Eight NextGen Skaters Set to Compete at First Junior ISU Grand Prix of the 2024-2025 Season in Latvia

OTTAWA, ON (August 26, 2024) – Eight NextGen athletes will kick off their international competition season at the first ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which is scheduled to take place in Riga, Latvia from August 28-31, 2024. Canada will count one entry in men, women and pairs, as well as two ice dance teams.   

The team will be led by ice dance veterans and 2023 junior national silver medalists Sandrine Gauthier and Quentin Thieren who are returning to the junior ranks after competing as seniors last season. 2023 Grand Prix Final bronze medalists Jazmine Desrochers and Kieran Thrasher will also have their sights set on the podium after the team finished third at both of their Grand Prix assignments last year.  

In singles, Anthony Paradis will be looking to showcase a new short program which earned him a gold medal at the 2024 NextGen Competition hosted by Skate Canada. Paradis had a breakthrough season last year, placing third at his first senior national championships despite struggling with equipment issues during his program. Junior national champion Lulu Lin will be competing in the women’s event.  

Rounding out the team will be ice dancers Auréa Cinçon-Debout and Earl Jesse Celestino who recently placed fourth at the 2024 NextGen Competition. For the full competition schedule, entries and results, please visit www.isu.org.  

 Team Canada  

Name | Age | Hometown | Coach | Training Location    

Women  
Lulu Lin | 14 | Oakville, Ont. | Paul Parkinson | Toronto, Ont.  

Men  
Anthony Paradis | 17 | Boisbriand, Que. | Yvan Desjardins | Rosemère, Que.  

Pairs 
Jazmine Desrochers | 18 | Mississauga, Ont. & Kieran Thrasher | 20 | Amherstburg, Ont. | Jeff Langdon | Oakville, Ont.  

 Ice Dance  
Auréa Cinçon-Debout | 17 | Quebec City, Que. & Earl Jesse Celestino | 18 | Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. | Benjamin Brisebois | Montreal, Que.  
Sandrine Gauthier | 20 | Saint-Constant, Que. & Quentin Thieren | 20 | Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. | Benjamin Brisebois | Montreal, Que.  

 Team Leaders – Andre Bourgeois & Danielle Williams 
Officials – Genevieve Rosa & Erica Topolski 
Medical Team – Lydia Schultz & Meaghan Shewchuk