An exciting journey towards the upcoming Winter Olympics kicks off this Friday with the commencement of the 2025-26 Grand Prix of Figure Skating series in Angers, France. The figure skating season is divided into two parts, with the Grand Prix tour being the foundation of the initial phase, leading up to the national and world championships starting in January.
Over the next few weeks until late November, six competitions will take place in various countries worldwide. Following the Grand Prix of France are the Cup of China, Skate Canada International in Saskatoon, and events in Japan, the United States, and Finland.
Skaters can participate in two of these events, earning points based on their placements. The top six performers in each discipline—men’s, women’s, pairs, and ice dance—will be invited to the prestigious Grand Prix Final in Japan in early December. This event is expected to showcase the leading medal contenders for the Winter Olympics in northern Italy.
Canadian figure skaters are aiming to reclaim their position on the Olympic podium after being shut out in Beijing 2022, ending a nine-Games streak of podium finishes. The nation’s best chances for medals in Milan this February lie in the partner events.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, the 2024 world champions, are set to lead Canada’s pairs competition entries, while Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, four-time worlds medallists, are expected to spearhead the country’s ice dance teams. Canada’s representatives in the individual events will be determined after the national championships in early January in Gatineau, Quebec.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps have shown promise in recent seasons, clinching victories at Grand Prix events and making notable achievements at world championships. However, challenges such as health issues and inconsistent performances have hindered their progress. As the duo faces new competition and age-related concerns, their performance trajectory remains uncertain.
Gilles and Poirier, known for their consistency at world championships and national titles, are also aiming for success. The pair’s history of podium finishes and past victories position them as strong contenders in ice dance competitions.
The Grand Prix of France this week will provide an early glimpse into the form of key skaters, including Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps in the pairs event and Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac in ice dance. Notable competitors such as Ilia Malinin in the men’s event and Kaori Sakamoto in the women’s event are also expected to showcase their skills.
For viewers interested in watching the action unfold, CBC Sports will begin live coverage of the Grand Prix of France on Friday at noon ET, starting with the women’s short program followed by the pairs short program. Detailed streaming schedules and event entries/results are available for those following the competition closely.
This article was originally sourced from CBC Sports’ The Buzzer newsletter.