2025–26 Canadian Women: News and Updates

Karen-W said:
Minsol will be old enough for seniors next season. Seems like a waste to put her back on the JGP when she should be in the mix for a SCI host spot.
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I hope Minsol gets sent to a couple of Senior Bs. As for worlds, I bet that Schizas would have a redemption skate if she gets sent. If she could ever put her best short and best long together at the same time, Maddie could conceivably hit the top ten (with some luck from the rest of the field). I've always admired her prioritizing getting an education even if it has meant that her skating never got to the next level. She did finish 10th in both segments one year but the math unfortunately worked out to a 12th place finish.
 
Maddie Schizas' final Olympics vlog (closing ceremony in Verona):
www.instagram.com

Madeline Schizas on Instagram: "And that’s all, folks. Thanks for coming along for this crazy ride, xoxo. #figureskater #olympics #milanocortina #closingceremony #olympian"

3,644 likes, 35 comments - maddieschizas on February 23, 2026: "And that’s all, folks. Thanks for coming along for this crazy ride, xoxo. #figureskater #olympics #milanocortina #closingceremony #olympian".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
Her final post:
www.instagram.com

Madeline Schizas on Instagram: "One last Olympic photo dump 🥹 I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud to be Canadian. Competing at my second Games was the honour of a lifetime, and I was beyond grateful to share it with my family and friends. Onward

15K likes, 74 comments - maddieschizas on February 25, 2026: "One last Olympic photo dump 🥹 I don’t think I’ve ever felt so proud to be Canadian. Competing at my second Games was the honour of a lifetime, and I was beyond grateful to share it with my family and friends. Onwards and upwards...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

ISU Worlds entries were published online this past Wednesday:
Madeline SCHIZAS
(Subs: Gabrielle DALEMAN, Sara-Maude DUPUIS)

From Skate Canada's Maria Olszewska Memorial recap yesterday:
Junior Canadian champion Lia Cho blew past the competition in the advanced novice women’s discipline, earning a new personal best with scores of 52.73 in the short program and 108.53 in the free program, and an overall score of 161.26 points.
“It went really well,” Cho said after the competition. “I’m very happy with my performance in both programs and I’m very proud of myself.”
Skate Canada Trophy novice gold medallist Téa Hébert finished in second place with scores of 44.02 in the short program and 77.14 in the free program, and an overall score of 121.16. [...]
Wrapping up the competition, NextGen Team member Uxia Gonzales-Abraldes won gold in the junior women’s category. She received scores of 54.71 for her short program and 92.46 for her free program, earning a total 147.17 points.
“I was a little bit nervous because I wanted to maintain my placement,” she said. “But I think that it went well and I’m very happy with my skate.”
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Clip of Lia’s Adv. Novice SP to “The Blue Danube” (she re-used last seasons programs in Lodz to win her second consecutive gold medal there):
www.instagram.com

Triple Point Skating 🍁 on Instagram: "A different SP and a lovely performance from Lia Cho in Poland! #figureskating Video: Maria Olszewska Memorial ViStream"

149 likes, 1 comments - triplepointskating on February 26, 2026: "A different SP and a lovely performance from Lia Cho in Poland! #figureskating Video: Maria Olszewska Memorial ViStream".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
Daleman posted an instgram reel of her doing a throw triple salchow with Tristan Taylor with the caption "Getting thrown into next season!" but with a pinned comment "My friend @tristanrtaylor is helping me re-learn pairs! We aren’t partnered up"

I did some digging and confirmed that she did compete pairs at the novice level (8th at 2011 nationals with Michael Zusev).

www.instagram.com

Gabrielle Daleman 🇨🇦 on Instagram: "Getting thrown into next season!"

928 likes, 23 comments - gabby_daleman on March 15, 2026: "Getting thrown into next season!".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

I wonder if she is seriously considering returning to pairs and if there is a suitable partner out there. That would be quite a story.
 
For years I’ve wondered if she ever thought of trying pairs again. I can think of a lot of reasons why she would excel at this (and a couple that might make it challenging). But interesting that she posted this. Is she just re-learning the elements for fun? Seems possible, but by posting it, she can also get some feelers out for potential partners.

Good luck to whichever guy is going to try to match the distance on her 3T.
 
Since Canada will have just 4 JGP women's spots next season (ETA: 1 less than this season), it makes sense that 2 be reserved for Lia Cho's debut and Minsol Kwon, if/when officially released, get the opportunity to make her Senior international debut.

ETA that Skate Canada published their guidelines for NextGen team selection in November 2025: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NextGen-Team-Selection-2026-EN.pdf
 
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Sylvia said:
Since Canada will have just 4 JGP women's spots next season (ETA: 1 less than this season), it makes sense that 2 be reserved for Lia Cho's debut and Minsol Kwon, if/when officially released, get the opportunity to make her Senior international debut.

ETA that Skate Canada published their guidelines for NextGen team selection in November 2025: https://skatecanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NextGen-Team-Selection-2026-EN.pdf
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Lia's FP from her final Advanced Novice event at the 2026 Maria Olszewska Memorial Competition popped up in my YouTube feed the other day:


According to the Glencoe Club, her competition score at this event was a new world record :): https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZVv2OgUF0/?img_index=1
Lia placed first overall in the Advanced Novice Women category, setting a world record score of 161.26 points.
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The Lutz being the required solo jump for next season is a lucky break for Lia given it's a very comfortable jump for her (she was awarded a GOE of +2.07 for it at the above-mentioned competition), but after seeing the talent level in the Women's event at Jr. Worlds this year, she's not going to be breaking any more records any time soon. :lol: Getting a top 10 finish at next year's World Juniors isn't going to be a cakewalk.
 
ok, I did not want to have to come out and say it but IMHO, I would have hoped for a better finish than 15th; in other words not a great showing but I guess par for the course for her.
 
I mean, as fans I know we want skaters to win medals and have high placements but a little perspective never hurts. I've certainly never been the 15th best in the world at anything! I think Maddie did her job. She has loads of potential but this kind of placement is who she is, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
 
This was a good competition with so many clean skates. It, so far, was a great showing for a post olympic worlds where everyone is tired and ready for the season to end. I think Maddie only got level 2 on the step sequence which is disappointing as I thought she had really worked on that with outside coaching and was getting level 3s this year. It is a very tough fight for top ten here.
 
I know objectively there was no reason to justify not sending Schizas to worlds (despite an emotional post I made during the Olympics which I now regret). And I'm not going to rehash if anyone would have done better (and there's still the free skate to go). And clearly I've never been top 15 in the world at anything.
I think the frustration is Schizas has never skated two really good programs at worlds so we are left to wonder what if a lot regarding placements and getting two spots.
Look I'm the self proclaimed "Canadian ladies über". I think there are many good skaters currently competing for Canada and in most years I would say if there were a second Canadian entry at worlds she would qualify for the free. But no one besides Schizas has objectively earned the chance to go instead of her and I'm honestly okay with that. Maybe that will change next year (if she even continues, who knows). I hope someone else will deliver and get the opportunity next season and beyond but they have to earn it.
It must be a lot of pressure to try to get extra spots, I can't imagine. It may happen by 2030, it may not. I will still enjoy watching and cheering for all the Canadian women.
 
danafan said:
I know objectively there was no reason to justify not sending Schizas to worlds (despite an emotional post I made during the Olympics which I now regret). And I'm not going to rehash if anyone would have done better (and there's still the free skate to go). And clearly I've never been top 15 in the world at anything.
I think the frustration is Schizas has never skated two really good programs at worlds so we are left to wonder what if a lot regarding placements and getting two spots.
Look I'm the self proclaimed "Canadian ladies über". I think there are many good skaters currently competing for Canada and in most years I would say if there were a second Canadian entry at worlds she would qualify for the free. But no one besides Schizas has objectively earned the chance to go instead of her and I'm honestly okay with that. Maybe that will change next year (if she even continues, who knows). I hope someone else will deliver and get the opportunity next season and beyond but they have to earn it.
It must be a lot of pressure to try to get extra spots, I can't imagine. It may happen by 2030, it may not. I will still enjoy watching and cheering for all the Canadian women.
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You have always been a loyal Canadian Ladies uber danafan and I especially appreciate your support for skaters who may not have been contending for world medals but are nonetheless lovely to watch.
 
Schizas wouldn't been so maddening if Canada had more talent behind her. While it's not the dire days of the '90s, it hasn't been a hopeful discipline for Canadian skating since Osmond retired.

Here's hoping that changes this quad. The lack of real competition in Canada hasn't been helpful to Maddie either.
 
Coco said:
She was 11th last year, missing top 10 by less than 3.5 :(

Sigh...
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Yes - and the worst part last year was that IIRC she finished in the top 10 in both the Short and Long Program, but because of point totals she ended up in 11th. That REALLY sucked.
 
It is indeed frustrating watching her under deliver at worlds again and again. But I can sum it up by saying: if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. There doesn’t seem to have been any huge steps taken over the last 4 years to get closer to her best skates happening on the world stage. Easier said than done I know, but it’s been kind of the same issues each time.

However, I think it’s important to also be realistic that at her very best, I don’t think she’s getting into the top 10 right now. The field is just too strong.

But to be clear, neither has anyone else in Canada demonstrated they would be getting into the top 10. Daleman’s overall SB would have had her 14th today. Dupuis’ would have had her 13th. And that’s assuming everyone did their SB. Schizas would have been 12th with her SB.

I think it’s likely the Schizas retires after this. If she doesn’t, I hope she really tries to make a big change and gives it one last go with a new approach. But if she’s done, I think she did an admirable job of carrying the Canadian women’s program on her back for 5 years. She came through in the team event very well in 2022 and also pretty darn well in 2026.
 
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