Chongqing – Canadian figure skaters Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha won silver in ice dancing at the Cup of China on the Grand Prix circuit on Saturday.
Lajoie, of Boucherville, Quest., and Lagha, of Saint-Hubert, Quest., earned their second Grand Prix medals of the season after claiming silver at Skate Canada in Halifax.
The Canadians scored a season-best 205.16 points. World bronze medalists Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy took the gold (209.13), while Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the United States (198.18).
“It was a fun week, but really stressful when we were skating,” Lajoie said. “I’m really happy with how we got through it and we did a really good free dance, so I think we’re pretty happy with the competition overall.”
In the pairs competition, Canadians Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud won the bronze.
The duo produced a season-best total of 188.74, behind Sara Conti and Niccolo Macia of Italy (211.05) and Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany (209.36).
Pereira of Milton, Ont. and Michaud of Brantford, Ont., rebounded from a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Grand Prix de France earlier in November.
“Definitely an improvement in the short and long term this week,” Michaud said. “We’ve been practicing really well this week so that’s always going to boost our confidence in what we’re trying to do.” We want to continue to push our programs to show what we do in practice, so in that sense it’s been a great week for us.”
Two-time Canadian champion Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., finished seventh in the women’s competition.
Reigning men’s national champion Wesley Chiu of Vancouver withdrew due to injury.
The Grand Prix is the highest series in figure skating, consisting of six events and a final. The China Cup was the sixth stop on the circuit and the Grand Prix final is scheduled for December 5-8 in Grenoble, France.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on November 23, 2024.
Canadian Press