Top Figure Skating Moments at Milano Cortina 2026
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games gave us moments we’ll be talking about for years to come. From heart-stopping performances and personal bests to fashion firsts and wholesome full circle moments, these Games had us laughing, crying and overflowing with Canadian pride. Let’s rewind and recap some of our favourite highlights from an unforgettable Olympics.
Team Canada Brings the Energy
Figure skating at the Games kicked off with the team event – and Canada came in loud and proud. The energy in the Team Canada box was electric and the energy on the ice was immaculate.
Madeline Schizas in the Team Canada box after the women’s short program (photo credits: International Skating Union).
Canadian skaters fed off each other’s momentum, racking up season’s bests and personal best scores while cheering their teammates on in true Canadian style. It wasn’t just about the competition – it was about Team Canada athletes coming together. As Maddie Schizas put it after her short program, ‘‘I frickin love team events!’’
After three days of competition, Canada finished in fifth place, a mere two points behind Georgia and six points off the podium.
Ice Dance Takes Center Stage
Ice dance kicked off the individual events, and our skaters immediately understood the assignment. Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac debuted a brand-new rhythm dance that became a crowd favorite, while former junior world champions Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha brought high energy with their sports-themed program.
And then there was Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, serving 90s runway vibes with their RuPaul-inspired rhythm dance for the second time at the Games. They scored a season’s best 86.18, landing in third and sparking everyone’s hopes for a medal.
View this post on Instagram
A Starry Night in Milan
Two days later, when Gilles and Poirier skated their Vincent van Gogh–inspired free dance, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. The duo ended the powerful, emotion-filled routine in tears, overwhelmed by the performance they had delivered. Fans around the world reached for their tissues and celebrated alongside Team Canada as they realized they had won a medal.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier win their first Olympic medal at Milano Cortina 2026.
After years of perseverance — including Gilles’ battle with ovarian cancer and overcoming grief — the pair captured their first Olympic bronze medal at their third Games together. Watching them stand on the podium was one of those ‘we’ll never forget where we were’ moments.
View this post on Instagram
A Debut to Remember
Another unforgettable highlight of the Games was Stephen Gogolev’s remarkable Olympic debut. After two injury-plagued seasons, Gogolev proved exactly what he’s capable of. He kicked things off with a strong short program in the team event to help Canada advance to the free skate, following it up with another standout skate in the free program.
Stephen Gogolev finishes fifth in the men’s competition at Milano Cortina 2026.
In the individual men’s competition, he earned personal bests in both his free skate and overall score, securing a top five finish — and posting the second-highest free skate score of the men’s event.
“I’d say a year ago, I wouldn’t have imagined that I would be able to be here at the Olympics and perform as well as I did today, so it’s very special,” Gogolev said.
We can’t wait to see what’s next for this talented 21-year-old!
Making History in Style
When Deanna Stellato-Dudek stepped onto Olympic ice with partner Maxime Deschamps, it already felt historic. After suffering an injury just before they were set to leave for the Games, Stellato-Dudek was cleared to compete and arrived in Milan with only two days to prepare. They powered through to deliver two programs they could be proud of, finishing in 11th place — a testament to their grit and determination.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps finish 11th overall.
Stellato-Dudek also made history as the oldest woman in nearly 100 years to compete in Olympic figure skating, proving that dreams don’t have deadlines. And she did it while wearing two custom dresses designed by Oscar de la Renta, marking the first time the legendary fashion house stepped into the sports world.
View this post on Instagram
Coming Full Circle
When Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud skated their short program to “Say You Love Me,” they didn’t just perform – they gave us goosebumps with their beautiful storytelling. Landing in medal contention after the short program, they had fans around the world fully invested.
Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud jump into medal contention after the pairs short program (photo credits: International Skating Union).
Michaud had the sweetest full circle moment when a puck was tossed on the ice at the end of his free program. He later shared that when he was 13, his uncle promised that if he ever competed at the Olympics, he’d throw a puck onto the ice. More than 15 years later, he kept that promise, reminding Michaud just how far he’s come.
Team Canada’s figure skaters gave us comeback stories, breakthrough performances, emotional celebrations, and memories that will live on far beyond Milan. As the curtain closes on the Olympic Winter Games, one thing is certain: these Games weren’t just about results — they perfectly showcased Canadian heart, resilience and pride.