Stephen Gogolev has made his mark at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Competing for Team Canada, the 21-year-old achieved a notable 10th place finish in the men’s short program.
Performance Highlights
Gogolev delivered a remarkable performance, starting with a quad toe-triple toe combination. He followed this with a clean quad salchow. Despite a minor error on the triple axel landing, where he put a foot down, Gogolev managed to score 87.41 points.
He faced an additional challenge during the routine, as one of his skate laces came loose. Describing the experience, he noted, “My first thought was ‘that isn’t very good right now.’” Nevertheless, he persevered and maintained his focus, stating, “I became aware of it in the middle of my step sequence.”
Context of the Competition
- Event: Men’s Short Program
- Date: February 10, 2026
- Location: Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games
- Score: 87.41 points
- Final Placement: 10th
Gogolev’s participation included competing in the team event just days before, where he gained valuable experience. Despite suffering from back injuries in previous seasons, Gogolev emphasized the significance of competing in the team event for both his performance and mental preparedness.
Reflections on the Experience
After the short program, Gogolev shared insights about the physical challenges of competing multiple times in a short span. “This is my third time competing in four days, so it is a little bit physically challenging,” he admitted. However, he expressed no regrets about his Olympic journey.
Gogolev concluded that he thoroughly enjoyed the team event and stated, “I would definitely do it again if I could.” His resilience and skill have positioned him as a strong contender for future competitions, reinforcing Team Canada’s presence in men’s figure skating.
