Gilles, Poirier lead after rhythm dance at Canadian figure skating championships

By Canadian Press on January 10, 2026.

GATINEAU — Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are in the lead after Saturday’s rhythm dance at the Canadian figure skating championships.

The four-time national champions scored 93.11 points to RuPaul’s “Supermodel (You Better Work)” at Centre Slush Puppie, where they received a standing ovation. Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha sat second with 86.93.

Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac were third with 78.64, only 0.59 ahead of Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer in a battle for Canada’s last Olympic spot.

Canada holds three ice dance entries in next month’s Milan Cortina Games. The full Olympic figure skating team will be announced Sunday after the free dance.

The men’s free program was scheduled for later Saturday, followed by the women’s short and pairs free.

Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev led the men’s competition after Friday’s short program, while 2024 world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps ranked first in pairs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 10, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press