(Oshawa) Madeline Schizas admitted to feeling some pressure this week as the defending Canadian champion.
The 19-year-old Ontarian, who was the last woman to skate at the Tribute Communities Center on Saturday, held off Kaiya Ruiter to win her second Canadian figure skating title.
“I knew the skaters in front of me had put pressure on me to deliver a program that didn’t have to be perfect, but had to be good from start to finish. It was difficult, explained Schizas. I was backstage and I figured it wouldn’t be easy. I’m just glad it was a fight from start to finish. The end of this program was not easy, but I pushed until the end and I am happy about it. »
Dressed in coral colors and skating to the music of “West Side Story,” Schizas landed six triple jumps to earn 128.15 points during her free skate, for a total of 196.47 points.
Ruiter, a 16-year-old skater from Calgary, moved from sixth place after the short program to silver with the best score in the free program (129.82).
“It’s absolutely incredible,” Ruiter said. It was so unexpected. I skated at my best and I also won a medal. I still can’t believe it. »
Fiona Bombardier, the 17-year-old daughter of two-time Olympian Josée Chouinard, won the bronze medal with 180.54 points.
Schizas won a legion of fans with his impressive Olympic debut last year in Beijing, where his short program in the team event propelled Canada to the final and eventual fourth place.
She called her second consecutive Canadian title “surreal”.
“I don’t think I would have believed it if I was told when I was a kid or if I was told in 2020 that I would be a two-time Canadian champion. This is the case right now,” said Schizas.
Ruiter was the 2020 Canadian junior champion at just 13 years old, beating a field of skaters who were in most cases at least two years older.
She would have been just old enough to compete in the Beijing Olympics, but a horrific injury sidelined her for the season.
“I landed on my skate blade and it cut two of my calf muscles,” Ruiter said. It was really difficult. Coming back I had issues with scar tissue and nerve damage throughout the summer. So I didn’t really start training again until September. »
The Canadian Championships determine the Canadian team for the World Championships, which will be held March 20-26 in Saitama, Japan.
Canada holds only one berth in women’s singles.
While Schizas will secure that spot when the team is named on Sunday, Ruiter was looking forward to the Junior World Championship at his Calgary home at the WinSport Event Centre.
The ice dance, pairs and men’s singles free routines will be held later Saturday.