2025–26 Canadian Women: News and Updates

[Theatregirl1122]

I always enjoy seeing Joanne McLeod in the kiss and cry, so I approve.

What a truly interesting opinion.

 

[Andora]

What a truly interesting opinion.

Thank you for putting words to a sentiment I just... could not make sense of.

 

[victorskid]

Bev Smith writes on the Triple Axel quest:

A Canadian Triple Axel Quest - Bev Smith Writes

It’s been a long time coming: that first Canadian woman to land a triple Axel in competition. Sara-Maude Dupuis, 20, of Montreal – Canada’s reigning women’s silver medalist – is leading the charge this season. In late September, Dupuis attempted the 3 ½-rotation jump for the first time in the...

bevsmithwrites.com

 

[jägerbomb]

I wouldn't count that, but good attempt! Now I gotta search the full clip of that FS.

Yes -- more like "rotated and stood up". A fantastic attempt, it's obviously very close, but "landed" implies "clean". I realize it's mostly semantics at this point, but it moderately annoys me.

What a truly interesting opinion.

Thank you for putting words to a sentiment I just... could not make sense of.

Any more of this and I will be forced to change my profile picture to Ms. McLeod.

 

[The Accordion]

Yes -- more like "rotated and stood up". A fantastic attempt, it's obviously very close, but "landed" implies "clean". I realize it's mostly semantics at this point, but it moderately annoys me.



Any more of this and I will be forced to change my profile picture to Ms. McLeod.

Isn’t the triple axel similar in success to Kurt Browning’s first quad!?

 

[honey]

Isn’t the triple axel similar in success to Kurt Browning’s first quad!?

No, the distinction would be that Browning stayed on one foot. The first credited triple axel by Vern Taylor was also landed similarly to Browning’s. A turn out but staying on one foot. As far as I know, this standard has been applied in determining the “first” of something being landed for quite some time.

I remember commentary at 94 worlds about whether Stojko’s attempt at the 4T+3T would count as the first because the commentator felt it had a similar landing to Taylor’s first 3A. It wasn’t quite the same though (Stojko had a flip out onto the free foot), and it wasn’t counted as the first 4T+3T.

I see Sarah-Maude’s 3A similarly here. It’s an excellent attempt and I think she will no doubt land one cleanly this season, but I wouldn’t be giving her the title of the first Canadian woman to land a 3A based on this attempt.

 

[4rkidz]

No, the distinction would be that Browning stayed on one foot. The first credited triple axel by Vern Taylor was also landed similarly to Browning’s. A turn out but staying on one foot. As far as I know, this standard has been applied in determining the “first” of something being landed for quite some time.

I remember commentary at 94 worlds about whether Stojko’s attempt at the 4T+3T would count as the first because the commentator felt it had a similar landing to Taylor’s first 3A. It wasn’t quite the same though (Stojko had a flip out onto the free foot), and it wasn’t counted as the first 4T+3T.

I see Sarah-Maude’s 3A similarly here. It’s an excellent attempt and I think she will no doubt land one cleanly this season, but I wouldn’t be giving her the title of the first Canadian woman to land a 3A based on this attempt.

I am confused, I thought the video I saw had Sarah Maude land the triple axel cleanly on one foot fully rotated but spun out of it the same as Kurt did when he landed his first quad? Have you seen it in slow motion that shows it differently? Can you post it please

 

[honey]

I am confused, I thought the video I saw had Sarah Maude land the triple axel cleanly on one foot fully rotated but spun out of it the same as Kurt did when he landed his first quad? Have you seen it in slow motion that shows it differently? Can you post it please

She flips out of it onto the free foot and then hops around back onto the landing foot. She in no way remained on one foot the way Browning did on the first quad.

https://youtu.be/qcCyEYffA50?si=mRlz4t6Gd1nML5vS

 

[4rkidz]

She flips out of it onto the free foot and then hops around back onto the landing foot. She in no way remained on one foot the way Browning did on the first quad.

https://youtu.be/qcCyEYffA50?si=mRlz4t6Gd1nML5vS

So it was fully rotated and landed on the right food but then she hops back around again. So I do see the difference with Kurts first quad, as he just flips out. But she did land it and land on the right food even though momentarily so I can see why the Judges accepted it as rotated but deducted for the GOE.

 

[danafan]

Dupuis posted a clip of her triple axel in practice. This link should be direct but if not it's the fourth image of the post.

Sara-Maude Dupuis on Instagram: "Quick stop in Bratislava!🇸🇰 Very happy to pick up right where I left off with two PBs at my first international competition of the season. Also, although my triple axel was not perfect, making a bit of history was

582 likes, 6 comments - saramaudedupuis on October 4, 2025: "Quick stop in Bratislava!🇸🇰 Very happy to pick up right where I left off with two PBs at my first international competition of the season. Also, although my triple axel was not perfect, making a bit of history was pretty cool!😎...

www.instagram.com

 

[danafan]

Well Gabby Daleman will be making a return to international competition after I think three years. She's on Skate Canada's assignments page for IceChallenge in Austria (along with Kaiya Ruiter and a larger junior field: Sandrine Blais, Megan Woodley,
Hetty Shi and Quinn Startek)

 

[shutterbug]

Update on Minsol Kwon's status from Rob Brodie's latest article:

Skate Canada confirms that Kwon has been released by the Korea Skating Union to compete domestically in Canada, meaning you should expect to see her at Skate Canada Challenge in Calgary in December and, if she qualifies, at 2026 Canadians in Gatineau, Que. (her winning score of 195.27 in Barrie surely suggests that will happen). While she isn’t cleared yet compete internationally for Canada (there’s much paperwork to complete there), it’s a rather moot point this season — Kwon isn’t yet age eligible for either the Olympics (she turns 17 during the Winter Games) or Worlds in Prague (although yes, she could have represented Canada at Junior Worlds if the transfer was complete).

