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Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier began their quest for an individual Olympic medal during Monday’s the short dance program, sitting third after the short dance programs.
Gilles and Poirier currently sit in bronze position heading into the free dance program finals behind Maddison Chock and Evan Bates from the United States who are in second.
Former Canadian Olympian Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron competing for France are currently in first place.
The individual ice dance competition kicked off on Monday with Canada represented by three teams, including Gilles and Poirier, Marie-Jade Lauriault and Romain Le Gac and Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha.
WATCH | Fournier Beudry, Cizeron lead following rhythm dance:
France’s Cizeron and ex-Canadian skater Fournier Beaudry lead after rhythm dance
France’s Guillaume Cizeron and his partner, former Canadian skater Laurence Fournier Beaudry, scored 90.18 points to take top spot in the rhythm dance.
Teams preformed the short dance to music from the 1990s – the set theme for this competitive season.
All three Canadian teams were in the top 20 who qualified for the final free dance programs, which will take place on Wednesday.
Lauriault and Le Gac make Olympic debut
Lauriault and Le Gac, who did not compete in the team event, made their Olympic debut Monday in the individual short program.
Performing to You Need Love Like I Do by SexBomb, Lauriault and Le Gac scored 74.35, placing 15th overall after the short dance.
The pair married in 2015 and previously represented France (Le Gac’s birth nation) until changing to represent Canada in 2020 (Lauriault is from Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, Que.).
They are also coached by two-time Olympic Ice Dance Champion Scott Moir and Olympic bronze medalist from the United States Madison Hubbell.
Marie-Jade Lauriault and partner Romain Le Gac of Team Canada compete in Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance Qualification on Monday. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Lajoie and Lagha set season’s best
Coming off a season’s best in the free dance during the team event on Saturday, Lajoie and Lagha put down a sports theme performance to a medley of Get Ready for This, The Power, Ole in the short dance.
The pair, who have been partners since 2011, are not new to the Olympic arena, placing 13th in the ice dance at Beijing 2022.
Lajoie and Lagha scored a season’s best of 79.66 placing them ninth and moving them into the final round for the free dance on Wednesday.
Marjorie Lajoie and partner Zachary Lagha of Team Canada compete in Ice Dance – Rhythm Dance at Milano Cortina 2026 on Monday. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Performing to Supermodel by RuPaul, the three time Olympians gave a season’s best performance, scoring 86.18 points.
This improved upon Gilles and Poirier’s score from the short dance during the team event last week and placed them into contention for a medal in the individual ice dance event.
Gilles and Poirier, who have skated together since 2011, are currently ranked fifth in the world, placing fourth at the International Skating Union Grand Prix Finals in December.
They have never medalled at the Olympic Games, but are hoping to change that here at Milano Cortina 2026.
