Canada's Lia Pereira, Trennt Michaud win pairs gold at Skate Canada International

Canadian figure skaters Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud won pairs gold at Skate Canada International in Kelowna, B.C., on Saturday, capturing their first Grand Prix title in three years.

The reigning Canadian champions and world bronze medallists won both segments, scoring 125.11 in the free skate for a total of 202.17 points, 10.27 ahead of Americans Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov (191.90).

Pereira and Michaud were seven points ahead of the Americans after Friday's short program.

Switzerland's Oxana Vouillamoz and Tom Bouvart moved up from fourth to take bronze (183.12) with the second-best free skate.

Canada's Lia Pereira, Trennt Michaud claim pairs title at Skate Canada International

Pereira, of Milton, Ont., and Michaud, of Brantford, Ont., earned the event's highest program component score in the free skate (65.50).

It's the duo's first Skate Canada International medal. Their only previous Grand Prix win came at the 2023 Grand Prix de France.

"To have all the Canadian flags in the audience and everybody on their feet for both performances is something so special and something we'll always remember," Pereira told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux.

World junior champions Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov of Winnipeg, third after the short program, slipped to fifth (163.07) in their senior Grand Prix debut after two deductions in the free skate. Miyu Yunoki and Tristan Taylor of Regina moved up one spot to finish seventh (152.41).

Canada's Pereira, Michaud reflect on their gold-medal performance at Skate Canada International

Toronto's Stephen Gogolev posted the third-best free skate to climb from 12th to fourth in the men's competition earlier Saturday, as France's Kevin Aymoz overtook Japan's Rio Nakata for the title.

Gogolev,