Key Takeaways
- Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier took the lead in the rhythm dance with a personal best score of 93.11
- Stephen Gogolev was crowned the new Canadian men’s champion with a total score of 275.50
- Minsol Kwon took the lead in the women’s short program with a score of 66.51
- Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claimed their first national title in the pairs free program with an overall score of 204.14
- The 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships continued with intense competition on its fifth day
Introduction to the Championships
The 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships entered its fifth day of competition at Gatineau’s Centre Slush Puppie, with skaters giving their all to secure top spots in their respective categories. The event saw a series of intense performances, with some skaters setting personal bests and others facing tough competition. The atmosphere was electric, with the crowd cheering on their favorite skaters as they took to the ice.
Rhythm Dance Performance
One of the highlights of the day was the rhythm dance performance by Ontario’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. The four-time national champions wowed the audience with their routine set to Ru Paul’s "Supermodel (You Better Work)," scoring an impressive 93.11 and setting a personal best. Gilles expressed her excitement and pride in their performance, stating that it felt like they were skating at home. The pair’s comfortable lead puts them in a strong position heading into the free dance, with Quebec’s Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha trailing behind in second place.
Men’s Free Skate
The men’s free skate saw a new Canadian champion crowned, with Stephen Gogolev taking the top spot. The 21-year-old skater from Toronto came into the free skate with a commanding lead and delivered a moving and technically strong routine, scoring 175.90 and bringing his total score to 275.50. Gogolev was overwhelmed with emotion, stating that it felt surreal and that he was happy with his performance despite it not being perfect. Ontario’s Roman Sadovsky finished second overall, while British Columbia’s Aleksa Rakic took third place.
Women’s Short Program
The women’s competition also kicked off on Saturday with the short program, with Ontario’s Minsol Kwon taking the lead with a score of 66.51. Kwon, who originally hails from Seoul, South Korea, but was officially released by the Korean Skating Union to compete domestically in Canada, expressed her surprise and happiness at taking the top spot. However, the competition is far from over, with Gabrielle Daleman and Sara-Maude Dupuis hot on her heels in second and third place, respectively.
Pairs Free Program
The pairs free program saw a surprise victory, with Ontario’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claiming their first national title as a pair. The duo delivered a strong performance, scoring 135.03 points and an overall score of 204.14. Michaud expressed his pride and happiness at their achievement, stating that it was a testament to their hard work and dedication. Quebec’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps fell to second place, while Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier took third.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships have been a thrilling event so far, with skaters giving their all to secure top spots. As the competition comes to a close, the skaters will be looking to build on their momentum and prepare for the upcoming Olympic season. With the Olympics on the horizon, the pressure is on for the skaters to perform at their best and make their country proud. The championships have been a showcase of talent, dedication, and perseverance, and it will be exciting to see how the skaters fare in the upcoming events.
