Fear and Gibson Win First Skate Canada Title

A title after three previous podium finishes

The victory followed three earlier Skate Canada medals: bronze in 2019, then silver in 2022 and 2023. This time, Fear and Gibson led both segments of the competition, turning a strong rhythm dance into an overall win with their free dance.

Their rhythm dance used “El Flamenco” and music by the Gipsy Kings. The 2025 World bronze medalists scored 81.37 points. Judges awarded level three and level four for their twizzles, level two for the Golden Waltz, and level three for the circular steps. Their choreographic element and lift both earned level four, with very high grades of execution.

Fear said the team had put together six particularly strong weeks of training and was pleased to reproduce that consistency in competition. Gibson described the rhythm dance as a chance to test the program under pressure, while noting that details still needed work.

Two distinct programs, one overall lead

For the free dance, Fear and Gibson performed to “Get the Party Started” and “The Sparkling Diamond” in a routine built around “glitz and glamour.” They scored 119.80 points, the highest free-dance mark, to secure the title. Their twizzles, lifts and dance spin received level four; the one-foot steps earned level two and the diagonal steps level three. All elements received high grades of execution.

Fear said the pair had wanted to make a jazz program and found music that shaped characters of a showgirl and an emcee. She singled out a slide in which only her fingertips touch the ice, describing it as a nod to earlier skating moves. The routine gave the team room to build a performance style around the technical elements.

Gibson called the gold “very special” and said it was their second time medaling in Kelowna. The win also gives the British duo a successful opening to their Grand Prix Series, with another competition already on the schedule.

What comes next

Fear and Gibson are due to compete next week at Cup of China. Fear said they want to carry the energy and consistency from Kelowna into that event, using the competition experience to keep developing their programs.

The title came after a season of reassessing their goals. Fear said they were trying to move beyond old expectations and explore what they could achieve; the next test is whether that approach holds under pressure at Cup of China.

France takes silver

Lopareva and Brissaud finished second with 77.90 points in the rhythm dance and took silver overall. Their routine, set to “Droit de Cité,” “A Motley Crew” and “Can-Can,” leaned into a clown concept developed with their coach, Marie-France Dubreuil, and a professional clown from Cirque du Soleil.

The French team said it had worked through the summer to improve after a previous competition in Italy that did not go as smoothly as hoped. Their Skate Canada program showed the direction they want to pursue; they leave Kelowna with silver and the next competition ahead.

Sources

• goldenskate.com — “Fear and Gibson win first Skate Canada title”
• iceskating.org.uk — “Fear & Gibson crowned Skate Canada champions to open Grand Prix season”