Canadians Lauriault and Le Gac edged for bronze at U.S. International Figure Skating Classic

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (September 16, 2022) – Canadian ice dancers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac came within less than four points of the podium to finish fourth on Thursday evening at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, the opening stop on the ISU Challenger Series.

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain won the gold medal with 190.80 points. Eva Pate and Logan Bye of the U.S. took the silver with 179.63, edging compatriots Lorraine McNamara and Anton Spiridonov who were third at 179.03. Lauriault and Le Gac ranked third for the free dance but it wasn’t enough to catch the bronze medallists, the Canadians finishing with 175.67 points.

“These are two programs we love to perform,’’ said Lauriault, 25, from Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que. “It was fun to perform it in public and we’re excited about the season.’’

The couple were married in 2015 and previously represented France internationally, where they placed 17th at the 2018 Winter Olympics. They announced in June 2021 they would skate for Canada. This past winter they were sixth at the ISU Four Continents.

Haley Sales of Kelowna, B.C., and Nikolas Wamsteeker of Langley, B.C., followed in fifth at 170.11.

“The fun part at this time of the season is the learning,’’ said Wamsteeker. “It’s fun to go out there and try different things and see what we can improve or go back to the drawing board with.’’

The pairs event was won by Italians Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini ahead of three American couples. Kelly Ann-Laurin of St-Jérome, Que., and Loucas Ethier of Deux-Montagnes, Que., were fifth and Lori-Ann Matte and Thierry Ferland of Levis, Que., took seventh place.

In men’s competition, world junior champion Ilia Malinin of the U.S. won an historic gold with Kevin Aymoz of France coming in second and Camden Pulkinen of the U.S. third. Stephen Gogolev of Toronto was the top Canadian in sixth while Wesley Chiu of Richmond, B.C. was 10th. Chiu and Gogolev were fourth and fifth at the world junior championships last season.

There were no Canadian entries in women’s competition.

The Challenger Series provides opportunities for senior skaters to compete at an international level and earn world ranking points. Click here for full results.