- Joined
- Mar 3, 2018
Not inconceivable that 2/3 of the women's podium at nationals could be ineligible for the Olympics.
2025-2026 Canadian Figure Skating
- Thread starter 4everchan
- Start date
If 1/3 of that podium is Lia Cho, it won't be an issue. There's an age requirement for Seniors this season that they need to be 13 as of July 1 to compete domestically at that level. She's registered as a Junior in Alberta sectionals.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
I just realized that we have another Canadian skater with an international gold medal who hasn't ever won Nationals. Stephen Gogolev with his Nebelhorn win joins this club. Of course, Stephen is still young and may win Nationals at some point, perhaps even this year. However, his best placement was a silver in 2019.
He hasn't had the best of luck with Nationals. The only time since 2019 he was able to compete in both segments of it was in 2023, hopefully he'll stay healthy for the rest of the season and can make his bid for the title
Hmmm!!!!
The way I would describe David S. is tall with brown hair
and he is in ONT and looking to switch to pairs. Also, he has matured quite a bit from his 2023 days.I don’t want to spread any false rumours though, I just really think he could excel in pairs and Martina would be a good starting partner for him. So, I’m hoping he is there. Skate Oakville is under Bruno/Meagan and I think those two are great Pairs coaches.
David S. was in the USA recently to retool his 3A in September. So, maybe, he still wants to compete in singles. I just think he is too far off from scoring 219 domestically and think he’d have a better chance internationally if he switches to pairs.
I’m so happy and thrilled for Minsol
With Minsol competing in Canada domestically, ONT Sectionals and Challenge just got more interesting. I expect her to win these two events easily. I’m interested to see how Minsol will do against Maddie, SMD, Gabby and Kaiya at Senior Nationals. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Minsol to win Nationals. At the same time, it is kind of weird for her to be our National champion, and to send a different woman to the Olympics, if this was to happen.
She is only eligible for Junior Worlds this season. If she is cleared to compete internationally, will we send Minsol or Viktoria? Minsol is the better skater. But, they won’t even compete head to head. How will this decision be made?
In regards to Lia versus Minsol, I love this potential rivalry. This year they avoid one another with Lia stuck in Juniors for another season and Minsol competing in Seniors. Next season, I hope they push each other to higher limits in Seniors domestically. The interesting bit, is that Lia will have four years in Juniors and isn’t eligible for 2030 Olympics. Minsol will move up to Seniors internationally next season for the four years heading to 2030 Olympics. So, they will be rivals domestically, but, can cheer each other on, for the entire quad of the next Olympic cycle, in different categories internationally
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
you are correct.. I am a bit too ahead of the game with a possible rivalry. Technically, it won't happen until next season and only domestically for a while.I’m so happy and thrilled for Minsol
With Minsol competing in Canada domestically, ONT Sectionals and Challenge just got more interesting. I expect her to win these two events easily. I’m interested to see how Minsol will do against Maddie, SMD, Gabby and Kaiya at Senior Nationals. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Minsol to win Nationals. At the same time, it is kind of weird for her to be our National champion, and to send a different woman to the Olympics, if this was to happen.
She is only eligible for Junior Worlds this season. If she is cleared to compete internationally, will we send Minsol or Viktoria? Minsol is the better skater. But, they won’t even compete head to head. How will this decision be made?
In regards to Lia versus Minsol, I love this potential rivalry. This year they avoid one another with Lia stuck in Juniors for another season and Minsol competing in Seniors. Next season, I hope they push each other to higher limits in Seniors domestically. The interesting bit, is that Lia will have four years in Juniors and isn’t eligible for 2030 Olympics. Minsol will move up to Seniors internationally next season for the four years heading to 2030 Olympics. So, they will be rivals domestically, but, can cheer each other on, for the entire quad of the next Olympic cycle, in different categories internationally
For Junior worlds, with only one spot, Canada needs to send their best skater. It will be between Minsol and Victoria. Sandrine is a dark horse only and only if she has a stellar competition and wins nationals. I think she is a favourite for a top 5 at Nationals, even the podium, but for the gold, I don't know. I would have absolutely no problem at all if Minsol was sent, based on her scores, in place of the junior champion. It does happen and it may also happen in men. We need to get our spots back and for that, Skate Canada needs to send the highest scoring skater.
Minsol has had issues with technical calls in the past. If she's has cleaned up her game, she could definitely podium if not win Nationals. She will need to be clean to beat Sara-Maude and Maddie I would think. I think she's a lovely skater but I doubt the judges will favour her in the PCS department this year, considering she cannot yet represent Canada internationally.
For sectionals and challenge, I agree, she is the heavy favourite.
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With Lia in Juniors, I don't think the Junior champion will be the one going this season unless Victoria pulls out a win.
