Stephen Gogolev, known for his stoic demeanor, couldn’t contain his excitement on Friday night as he surged ahead in the Canadian figure skating championships and the race for the country’s Olympic men’s singles spot after an impressive short program. The 21-year-old from Toronto, feeling remarkably relaxed on the ice, attributed his success to the supportive crowd and likened the experience to a practice session.
Skating to the “Mugzy’s Move” medley, Gogolev wowed the sold-out audience at Centre Slush Puppie by flawlessly executing two quad jumps and a triple axel, earning a high score of 99.60 points. Vancouver’s Wesley Chiu followed in second place with 89.14 points, while Aleksa Rakic from New Westminster, B.C., secured the third spot with 83.60 points.
Once hailed as a prodigy for his early quad jumps, Gogolev faced setbacks due to back issues caused by a growth spurt. However, he made a strong comeback at the Canadian championships, posting personal bests throughout the season. With the free program ahead on Saturday, Gogolev remains focused on the task at hand, acknowledging that the competition is far from over.
Reigning national champion Roman Sadovsky, considered a top contender alongside Gogolev, slipped to fourth place with a score of 81.79 after struggling with a triple axel and a combination. Despite feeling pressure and hearing Gogolev’s impressive score, Sadovsky remained determined to give his best performance in the upcoming segments of the competition.
In an unusual turn of events, Gogolev and Sadovsky are facing off for the fifth time this season, each vying for Canada’s sole men’s singles entry at the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics. The final Canadian team selection, to be announced on Sunday, considers skaters’ performances over the past seasons, not just their results at nationals.
Keegan Messing, a two-time Olympian who returned to compete after a brief retirement, faced challenges in his shaky performance at the championships. Despite placing seventh, Messing expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the audience and his renewed passion for the sport.
In the pairs event, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, the reigning world champions, took the lead in the short program with 78.35 points. Stellato-Dudek captivated the audience with a new, extravagant costume designed by luxury brand Oscar de la Renta, marking a unique collaboration between fashion and figure skating.
Competition at the Canadian National Skating Championships continues with the rhythm dance segment on Saturday, promising more thrilling performances and fierce competition.