ESPOO, Finland (November 26, 2022) – Ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier posted their best-ever international score and won the gold medal Saturday at the season’s last stop on the ISU Grand Prix figure skating circuit.

The Toronto skaters were victors in their two Grand Prix assignments this season which assures them a berth in the Grand Prix Final December 8-11 in Torino, Italy. Gilles and Poirier totaled 219.49 points to eclipse the 215.70 they skated in their win at Skate Canada International last month.

‘’What worked well this week is how much we trusted our training and trusted each other,’’ said Poirier. ‘’We didn’t force anything and really let the skating happen by itself like we know how to do. We are really proud of our performance today.’’

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker of the U.S. took the silver with 202.46 and Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis of Finland were third at 191.79. Carolane Soucisse of Chateauguay, Que., and Shane Firus of North Vancouver were sixth at 175.63.

In women’s competition, Mai Mihara of Japan collected her second win on the circuit with 204.14 points. She edged Loena Hendrickx of Belgium, the leader after the short, second with 203.91. Mana Kawabe of Japan was third at 197.41. Olympian and national champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., remained in fifth spot totaling 187.84, two spots better than her performance at Skate Canada International. 

Ilia Malinin of the U.S. took the men’s title with 278.39. Shun Sato of Japan was second at 262.21 and Kevin Aymoz of France was third at 255.69. Two-time Canadian Olympian Keegan Messing was eighth with 205.02.

For full results, click here.