U.S. figure skating star Ilia Malinin won the men’s gold at the Skate Canada International in Halifax with a vampire-themed free program that included a backflip. This victory came after he also won Skate America the previous weekend. Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps were the pairs champions, while Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto won the women’s title. Malinin scored 301.82 points, with Japan’s Shun Sato winning silver and South Korea’s Junhwan Cha taking bronze.
Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., was the top Canadian skater, finishing seventh in the field with 222.49 points. Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev fell to ninth place after placing fifth in the short program. Roman Sadovsky of Vaughan, Ont., withdrew for medical reasons after finishing last in the short program. The ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier ranked first after the free skate, followed by Canadians Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha.
The Skate Canada International is part of the Grand Prix series, which consists of six events and a final. The next event scheduled is the Grand Prix de France from Nov. 1-3. The Canadian press first published this report on October 27, 2024. Malinin’s victory at the Skate Canada International followed his win at Skate America, showcasing his dominant performances in the field. Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps repeated as pairs champions, and Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took the women’s title.
Malinin’s vampire-themed free program was well-received by the audience, earning him a standing ovation for his performance that included a backflip. His total score of 301.82 points solidified his position as the reigning world champion in the field. Japan’s Shun Sato took the silver medal with 261.16 points, while South Korea’s Junhwan Cha claimed the bronze with 260.31 points. The competition featured a total of 12 skaters, with Aleksa Rakic of Burnaby, B.C., being the top Canadian finisher in seventh place with 222.49 points.
Toronto’s Stephen Gogolev initially placed fifth in the short program but fell to ninth overall with 216.84 points. Roman Sadovsky of Vaughan, Ont., withdrew from the competition due to medical reasons after finishing last in the short program. In the ice dancing event, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier emerged as the top finishers after the free skate, followed by Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha. The Skate Canada International provided a platform for skaters to showcase their skills as part of the prestigious Grand Prix series.
The Grand Prix series is a top-level competition in figure skating, consisting of six events and a final. Skaters from around the world compete to earn points and qualify for the Grand Prix Final. The next event in the series is the Grand Prix de France scheduled for November 1-3. The Skate Canada International saw impressive performances from both established champions and up-and-coming skaters, highlighting the talent and dedication within the figure skating community. This report by The Canadian Press captures the excitement and achievements of the competitors at the event, setting the stage for the rest of the Grand Prix series.
