Quick thinking saves Olympic routine from disaster.
Canadian ice dancer Piper Gilles faced a scary moment during her performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics on Tuesday, but she did not let it ruin her routine. A wardrobe problem suddenly appeared while she performed with her partner, Paul Poirier, but they handled it quickly.
Gilles and Poirier were performing their rhythm dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. They started the routine smoothly and looked confident. In the middle of one move, Poirier’s arm cuff got caught on Gilles’ tights. The loose fabric could have caused a fall or stopped their performance.
Gilles reacted immediately. She grabbed the cuff and hid it behind her back as she continued skating. The pair stayed calm and completed their routine without any more problems. They finished strong and successfully hit their final pose.
Piper Gilles’ presence of mind likely saved her team from losing points. Ice skating rules say teams get a penalty if costume pieces fall onto the ice. Judges can remove one full point from the score for that mistake.
Gilles prevented that from happening. She kept the loose cuff off the ice, so the judges did not deduct any points. Their routine counted without problems.
The Canadian pair scored 86.18 points in the rhythm dance. That score placed them third before the free dance round. They still have a strong chance to win an Olympic medal.
Gilles and Poirier carry a long record of success together. They won silver at the 2024 World Championships. They also own two World bronze medals. The skaters also competed at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games. They finished eighth in PyeongChang and improved to seventh in Beijing.
Gilles decided to skate for Canada in 2011 and built a strong career there. She and Poirier have won three Canadian national titles. Poirier also competed at the 2010 Olympics with his former partner, Vanessa Crone, finishing 14th.
For Gilles and Poirier, the day ended on a positive note. A potential mistake turned into a strong moment thanks to Gilles’ quick thinking, keeping their Olympic medal hopes alive.
