Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier achieved a historic milestone at the Skate Canada International figure skating competition by securing their sixth consecutive gold medals. They made history as the first ice dance pair to achieve this feat with a total score of 202.89. The duo narrowly edged out Lithuania’s Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius, who finished with a total score of 200.92. Canada’s Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha claimed the bronze medal with a total score of 192.41.
Gilles and Poirier took the lead after Saturday’s rhythm dance, earning a score of 85.38, while Reed and Ambrulevicius followed closely with a score of 80.89.
In the free dance on Sunday, the Lithuanian pair earned 120.03 points, but it was not enough to close the gap, as Gilles and Poirier secured 117.51 points, ultimately clinching the gold medal.
At the men’s free dance competition, Roman Sadovsky was the top Canadian, finishing in seventh place with a score of 236.73. Stephen Gogolev closely followed in eighth place with a score of 236.48, while Aleksa Rakic finished in 12th place with a score of 216.90. Ilia Malinin from the United States emerged victorious with a total score of 333.81.
Ilia Malinin set a new world record for the free skate, maintaining his undefeated streak for two years. With an exceptional performance, he landed six quads and a triple axel, securing a commanding victory over second-place Aleksandr Selevko. Malinin’s outstanding performance positions him as a strong contender for the Olympic gold at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Games.
In the women’s event, Selevko finished in second place with 257.21 points, while Kao Miura from Japan claimed the bronze with 253.69 points.
Malinin’s free-skate score of 228.97 exceeded the previous record under the current scoring system, showcasing his dominance in the competition. His remarkable performance solidified his position as a top figure skater on the international stage.
Malinin’s unbeaten streak dates back to November 2023, with consistent victories at major competitions. The Skate Canada International is part of the Grand Prix series, with upcoming events including the NHK Trophy in Japan, Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y., and the Finlandia Trophy, offering skaters a final chance to qualify for the Grand Prix Final.