The last time Madeline Schizas competed in Mississauga, Ontario, she was just 16 years old. She joked on Friday that she was more interested in Piper Gilles’ dog Scout, who was at the rink, than the fact that she had just won a national bronze medal.
It was the 2020 Canadian Championships. The COVID-19 pandemic hit a few weeks later and all but wiped out the world figure skating calendar for the better part of two years.
On Friday, moments after setting the best short program at Skate Canada International, Schizas marveled at how life has changed since then.
“Now I’ve come into this event as the top Canadian, and it’s just a totally different experience,” Schizas said. “It’s kind of crazy for me to think it wasn’t that long ago, it wasn’t even three years ago. And it’s so exciting to be back in this building in a different role. in my career.”
WATCH l Reigning Canadian National Champion Schizas takes the lead:
Defending Canadian national champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., won the women’s short program with a score of 67.90 at Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ont.
The 19-year-old from Oakville, Ont., who made a statement during Canada’s fourth-place finish in the team event at the Beijing Olympics, scored 67.90 points for her “diabolical” program on the “Black Swan” soundtrack.
“I’ll be honest, he’s not really my favorite kind of character,” said Schizas, who will skate to the more upbeat “West Side Story” soundtrack in Saturday’s free skate.
Her Canadian teammate Gabrielle Daleman is second, just 1.25 points from her first Grand Prix appearance since finishing 10th at Skate Canada in 2019.
WATCH Daleman of Newmarket, Ont., takes 2nd place with 66.65 points:
Gabrielle Daleman, of Newmarket, Ont., sits in second place with 66.65 after the ladies’ short program at Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ont.
Schizas has thrived in relative obscurity during the pandemic, with most skating competitions either taking place virtually, live but without fans, or canceled altogether.
His performances in the team event in Beijing were a revelation, and that’s why Canada finished fourth – and are still in contention for bronze pending the outcome of the Russian doping scandal.
Schizas said heightened expectations after Beijing took their toll earlier this season. A bad case of nerves saw her finish fifth at the recent Nebelhorn Trophy after a horrible free program in 10th place.
Schizas also recently moved to Hamilton, Ontario to study human behavior at McMaster University. Due to the pandemic, this is the first time she’s been in a live classroom since 11th grade.
Daleman, meanwhile, was thrilled with her own skate at Rhianna’s “Diamonds” after a summer that included a long list of ailments, including COVID-19, an abdominal tear, a back injury from a car accident and diagnosed with Bell’s palsy.
“It shows how strong I am and how much I love this sport and that nothing, no one, is going to hold me down or bring me down,” Daleman said.
The 24-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., was one of Canada’s promising young skaters, having made her Olympic debut in 2014 at just 16 years old. She won world bronze in 2017, but her career has been a roller coaster ever since.
“I think it’s good because you have Gabby, who’s been kind of a veteran; she’s kind of making a comeback,” Gilles said. “And Maddie is finally in her element and feeling confident. So we’re proud to be part of their team and supporting them every step of the way. It’s been an honor to watch Maddie grow as an athlete and really step into it. yourself and being a leader. So we’re really excited for both of them.
American Ava Marie Ziegler is third at 66.49.
Gilles, Poirier in the lead after the rhythmic dance
Canada’s world bronze medalists Gilles and Paul Poirier are the leaders after the rhythm dance.
Gilles and Poirier scored 87.23 points with their rhythmic rumba dance on their season debut.
“Especially the first time, there’s always this stage fright, no one has seen the programs yet, you don’t know how it’s going to be received, if people are going to like it, if really the crowd is going to get into your energy, said Poirier.
WATCH | Gilles and Poirier sit at the top of the ranking:
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier scored 87.23 after their rhythm dance performance to lead at Skate Canada International in Mississauga, Ont.
Gilles and Poirier, who are both 30, took six weeks off last summer to think about their future after the pandemic robbed them of any enjoyment of the Olympic season in Beijing.
“Really, the goal for this season, especially for this first competition, was just to get out there and compete again with that joy of skating,” said Poirier. “And I think we really felt that between the two of us today, we felt connected, we felt grounded and we felt in our element.”
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain head into Saturday’s free dance in second at 83.80, while Americans Caroline Green and Michael Parsons are third (76.13).
Miura leads Uno in the men’s short program
Japan’s Kao Miura scored 94.06 to beat compatriot and reigning world champion Shoma Uno (89.98) in the men’s short program. Italian Matteo Rizzo finished third (81.18).
Canadian Keegan Messing finished fourth (79.69) after a bad fall on his quadruple toe loop, while his compatriot Stephen Gogolev is 11th (57.94).
“Skating is coming,” said Messing, who knew in the air he was going to crash. “It was definitely a moment where you just had to stop to do the rotations and prepare for the inevitable impact that was soon to come.”
WATCH | Japan’s Miura leads after the men’s short program:
Japan’s Kao Miura scored 94.06 for his short program and is the leader after the short program at Skate Canada International.
Messing said he got a little emotional before skating in his Skate Canada final.
“I had to remind myself that this year I wasn’t skiing for a field goal,” said Messing, who is retiring after this season. “This year is for me and I went there and I was just having fun. Yeah the jumps weren’t there but I gave it my all, I had fun with my footwork, I was playing with the crowd. And gosh, the crowd was right there behind me at home.”
Free programs are on Saturdays. The Grand Prix circuit concludes with the final in Turin, Italy in December.
Watch live coverage of Skate Canada International on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android. The action begins on Friday.
Event calendar
- Friday October 21: Couples Short Program (6:40 p.m. ET), Men’s Short Program (8:11 p.m. ET)
- Saturday October 22: Women’s Free Routine (1:10 p.m. ET), Ice Dance Free Dance (3:20 p.m. ET), Pairs Free Routine (5:55 p.m. ET), Men’s Free Routine (7:31 p.m. ET)
- Sunday October 23: Gala Exhibition (2 p.m. ET)
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