Sandrine will need to keep having free skates like she had at SGE to get the spot, especially since she doesn't have the minimums yet. Senior Women is looking like a bloodbath this year at Challenge (34 entries going for 14 spots is my rough count right now), so I am worried about her qualifying. But I was worried about Kara last season and she did well there.
Men it will very likely happen since the contenders for the spot are all in Senior. William and Parker are the only ones in Junior Men with the minimums, and I don't see them being chosen for it.
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
Good point about Lia. I keep forgetting that she's going to be in juniors again.... even though you just posted about that yesterday
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2021
I’m so happy and thrilled for Minsol
With Minsol competing in Canada domestically, ONT Sectionals and Challenge just got more interesting. I expect her to win these two events easily. I’m interested to see how Minsol will do against Maddie, SMD, Gabby and Kaiya at Senior Nationals. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Minsol to win Nationals. At the same time, it is kind of weird for her to be our National champion, and to send a different woman to the Olympics, if this was to happen.
This got me thinking about 1998, with all the drama surrounding Olympic selections. Went back through the newspaper archives, and it was even crazier than I remembered.
First, when we didn't send a woman. That wasn't a choice, we just didn't qualify anyone (and all the weirdness and drama surrounding that)
Then there was the men, where we had three spots, but only sent two, because Emanuel Sandhu came out of nowhere to finish second at nationals, but didn't have the international results to meet the COA criteria. Skate Canada wanted to send him anyway, but the COA said no dice.
Very different time when it came to Olympic selections and who controls the decision making process, now we typically send everyone we can (with a few exceptions), but back then the prevailing philsophy is we should only be sending people capable of contending for top ten finishes and some international results to back it up (counties like Great Britian still do this, at least for some events). Though, in the same situation now, I don't think Sandhu would be elligible to go either without international tech minimums.
Sandrine has moved up to seniors domestically?
Why? I don't think she's ready. 
Yes, she did well at SGE - but she is very inconsistent. Moreover, she seems to have a tendency to want success too much and then crumble under pressure. She's got three more years of junior eligibility, so why the rush?I think Seniors may actually be less pressure for her? With Minsol, Gabrielle and Kaiya at Challenge, she probably wouldn't be expected to podium there. I wouldn't expect her to be in the top 5 at Nationals either, she'd be competing against the other NextGen women for top 10 placements. If she stayed in Juniors, she'd be a podium favourite and there would be more expectations for her there while Seniors wouldn't have those expectations.Sandrine has moved up to seniors domestically?
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2015
For sure, having no pressure to make a podium may be a good thing. She has nothing left to prove domestically as a junior. She may also be able to use a different layout . I'm happy with the move for her though it seems like not too long ago she was doing novice competitions
CBC Sports posted some short video interviews today:
Gilles/Poirier
youtu.be
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps
youtu.be
Lajoie/Lagha
youtu.be
Gilles/Poirier
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier admit to mistakes last season, are adjusting this time | March to Milano
Piper and Paul are aware they were exhausted after training so hard last season so they are trying to do things differently with a new season of figure skati...
youtu.be
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps eyeing history at 2026 Olympics | March to Milano
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps could be the oldest paris team to qualify for an Olympics if they can make it to Milano Cortina 2026. Watch Live ...
youtu.be
Lajoie/Lagha
Figure skaters Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha's differences are what makes them such a good team
Majorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha talk about the seriousness and silliness as they are ready to take on another season as partners which they have been for ov...
youtu.be
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2024
GeoblockedCBC Sports posted some short video interviews today:
Gilles/Poirier
Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier admit to mistakes last season, are adjusting this time | March to Milano
Piper and Paul are aware they were exhausted after training so hard last season so they are trying to do things differently with a new season of figure skati...
Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps eyeing history at 2026 Olympics | March to Milano
Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps could be the oldest paris team to qualify for an Olympics if they can make it to Milano Cortina 2026. Watch Live ...
Lajoie/Lagha
Figure skaters Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha's differences are what makes them such a good team
Majorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha talk about the seriousness and silliness as they are ready to take on another season as partners which they have been for ov...
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2022
the LaLa one is the same from before Worlds 2025, this one is not geoblocked
I’m excited Skate Canada is coming up.
They seemed to only post videos of the medal contenders. Out of these, I’m most nervous for LaLa. I really want them to medal here.
I’m surprised we didn’t get an interview with Lia & Trennt.
I wish they could also give our singles skaters some love.
Good luck to all the Canadian skaters. Go Canada!!
They seemed to only post videos of the medal contenders. Out of these, I’m most nervous for LaLa. I really want them to medal here.
I’m surprised we didn’t get an interview with Lia & Trennt.
I wish they could also give our singles skaters some love.
Good luck to all the Canadian skaters. Go Canada!!
Interview with Roman on CBC Sports - https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...ovsky-olympic-figure-skating-battle-9.6957156
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