Ice dancers Paul Poirier, Piper Gilles claim first Olympic medal

After 15 years of skating together, ice dance duo Paul Poirier of Unionville and Piper Gilles captured a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. That marks the first Olympic medal for the three-time Olympians.

Poirier and Gilles, both aged 34, performed to Govardo’s folk cover of Vincent. When they completed their program, Poirier broke down in tears. The pair earned the bronze with a score of 131.56 in their free dance and an overall total of 217.74. Former Canadian skater Laurence Fournier Beaudry and partner Guillaume Cizeron won the gold medal for France, while Madison Chock and Evan Bates took silver for the U.S.

Since Poirier and Gilles began skating together in 2011, they’ve collected four world championships. They also competed at the Winter Olympic Games in 2018 and 2022.