National Times Bureau (Rajeev Sharma): After years of injury setbacks and uncertainty, Stephen Gogolev has scripted a powerful comeback by winning his first Canadian men’s figure skating title, placing himself on the verge of Olympic selection.
The 21-year-old Toronto native topped the podium at the Canadian figure skating championships on Saturday, delivering a commanding free skate that underscored his return to top form. Skating to Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Gogolev landed two quadruple jumps along with seven clean triples, earning 175.90 points in the free program. Combined with his strong short program, he finished with a total score of 275.50.
For Gogolev, the victory marked a turning point after several difficult seasons plagued by recurring back injuries that at times made him question whether continuing in the sport was worthwhile. Once regarded as Canada’s next major hope in men’s skating at just 13 years old, his career trajectory was disrupted by a rapid growth spurt and physical complications that followed.
This season, however, has been markedly different. Fully healthy, Gogolev competed consistently across all his events and entered the championships with the highest international score among Canadian men, making him a leading contender for Canada’s lone men’s singles spot at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
The competition also featured a high-stakes showdown with Roman Sadovsky, the defending national champion. Sadovsky rallied to claim silver with 255.10 points, moving up from fourth after the short program. Aleksa Rakic of New Westminster, British Columbia, secured the bronze medal with 246.02 points.
Emotions ran high throughout the event, particularly for Sadovsky, who acknowledged the possibility that this could be one of his final appearances at the national championships. Despite the pressure, he delivered a strong free skate after a difficult start, determined to finish without regrets.
Skate Canada is set to announce the full Olympic figure skating team on Sunday evening. While selections are based on performances over multiple seasons rather than nationals alone, Gogolev’s title and season-long consistency have significantly strengthened his case.
For a skater who once considered stepping away from the ice, Gogolev’s triumph stands as a testament to perseverance, resilience and belief in the face of adversity.