 

[Karen-W]

Update on Minsol Kwon's status from Rob Brodie's latest article:

Skate Canada confirms that Kwon has been released by the Korea Skating Union to compete domestically in Canada, meaning you should expect to see her at Skate Canada Challenge in Calgary in December and, if she qualifies, at 2026 Canadians in Gatineau, Que. (her winning score of 195.27 in Barrie surely suggests that will happen). While she isn’t cleared yet compete internationally for Canada (there’s much paperwork to complete there), it’s a rather moot point this season — Kwon isn’t yet age eligible for either the Olympics (she turns 17 during the Winter Games) or Worlds in Prague (although yes, she could have represented Canada at Junior Worlds if the transfer was complete).

What the hell is with this "domestic" release but not an "international" release? The girl hasn't represented Korea for nearly two years. Either the KSU is demanding more $$ than Skate Canada has to get her full release or they're trying to be cute and don't want to discourage the junior-eligible women they've got by announcing Minsol has her release to represent Canada internationally, so the competition for the 2026 Jr Worlds assignment is already over. There is still PLENTY of time for Minsol to get her CTES mins again before the entry deadline for Jr Worlds. Bavarian Open anyone????

 

[Colonel Green]

Far from inconceivable that 2/3 of the 2026 women's national podium will be ineligible to compete both at the Olympics and internationally at all.

 

[peibeck]

Very weird Minsol is not cleared for international comps.

But at least Skate Canada is getting Daleman an international to try and get her minimums. She looked in decent shape at the recent comp she did (better than I expected anyway).

 

[Jammers]

Not a good outing from Maddie but she hasn't really improved her skating much since 2022 but she's gotten away with bad skates because she hasn't had anyone to push her in Canada. She even lost Nationals a couple of years ago and knew she was the only Canadian lady with the minimums to go to Worlds so she got away with not being her best. But now since last season many other Canadian ladies have put up scores that are good enough for the Olympics and Worlds and she can't afford to continue to be mediocre and now for the first time really since she won her 1st Canadian women's title back in 2022 she has pressure from other Canadian ladies for that single spot and she's feeling it.

 

[Lil Sarah]

Maddie definitely needs to bring it to her free skate tonight and climb up the rankings to get ahead of the other women... I'm not sure that is going to happen but she needs it.

 

[coppertop1]

It seems like something happened to Maddie after Beijing where she single-handedly saved Canada in the Team Event. She hasn't seemed to have the same fire. It does seem like she has plateaued.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Wrong thread

 

[Colonel Green]

It seems like something happened to Maddie after Beijing where she single-handedly saved Canada in the Team Event. She hasn't seemed to have the same fire. It does seem like she has plateaued.

I don't think there was a loss of fire, initially; rather the opposite. After her performance at the Olympics she probably thought/hoped that she was breaking through to the next level, but that ultimately never happened, which has to be dispiriting.

 

[Jay42]

At this point I kind of think that Skate Canada should just send whoever wins Nationals to the Olympics. Unless one of the other Canadian women win really big at a Challenger I just can't see there being someone else who's likely to make a really big impact.

 

[dramagrrl]

At this point I kind of think that Skate Canada should just send whoever wins Nationals to the Olympics. Unless one of the other Canadian women win really big at a Challenger I just can't see there being someone else who's likely to make a really big impact.

Unless someone has a big showing in one of the remaining GPs or wins by a big lead at Canadians, I would put a good-sized bet on them sending Schizas. I would disagree, but the way SC tends to make decisions, it's highly likely.

 

[Karen-W]

Unless someone has a big showing in one of the remaining GPs or wins by a big lead at Canadians, I would put a good-sized bet on them sending Schizas. I would disagree, but the way SC tends to make decisions, it's highly likely.

I dunno... If Maddie manages another 9th place finish or lower at Finlandia (which is entirely within the realm of possibility looking at that field), I'd probably just send whomever wins Nats.

 

[Andora]

Honestly, I don't think Canada deserves their spot at the Olympics for ladies.

Might as well send Gabby Daleman. At least that's a feel good story.

But yeah, when the consistently awful Madeline is our best bet... Shit is dire.

I think she was barely decent in 2022 It is ridiculous that we retcon what her skating was actually like. She has never been very good. Let's be honest to here.

 

[tony]

Honestly, I don't think Canada deserves their spot at the Olympics for ladies.

Might as well send Gabby Daleman. At least that's a feel good story.

But yeah, when the consistently awful Madeline is our best bet... Shit is dire.

I think she was barely decent in 2022 It is ridiculous that we retcon what her skating was actually like. She has never been very good. Let's be honest to here.

She’s been consistently just outside the top 10 at Worlds for all but one year in the last Olympic cycle AND she made the final free skate group at Worlds. Consistently awful when?

So should all countries below what she’s placed also not deserve an Olympic spot? Good grief. These aren’t the dark ages of Canadian skating where the top skater can’t even qualify to the free skate.