GATINEAU — Madeline Schizas won her fourth women’s singles title, while Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier captured their fifth ice dance crown Sunday at the Canadian figure skating championships.
Schizas, a 22-year-old from Oakville, Ont., scored 135.94 points in her free skate to “Butterfly Lovers Concerto,” posting a winning total of 200.86 to climb from fourth to first at Centre Slush Puppie.
“I wasn’t going down without a fight, and I think I proved that today,” Schizas said.
Gabrielle Daleman, a two-time Olympian, claimed silver with 195.35 points in her return to nationals for the first time since 2022 due to a series of severe back and ankle injuries.
“At the end of the day, it took a lot of guts and a lot of courage for me to come back,” she said.
“Was that the skate I wanted? No. Was it a bad skate? Also, no. I fought through the entire program. I’m not going to lie, there was a hell of a lot of pressure. It was great competition. She killed it. She knocked it out of the park — well-deserved.”
Daleman, days away from turning 28, hoped to become the first Canadian women’s singles skater to reach three Olympics. She broke down in tears after her program.
“I’m very hard on myself, I wanted this spot, didn’t get it,” she said. “The tears at the end was not just heartbreak. (I) was extremely proud. I was not able to get out of bed a year ago. I wasn’t walking a year, and now I’m again on the national podium after being told I wouldn’t skate or walk again.
“I have to give myself that grace. It’s going to take probably a few days, but I’m gonna give it to myself.”
Minsol Kwon, a 16-year-old from South Korea, took bronze (193.18). Kwon was released by her home country to skate in Canada domestically, but she cannot yet represent Canada internationally.
Kwon led after Saturday’s short program, but only 1.59 points separated the top four of her, Daleman, Sara-Maude Dupuis and Schizas.
Schizas arrived in Gatineau as the front-runner to claim Canada’s only women’s spot for February’s Milan Cortina Olympics after representing the country at the past five world championships, and all but secured her place at a second Winter Games on Sunday.
“I’m so excited,” she said. “The first one was obviously COVID. I’m really excited. I’ll have my family there. My aunt and uncle are coming. My parents are coming, so I’m really, really excited that they’re all going to be there to support me.”
Other than popping out of a double axel, Schizas skated a near-perfect free program.
Gilles and Poirier, who were silver medallists in the last two world championships, scored 217.32 points in their “Vincent” free dance Sunday.
They pushed their total to 231.05 — breaking their own Canadian record — after leading comfortably with 93.11 points following Saturday’s rhythm dance.
Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha repeated as silver medallists at the Canadian championships, scoring 200.93.
Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac took bronze with 196.12, beating Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer by 4.81 points in a battle for Canada’s final Olympic spot. Lauriault and Le Gac led Fabbri and Ayer by only 0.59 after the rhythm dance.
Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev captured his first senior men’s singles title Saturday, while Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud claimed gold over 2024 world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps in pairs.
Skate Canada was scheduled to announce its full Olympic team Sunday evening. Canada has seven entries — three ice dance teams, two pairs and one each in men’s and women’s singles — and will compete in the team event.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 11, 2026.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
