Canadian figure skaters are gathered this weekend in Ottawa to compete for the last places available for their country at the Beijing Olympics, which begins in a month’s time.
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Several Quebecers did well on Friday, with the presentation of the short programs, and will try to confirm their qualification with the free programs on Saturday.
In ice dance, where three positions are available, Montrealers Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen (81.04) as well as Bouchervilloise Marjorie Lajoie and her Saint-Hubert teammate Zachary Lagha (76.67) respectively took second and the third row after the first day. They are currently ahead of the experienced Torontonians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier (86.98).
In pairs skating, three Quebec pairs are in the race. The first two positions, synonymous with Olympic qualification, are occupied by the duo formed by Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro and the pair composed of Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud, but the representatives of the Belle Province Deanna Stellato and Maxime Deschamps are not not far behind, in third place.
Quebecers Vanessa James and Eric Radford, who are in their first year of collaboration, are fourth.
20-year-old skater Joseph Phan of Montreal placed third in the men’s with a score of 78.14. In women, Veronik Mallet is second after the short program.
These Canadian Olympic trials are being held at TD Place in Ottawa behind closed doors, due to COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario.