Madeline Schizas radiated joy as she departed the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, her beaming smile reflecting the excitement of competing on the Olympic stage. However, that joy quickly shifted to disappointment when the scores flashed across the screen. Skating in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the talented 22-year-old from Oakville, Ontario, had hoped for a personal best after executing an impressive routine to music from *The Lion King*. Yet, an under-rotation on one of her jumps impacted her score, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the women’s short programme.
A Mixed Day for Canada
Schizas’s performance garnered her 64.97 points, just shy of her season’s best by approximately 1.5 points. Despite her personal satisfaction with the skate, the scoring left Canada in a disappointing fifth place after the first round of competition, falling from fourth following this segment.
“I skated really well. I skated as well as I could have, so I’m really happy with my performance,” said Schizas, expressing her curiosity about the judging breakdown. “I’m just curious to see what I could have done better today. [The jumps] all felt okay, so I am not really sure if something was called or not.”
At the end of the day, Canada accumulated 19 points, placing them behind the United States, who led with 25 points, followed by Japan with 23 and Italy with 22. Georgia slotted into fourth with 20 points, while France trailed Canada by two points in sixth place. The competition will continue with the men’s short programme scheduled for Saturday evening, as teams aim to secure a spot in the finals, which will conclude on Sunday.
Coaches and Competitors Reflect
Nancy Lemaire, Schizas’s coach, admitted to some surprise at the score, noting that a two-point deduction for a slight miscalculation on a triple-toe loop likely affected her final tally. “I think it could have been 67, but that would have been the difference,” she reflected. “I don’t think she really needs to change anything. Just keep being aggressive, be proud of how she did, and come back in the long.”
Schizas’s journey back to the Olympics included an unexpected hiccup when the first few seconds of her music failed to play, prompting her to request a restart—a common occurrence in smaller competitions. “I couldn’t have controlled how they played the music, so I’m glad I did because our whole team heard the error and I was entitled to a re-skate,” she explained, unfazed by the technical glitch.
Earlier in the day, fellow Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier from Unionville, Ontario, delivered a season-best score of 85.79 points in their rhythm dance to “Supermodel” by RuPaul. However, they finished fourth in their event, trailing behind Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson. “It’s our season’s best so far,” Gilles remarked, making it clear that they would assess their participation in Saturday’s free dance contingent upon Canada’s qualification.
Pairs Team Faces Unique Challenges
In the pairs segment, Trennt Michaud from Trenton, Ontario, and Lia Pereira from Milton, Ontario, made their Olympic debuts, finishing fourth with a score of 68.24 points. They stepped in for former world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who withdrew following a training accident. Despite the circumstances, Michaud expressed their determination to honour their teammates. “It just gives us motivation, and we just had to skate for them,” he said. “We’re going to do that again on Sunday and just have them in our thoughts. A little extra motivation for not just ourselves, but the rest of Team Canada as well.”
With the team event continuing, Canada has a history of success to draw upon, having claimed gold in the team event at the 2018 Games, led by ice dance legends Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
Why it Matters
The performances of Canada’s figure skaters at the Olympics serve as a testament to their resilience and determination in the face of challenges. The ups and downs of competition not only highlight the athletes’ individual talents but also underscore the importance of teamwork and support within the national programme. As they navigate the pressures of the Olympic stage, their experiences will undoubtedly inspire future generations of skaters in Canada and beyond, reinforcing the nation’s rich legacy in winter sports.
