figure skating | Three Canadian pairs qualified in ice dancing

The first half of the ice dancing program was presented on Saturday morning. The three Canadian pairs that competed in the first rhythm dance event were able to qualify for the next stage.

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished sixth, Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen took eighth and Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha finished 13^and position. 20 of the 23 pairs qualified to participate in the free dance event, for the conclusion of the ice dance program.

Gilles and Poirier are ranked fourth in the world and they did a little less well than during the team program a few days ago. As usual, in their colorful clothes dominated by orange, the duo suffered from a small imbalance at the start of their number. Their timing and rhythm to the music still got them a lot of points. A mid-course streak in which their glide, reach, spin and exit was executed to perfection paid off. Very expressive, the two Canadians did not however obtain the clemency of the judges. The duo received 83.52 points, for the provisional fifth place at this time.

“We often make mistakes in training and to see that it didn’t affect us too much today shows how well prepared we are,” said Poirier after the competition.

Being the first Canadian duo to start, Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha finished 13^and rank, with 72.59 points. Ranked at 17^and world rank, the duo performed under the song funkytown. Among their highlights, the skaters performed three consecutive, precise and well-timed twirls. The two skaters accompanied each other well throughout the choreography. “It’s really the fun! “launched Lajoie to his coaches leaving the ice surface.

Another duo that has the chance to do well at these Games, Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Nikolaj Sorensen, did well by taking eighth position. They had finished in the same rank at the last World Championships. Accompanied by the piece Careless Whisper of George Michael, the duo had a lot of speed, skated very fluidly and had good solid anchorages in the ice. They delivered a good program overall earning 78.54 points.

It is the French Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, the favorites, who lead the way, with a harvest of 90.83. They won silver in 2018 by finishing behind Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

The Russian Olympic Committee and the United States follow in the standings.