With the 2026 Olympic Winter Games right around the corner, seven familiar faces are gearing up for another moment under the Olympic rings. Meet the Canadian skaters making their Olympic return in Milano Cortina. 

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier 

Four-time world ice dance medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier bring a wealth of experience to Team Canada. Milano Cortina will mark their third Olympic appearance together, and Poirier’s fourth, a testament to their longevity at the highest level of the sport. 

Since teaming up in 2011, the duo has steadily become a cornerstone of Canadian ice dance, reaching major milestones such as qualifying for their first Games together at PyeongChang 2018 and earning their first World Championship medal in 2021. 

Now five-time national champions, Gilles and Poirier are bringing a renewed sense of confidence to the Games. 

“We’ve been preparing pretty much the same as we did for Beijing, but now Paul and I have a bit more confidence in who we are,” said Gilles. “In the last games Paul and I wanted it too much. Now we will do everything we can do make it possible while not putting that pressure on ourselves.”  

As Team Canada veterans, they are also embracing their leadership role.  

“Seeing the rookies being named to the team is such a special moment. We are looking forward to being leaders, being like Mom and Dad.” said Gilles.  

Off the ice, Gilles is passionate about fashion design and has brought this creativity to life through their costumes. Meanwhile, Poirier, a linguistics graduate, speaks four languages – English, French, Japanese, and Spanish – which helps him connect with fans worldwide. 

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha 

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha’s partnership spans more than 15 years, starting at ages 11 and 12 at the pre-novice level and growing into one of Canada’s most consistent ice dance teams. 

At the junior level they earned three Canadian titles, a Youth Olympic bronze, and made history as only the second Canadian ice dance team to win a World Junior Championship. 

Since making their senior debut, the team has continued to impress, earning multiple national podium finishes and competing at the 2022 Beijing Games. Over the current quadrennial, they’ve also added two Four Continents bronze medals to their collection.  

Both athletes are deeply passionate about the artistry of figure skating, with Lagha studying choreography and contemporary dance at Concordia University, which he utilizes in the creative process of their programs. Outside of competing, Lajoie champions diversity and inclusion as the creator of Patinage Atypique, a charity skating event supporting the Autism Foundation. Lagha is also a trained pianist and enjoys playing chess. 

Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac 

Partners on and off the ice, ice dancers Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac have been skating together since 2014 and married for over a decade. They made their Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 representing France. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple switched to represent Canada, Lauriault’s birth country. 

Since then, they have established themselves as one of Canada’s top ice dance teams, earning their first Grand Prix medal at Skate America in 2022 and multiple national medals. After a challenging 2024–2025 season, they relocated their training to London, Ontario, to work with Scott Moir, Madison Hubbell, and Adrian Diaz. 

“Last season was tough, but we wouldn’t change anything because it brought us here,” Le Gac shared. 

When not training, the couple enjoys spending time with their dog Winnie, visiting family and, as self-proclaimed foodies, celebrating competitions with pizza and pasta. 

Madeline Schizas 

Twenty-two-year-old Madeline Schizas returns to the Olympic stage as Canada’s sole women’s singles skater. The Oakville, Ontario, native is a four-time Canadian national champion and currently studies Environment and Society at McMaster University. 

Schizas’ passion for figure skating was sparked at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, inspired by Joannie Rochette’s resilience and courage in winning bronze in the women’s event.  

At the Beijing Games, her strong performances in the Team Event helped Canada finish fourth overall. 

Outside the rink, she enjoys soccer, reading, proudly calling herself a Swiftie, and has hopes of pursuing a career in medicine.  

From February 6-19, 2026, these seasoned athletes are ready to bring their experience and passion back to Olympic ice! Don’t miss a moment of the action by subscribing to our Olympic Newsletter for daily updates, news, and highlights from the Games, delivered straight to your inbox.