event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. After the rhythm dance, pairs short program, and women’s short program, Canada is currently sitting in fifth place with 19 points. This position is significant as it is the cutoff for advancement to the final phase of the competition. The top five teams will be confirmed following the men’s short programs scheduled for Saturday.
Current Standings and Points
After the opening day of competition, the standings are as follows:
- United States: 25 points
- Japan: 23 points
- Italy: 22 points
- Georgia: 20 points
- Canada: 19 points
Rhythm Dance Performance
The team event kicked off with the rhythm dance. Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier represented Canada, achieving a season-best score of 85.79. They finished in fourth place, just shy of the podium, trailing Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson.
Piper Gilles noted, “We really just let our training kind of just happen today.” She expressed satisfaction with the performance, viewing it as a valuable experience ahead of the individual competitions. Meanwhile, Paul Poirier emphasized the importance of teamwork, saying, “Everybody has a role and everybody contributes.”
Pairs Short Program
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud took the ice next in the pairs short program. They were unexpectedly called to compete in this segment after the withdrawal of 2024 World Champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps due to an injury. Pereira and Michaud ranked fourth with a score of 68.24, despite facing minor issues during their performance.
Pereira reflected on their motivation, stating, “We just wanted to put our energy towards that,” in honor of their teammates. Michaud added that they felt supported by Team Canada and aimed to refine their routine for the upcoming individual event.
Women’s Short Program
Madeline Schizas concluded the day with her performance in the women’s short program, earning sixth place. Although she faced a deduction due to a slight issue with her triple Lutz, her overall performance was commendable.
Schizas demonstrated professionalism when she had to restart her program due to an oversight with her music. “I knew exactly what to do,” she explained, showing confidence in her ability to handle unexpected situations.
Looking Ahead
As the competition progresses, Stephen Gogolev will aim to secure Canada’s advancement to the final phase during the men’s short program on Saturday. The team’s collective performances set the stage for an exciting continuation at the Milano Cortina Games.
