By Canadian Press

Watanabe wins gold, Schizas and Daleman tumble down to 7th and 10th at Skate Canada

Oct 29, 2022 | 1:29 PM

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Japan’s Rinka Watanabe captured gold in women’s singles at Skate Canada International on a rough day for Canadians Madeline Schizas and Gabrielle Daleman.

Skating to the soundtrack from the Japanese TV show “Jin,” the 20-year-old opened with a triple Axel — a jump that still eludes most female skaters — to score 197.59 on Saturday. It was her Grand Prix debut, on either the junior or senior level.  

“This is my first time ever,” she said. “I was pretty nervous but I think I did pretty well, so I’m really happy to have done good, solid, today.”

Watanabe, who had lived and trained in Vancouver from 2017 until the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to return to Japan, is planning to include two triple Axels in her free program at her next event.

It was a disastrous day for Schizas and Daleman, who had been 1-2 after Friday’s short program.

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Schizas, a 19-year-old from Oakville, Ont., and the reigning Canadian champion, tumbled down to seventh place with 180.59. Skating last, and to music from the “West Side Story” soundtrack, she fell once and two-footed a couple of landings. 

“I knew full well skating that a door was wide open for me. Like so well,” Schizas said. “I knew that I could have won this event just by not falling on my face there on a double jump. 

“I didn’t think it was going to be that hard. I knew full well that door was open. I just didn’t figure out how to walk through it.”

Schizas spotted a plastic flower holder on the ice during her program, likely from a flower thrown after a previous skater, and missed by the young skaters who scoop up flowers and stuffed animals. She considered stopping her program to pick it up. 

“But once you interrupt your program, how does everyone feel about your program performance?” she said. 

Instead, she picked it up afterward and took it to the judges’ table. 

“I didn’t slip on it, I just saw it. I just skated by it like four times,” Schizas said. “From about the third or fourth jump in the program, I was like, oh gosh, there’s something there,” she said. “But I’m not going to stand here and blame some stupid piece of plastic for my bad skate. I could have skated well anyways. I just have to learn how to focus a little bit more. 

“I think I’ve learned how to skate at these events, I just haven’t learned how to compete.”

Daleman, a 24-year-old from Newmarket, Ont., and two-time Olympian, looked on the cusp of a fabulous comeback after several rough seasons, but she fell on her third jump, a triple flip, and the program continued to unravel from there. She fell once more, and nearly fell a third time to finish 10th (171.61).

“I feel disappointed. Practices have been great. Warmup was great. Definitely was nervous going into this,” said Daleman, the 2017 world bronze medallist. “But, it’s my second competition out. I can’t expect perfect. But I did fight for everything. I didn’t give up. I could have just as easily let the program go but the crowd was absolutely incredible.”

Starr Andrews of the U.S. scored 191.26 to win silver, while You Young of South Korea, who also landed a triple Axel, captured the bronze (190.15).

Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier were scheduled to go for ice dance gold later Saturday. The Canadians led after Friday’s short program. The event concludes with the pairs and men’s singles Saturday night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2022.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press