Gabrielle Daleman is vying for a podium finish at the Four Continents Championships in Beijing. The Canadian figure skater, a two-time Olympian hailing from Newmarket, Ontario, executed three triple jumps flawlessly in her short program on Thursday, earning 67.69 points and securing the fourth position going into the free skate on Friday. Ahead of her are three Japanese skaters, with Ami Nakai leading the pack with 73.83 points, trailed by Yuna Aoki (71.41) and Mone Chiba (68.07), all of whom are set to compete in the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Daleman, competing in only her second international event since her hiatus due to a back injury and two ankle surgeries, aimed to be the first Canadian woman to participate in three Olympics in singles. However, Madeline Schizas clinched Canada’s sole spot for the upcoming Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Schizas claimed her fourth national title at the Canadian championships in Gatineau, Quebec, on January 11, while Daleman settled for a silver medal. Notably, several skaters bound for the Olympics, including Schizas, opted out of the Four Continents Championships due to its proximity to the Games.
In ice dance, Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer, two-time national bronze medalists, currently hold the fourth position after the rhythm dance segment. Meanwhile, American ice dancers Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik dominated, securing the top spot with a score of 79.97 points for their rhythm dance routine, surpassing their compatriots Caroline Parsons and Michael Brown (78.66 points) and Oona Brown and Gage Brown (74.24 points).
With the Winter Games approaching, only a few figure skaters participating in the Olympics will take part in the Four Continents competition. Zingas and Kolesnik are utilizing this final opportunity to fine-tune their programs before the Milan Cortina Games commence in less than two weeks. Additionally, Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier, the three-time reigning Canadian pairs bronze medalists, are currently in fifth place after the short program.
In another event, the Chinese pair Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, the favorites to defend their Olympic pairs gold medal, are leading after the short program at the Four Continents Championships with 76.02 points. The Japanese duo Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi follow in second place with 71.95 points, while the American pair Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov trail closely behind with 71.85 points. The championship will proceed with the free dance and women’s free skate on Friday, followed by the men’s short program and pairs free skate on Saturday, and concluding with the men’s free skate on Sunday.