BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (Feb. 22, 2026) — Two Canadian synchronized skating teams were on hand to represent their country at the 2026 Budapest Cup in Budapest, Hungary this past weekend—Gold Ice Junior (Brampton, Ont.) and Ice Ignite Junior (Ilderton, Ont.). 

Headed into Sunday’s free skate, Gold Ice Junior led the pack after scoring 58.96 in the short program. Ice Ignite Junior (57.68) trailed not far behind in second place. 

Both teams managed to hold on to their standing after the free program, as Gold Ice Junior emerged in first place with a free program score of 117.53 and an overall score of 176.49. 

“Our goal was to achieve a season’s best, and we did! We’ve been working all season on performing like practice and we executed under pressure,” said Gold Ice Junior co-captain Ashleigh Cavill. “After overcoming music challenges in the short program, we demonstrated grit and fight in our free skate.” 

“We are very proud of our free program skate since we achieved a personal and seasons best score and we felt that all our hard work and passion for the sport really showed through our performance,” added Gold Ice co-captain Christine Brown. “Our team especially enjoyed sharing the podium with our Skate Canada teammates, Ice Ignite!” 

This is the team’s second international gold medal in 2026, after taking first in their category at the Mozart Cup in Salzburg, Austria earlier on this season.  

Ice Ignite Junior finished second with a free program score of 107.42 and an overall score of 165.10. 

“We delivered two strong skates, with our free program being a particular highlight,” said Sophie Marcoux, Ice Ignite co-captain. “In that performance, we truly felt we were able to showcase our growth, connection, and resilience as a team, and we were thrilled to earn a new personal best score.” 

For many of Ice Ignite’s skaters, this was one of their first international appearances, making the team’s second-place finish more special. 

“We are so proud of every member of this team and deeply grateful for the opportunity to compete internationally,” echoed Isabella Rozak. “Representing Skate Canada and our country is something we do not take lightly, and this experience has only strengthened our motivation for the future!” 

Poland’s Le Soleil Junior concluded the podium, taking third place with an overall score of 141.64 points. 

For full results, click here.