MILANO-CORTINA, Italy — Canadian ice dance veteran Paul Poirier and partner Piper Gilles have officially launched their quest for an individual Olympic medal, securing a strong third-place finish in the rhythm dance on Monday, February 9, 2026.
The decorated duo, competing in their third Olympic Games together, delivered a high-energy performance to RuPaul’s “Supermodel.” The skate earned them a season-best score of 86.18 points, placing them firmly in podium contention heading into the free dance segment. The technical elements score reached 49.41, while their program components were marked at 36.77.
Olympic Standings After Rhythm Dance
Poirier and Gilles currently trail the leaders by four points in a tightly contested field at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games:
- 1st: Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Guillaume Cizeron (FRA) – 90.18
- 2nd: Madison Chock / Evan Bates (USA) – 89.72
- 3rd: Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier (CAN) – 86.18
- 4th: Lilah Fear / Lewis Gibson (GBR) – 85.47
A Career of Innovation and Excellence
Born on November 6, 1991, in Ottawa, Ontario, Paul Poirier has become one of the most respected figures in international figure skating. Training out of Scarborough, Ontario, Poirier and Gilles are known for their avant-garde choreography and technical precision. Their resume includes:
- Four-time World Championship medallists (including silver in 2024 and 2025).
- Two-time Four Continents champions (2024, 2025).
- 2022–23 Grand Prix Final champions.
- Four-time Canadian national champions.
Off the ice, Poirier is known for his eclectic interests, including playing the flute and a self-proclaimed hobby of “avoiding the knights who say Ni,” a nod to his love for Monty Python. This creativity often translates into their programs, which have recently been featured in the Netflix documentary series Glitter & Gold, highlighting their journey to the 2026 Games.
The Road to the Podium
The third-place standing is a significant step forward for Poirier, who previously finished 8th at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and 7th at the 2022 Beijing Games with Gilles. Having already contributed to Canada’s efforts in the team event earlier this week—where Poirier delivered a personal best score of 92.99 in the free dance portion—the pair looks poised to finally capture the elusive individual Olympic medal.
“It was a performance built on confidence and control,” observers noted following the rhythm dance. The competition concludes with the free dance, where the Canadians will look to use their signature dramatic flair to climb the standings and secure a spot on the Olympic podium.