Key Takeaways:
- The Canadian Olympic Committee and Skate Canada have announced the 12 figure skaters nominated to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
- The team includes seven veterans and five newcomers, with Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier making their third Olympic appearance together.
- Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps will make their Olympic debut, with Stellato-Dudek becoming the oldest female figure skater in almost a century to compete at an Olympic Winter Games.
- The team will compete in the Ice Dance, Men’s Singles, Pairs, and Women’s Singles events, with the figure skating competition beginning on February 6 and ending on February 19.
- Team Canada has qualified for the Team Event at Milano Cortina 2026, with the roster of figure skaters to be finalized at a later date.
Introduction to Team Canada
The Canadian Olympic Committee and Skate Canada have announced the roster of 12 figure skaters nominated to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. The team includes a mix of experienced veterans and newcomers, all of whom have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to their craft. The selection process was based on international results and scores from the past two seasons, including the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships. Team Canada earned Olympic quotas through skaters’ placements at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, and the team is eager to take on the world’s best at the upcoming Games.
Veteran Skaters
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier will be making their third Olympic appearance together, having previously competed at PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. Poirier also competed at Vancouver 2010 with a previous partner, making him one of the few four-time Olympians to compete for Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026. Gilles and Poirier are four-time medallists at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships and are looking forward to the opportunity to compete for an Olympic medal. "Piper and I are honoured to be selected for our third Olympic Games alongside this incredible team!" said Poirier. "We’re so excited to represent Canada once more and hope to bring a medal home with us."
Newcomers to the Olympic Stage
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps will make their Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026, achieving a life-long dream that was decades in the making. Stellato-Dudek will become the oldest female figure skater in almost a century to compete at an Olympic Winter Games. The duo will be strong contenders after claiming two medals on the ISU Grand Prix circuit this season. "Maxime and I are honoured to represent the maple leaf in Milan," said Stellato-Dudek, who returned to skating in 2016 after a 16-year hiatus. "This selection represents years of work, discipline, and belief, and it is a dream come true."
Team Canada’s Olympic History
Figure skating is one of Canada’s most successful sports at the Olympic Winter Games, with 29 Olympic medals, six of which are gold. Team Canada has also qualified for the Team Event at Milano Cortina 2026, with the roster of figure skaters to be finalized at a later date. The team will count a total of seven veterans, including Beijing 2022 Team Event standout Madeline Schizas, as well as ice dancers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac, who previously competed for France at PyeongChang 2018. Among the five newcomers will be three-time ISU Grand Prix medallists Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, and first-time senior Canadian Champion Stephen Gogolev.
Competition Schedule
The figure skating competition will begin before the Opening Ceremony, on February 6 (Day 0) with the Ice Dance Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program, and Women’s Short Program segments of the Team Event. The final day of figure skating competition will be February 19 (Day 13) with the Women’s Free Skate. Figure skating will take place at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. "Congratulations on bringing your dreams to life with elegance, precision, and creativity," said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada’s Milano Cortina 2026 Chef de Mission. "This Olympic selection is a testament to your hard work, the challenges you’ve overcome, and your remarkable ability to inspire audiences with touching performances. In just a few weeks, your talent will shine on the world’s biggest stage, and Canada is ready to watch you shine."
Celebrating Team Canada
Team Canada FanFest is back, and fans can come celebrate and cheer on the athletes who will proudly represent Canada at Milano Cortina 2026. The event promises to be an immersive and festive experience, with unforgettable Olympic moments and a chance to be part of Team Canada. Fans can follow @TeamCanada on social media for the latest news and updates. With the Olympics just around the corner, Canadians can expect to be inspired by the talent, dedication, and perseverance of Team Canada’s figure skaters as they take on the world’s best at Milano Cortina 2026.