In 2018, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir concluded their Olympic career with a remarkable performance at the Pyeongchang Games, securing gold with a record-setting free-dance routine themed after “Moulin Rouge” at the Gangneung Ice Arena. The Canadian duo’s victory marked their status as the greatest ice dancers of their generation and possibly all time, according to CBC Sports analyst Brenda Irving. This achievement remains Canada’s most recent Olympic gold in figure skating.
During the Pyeongchang Games, Canadian figure skaters made a total of four podium appearances, with Virtue and Moir contributing to Canada’s team gold alongside Kaetlyn Osmond and Meagan Duhamel-Eric Radford duo, who each earned bronze medals. Fast forward to Milano Cortina 2026, and Canada aims for at least one medal, recognizing the challenge of replicating past success.
After the 2018 Olympics, Canada’s figure skating landscape underwent significant changes as several star athletes retired, including Virtue and Moir, Duhamel, Radford, Osmond, and Patrick Chan. The void left by these retirements led to a rebuilding phase for Canadian figure skating.
Looking ahead to the Milan team selection at the senior nationals, Skate Canada’s high-performance director, Mike Slipchuk, draws from the 2018 experience to guide the current group’s preparations. Despite the high expectations set by the previous golden generation, current Canadian skaters like Piper Gilles, Paul Poirier, Deanna Stellato-Dudek, and Maxime Deschamps aim to compete at a top level in Milano Cortina 2026.
While the Canadian ice dance pair of Gilles and Poirier faces pressure to live up to past achievements, they have embraced a renewed focus on their passion for figure skating. The duo’s recent successes, including multiple world championship medals, have fueled their determination to strive for an Olympic podium finish.
In the singles category, Canada has seen promising talent in Stephen Gogolev, who overcame injuries to showcase his potential on the international stage. Alongside Gogolev, Roman Sadovsky and Keegan Messing present strong competition in men’s singles at the national level, setting the stage for a compelling showdown.
The growing depth and competitiveness in figure skating globally present challenges for Canada, requiring sustained efforts to stay competitive. Despite the evolving landscape of the sport, Canadian skaters are poised to showcase their skills and determination at Milano Cortina 2026, aiming to continue Canada’s legacy in figure skating.