Canada’s Gabrielle Daleman skates to fourth after short program at Four Continents

Gabrielle Daleman performs her short program in the women's figure skating competition at the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships in Gatineau, Que., on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

BEIJING — Gabrielle Daleman is in the hunt for a medal at the Four Continents Championships.

The two-time Olympic figure skater from Newmarket, Ont., landed three triple jumps to score 67.69 points in a clean short program Thursday, placing fourth heading into Friday’s free skate.

Japanese skaters occupied the top three positions. Ami Nakai led the field with 73.83 points, followed by Yuna Aoki (71.41) and Mone Chiba (68.07).

Daleman is competing in just her second international competition since missing the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with a back injury and two ankle surgeries.

The 28-year-old returned this season with hopes of becoming the first Canadian woman to reach three Olympics in singles, but Madeline Schizas earned Canada’s lone spot for February’s Milan Cortina Games.

Schizas won her fourth national title at the Canadian championships in Gatineau, Que., on Jan. 11, while Daleman claimed a silver medal. Several Olympic-bound skaters, including Schizas, are not competing at Four Continents because of its close timing with the Games.

Elsewhere, two-time national ice dance bronze medallists Alicia Fabbri and Paul Ayer sat fourth following the rhythm dance.

Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier, who are three-time reigning Canadian pairs bronze medallists, were fifth after their short program.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2026.