Lia Cho achieved an outstanding score that initially took a moment to sink in. The talented figure skater broke another Canadian junior women’s record on her way to clinching the gold medal at the 2026 Canadian figure skating championships held on Wednesday.
Hailing from Calgary and at just 13 years old, Cho impressed the audience by scoring 199.60 points, surpassing her previous record of 188.79 set during last year’s nationals in Laval, Quebec. Reflecting on her achievement, Cho expressed her surprise at the high score, admitting that it was her personal best. She humorously mentioned her confusion with the French announcements, seeking confirmation from her coach in English before realizing the magnitude of her accomplishment.
In a remarkable display of skill, Cho executed seven triple jumps at Centre Slush Puppie, outshining Victoria Barakhtina who secured the silver medal with 171.93 points, and Quinn Startek who claimed the bronze with 157.93 points. Trained by coach Scott Davis at The Glencoe Club, Cho had previously served as an ice patcher at the 2024 nationals and is now eligible to compete in the world junior championships in 2027.
In the junior men’s category, Parker Heiderich from Calgary emerged victorious with 188.16 points, leading ahead of William Chan and James Cha who secured the silver and bronze medals respectively. Additionally, Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys showcased their talent by winning the gold in junior ice dance with a score of 170.33 points.