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Stephen Gogolev of Team Canada reacts in the Kiss and Cry zone after competing in Men's Single Skating - Free Skating Team Event during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Getty ImagesArticle contentCanadian figure skaters might not have made it to the podium in the team competition at the Milan-Cortina Games — they finished in fifth — but they made an impression and some even made a name for themselves on the international stage.

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Some are making their Olympic debut, skating under the brightest lights and on the biggest possible stage.

Article contentHere’s a look at who impressed, who hopes to do better and what viewers can expect of athletes in the coming weeks:

Advertisement 1 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() { const template = document.getElementById('oop-ad-template'); if (template && !template.dataset.adInjected) { const clone = template.content.cloneNode(true); template.replaceWith(clone); if (template.parentElement) { template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected = "true"; } } });Article contentStephen GogolevArticle contentAt 21, the University of Toronto political science student emerged as an ascendant star over the weekend, impressing viewers and judges alike in the team event. He made his Olympic debut on Saturday, but didn’t betray the slightest bit of nerves.

He executed a seamless short program, scoring a personal season best and placed third in the rankings, propelling his team to the final on Sunday.

His free skate on Sunday sported one shaky landing on a quad toe loop, but Gogolev recovered to earn a score just shy of his international best. A British TV commentator was heard exclaiming: “Why haven’t we heard of this guy before?”

Gogolev gained an international reputation at age 13 when he became the first Canadian — of any age — to land a quad lutz in competition. After going through a growth spurt at 15, he battled back injuries and he withdrew from competition in the 2024-25 season.

He described his first day in Milan as being in a “dream state.”

“I think it happens almost every hour that I’m here — just walking around the village, walking to the arena, walking to the practice rink,” he said. “You feel, ‘Wow, I’m really here at the Olympics,’ and it’s a very special feeling.’”

Gogolev is scheduled to compete on Tuesday in the men’s short program.

Canadian Madeline Schizas goes viral after asking for a homework extension - from the Olympics Why William Dandjinou is the Canadian man to watch in speedskating Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});Article contentMarjorie Lajoie and Zachary LaghaArticle contentThey have been skating together since 2011 and, in their Olympic debut four years ago in Beijing, placed 13th in ice dance.

In 2022, Scott Moir — the three-time Olympian and three-time gold medal winner — told the CBC that Lajoie and Lagha would be “the team that we’re all going to be watching in 2026.”

The years in between have been particularly challenging for Lajoie, who was forced to take breaks from training and competition to recover from concussions.

At the team event free skate on Saturday, the duo placed third overall and earned a season-best score with their rendition of Nureyev from the 2018 drama White Crow. Dressed in sheer flowing tones blending from black to white, the two held the audience in silence as they performed a dance that departed from their usual high-energy, fast-tempo performances.

“We wanted to silence the crowd,” Lagha told reporters.

Will they find a spot on the podium?

“We honestly don’t care,” Lagha told reporters. “We just want to create a moment. We just want to skate well. And then whatever happens, happens.”

On Sunday, the pair performed to a medley of tracks from the 2000 historical epic Gladiator.

The pair have a week before they compete next on Feb 15 in the pair’s short program.

This is Schizas’ second time at the Olympics and, while she has had to go through a few rough starts, she has remained positive and determined to put on her “personal best performance” before the season is over.

The 22 year old made her debut at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, where she placed 18th in the women singles.

On Friday in Milan, the start of her short program was interrupted with a technical issue in her music. She skated over to the sideline and restarted her routine. She placed sixth, but didn’t blame the lower-than-expected score on the interruption.

On Sunday, Schizas surprised herself when she fell during her first triple Lutz performance at her free skate, placing fifth in overall rankings.

“I really didn’t expect that to happen,” she said. “But I was proud of how I came back for the second half.”

She acknowledged that Sunday’s performance fell “a bit short” of her expectations for the Olympics, but the skater appeared more determined than dismayed.

“I’m just excited to come down from the team event and ramp back up for my individuals,” she said. “I’m hoping to level up on what I did here.”

Schizas — who already had a viral moment on the weekend when she had to ask for an extension on an assignment for University — has a week before she competes next on Feb 17.

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