Canadians in Medal Hunt in Three Events at ISU Four Continents

Colorado Springs, USA (February 11, 2023) – Canadians are in the medal hunt in three events after the first two days at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

The first medals were handed in the women’s event Friday with South Koreans Haein Lee and Yelim Kim placing 1-2. Mone Chiba of Japan took the bronze. Sara-Maude Dupuis of Montreal, Que., was the top Canadian in ninth with a personal best 170.67 points. Canadian champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., was 10^th and Justine Miclette of Chambly, Que., was 11^th.

‘’I was at home on the ice,’’ said Dupuis, fourth at the Canadian Championships last month. ‘’I never expected to do this. I never seek perfection in my free program because it makes me more nervous but today, I exceeded my expectations.’’

In ice dancing, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Nikolaj Soerensen of Montreal, Que., are second after the rhythm dance with 86.28, while Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of St-Hubert, Que., are third at 79.04. Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac of Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que., sit in eighth place.

‘’We put the focus on quality and levels,’’ said Fournier Beaudry, who won two international medals and a Canadian title with her partner this season. ‘’We knew we had a lot of hard work to do. So, for this event we are not touching too much, just minor tweaks to make it as smooth as possible.’’

In pairs, Canadian champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Vaudreuil, Que., are second after Friday’s short program with 68.39. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan lead with 71.19 and Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe of the U.S. are third at 66.96. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps are finding their chemistry again after she battled a lengthy illness through December and January.

‘’Max is the one who has needed to adjust to me because I was at 80 percent for so long,’’ said Stellato-Dudek. ‘’We’re on the right trajectory to Worlds. Today could have gone better especially with the throw and side-by-side spins but we’re happy overall.’’

Lia Pereira of Milton, Ont., and Trennt Michaud of Brantford, Ont., are fourth with a personal best 65.16 and Kelly Ann Laurin of St-Jerome, Que., and Loucas Ethier of St. Adolphe, Que., are sixth at 59.12, an international best.

In the men’s short program which took place on Thursday, Canadian champion Keegan Messing was second, Conrad Orzel of Woodbridge, Ont., seventh and Stephen Gogolev of Toronto, Ont., 11^th.

Competition continues Saturday with the men’s and pair free skates. For full results, click here.