Lia Cho, 13, breaks own Canadian junior women’s record at figure skating nationals

By Canadian Press on January 7, 2026.

GATINEAU — Figure skating prodigy Lia Cho set another Canadian junior women’s record en route to gold at the 2026 Canadian figure skating championships Wednesday.

The 13-year-old from Calgary topped the junior women’s field with 199.60 points, besting her previous mark of 188.79 set at nationals last year in Laval, Que.

Cho landed seven triple jumps to beat Victoria Barakhtina, who claimed silver with 171.93 points. Quinn Startek took bronze (157.93).

Cho, who skates out of The Glencoe Club with coach Scott Davis, was an ice patcher at nationals in 2024. She will become eligible for the world junior championships in 2027.

In the junior men’s event, Parker Heiderich of Calgary captured gold with 188.16 points, finishing ahead of silver medallist William Chan and bronze medallist James Cha.

Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys won gold in junior ice dance, scoring 170.33.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2026.

The Canadian Press

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