An exciting series of events leading up to the upcoming Winter Olympics is set to kick off on Friday with the start 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 focal point of the first part, taking place in various countries over the next few months. Skaters can participate in up to two events, earning points based on their performance. The top six in each discipline will advance to the Grand Prix Final in Japan in December, providing a glimpse of the top contenders for the Winter Olympics in Italy.
Canada’s figure skaters are aiming to return to the Olympic podium after being shut out in 2022. The country’s best chances for medals in Milan lie in the pairs events, with Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps leading the pairs competition, and Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier expected to excel in ice dance.
The Canadians will face tough competition from skaters like Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara from Japan in the pairs event and Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain in ice dance. Watch out for American standout Ilia Malinin in the men’s event and Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto in the women’s competition.
Live coverage of the Grand Prix of France will be available on CBC Sports, starting with the women’s short program on Friday at noon ET. Check out the full streaming schedule and list of entries and results for more details.
