Gilles, Poirier 2nd after rhythm dance at figure skating world championships

Olympic bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished second in Friday's rhythm dance at the world figure skating championships in Prague, Czech Republic.

Gilles, from Toronto, and Poirier, from Unionville, Ont., scored 86.45 points for their routine to RuPaul's "Supermodel" and "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred.

Canadian Olympic bronze medallists Gilles and Poirier sit in 2nd after rhythm dance at worlds

Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry, a Montreal native representing France, and partner Guillaume Cizeron held a commanding lead heading into Saturday's free dance with a score of 92.74.

"It's our first world championships together so we really wanted to have fun and we really enjoyed the crowd," Fournier Beaudry said. "They were exchanging energy with us and it just reminds us why we do it, we wouldn't be there without them. It's just a very very nice moment for us."

Cizeron said the skaters were not under as much pressure in Prague as they were in Milan, which helped their performance.

"What's really fun of this championships is that, I think I can speak for everyone, we feel it's more like a show and we're little bit less stressed maybe than at the Olympics," he said. "That extra magic from the crowd allows us to perform to our best."

The French couple was created this season when Fournier Beaudry, who previously skated for Canada, was left without a partner after Nikolaj Sorensen faced allegations of sexual maltreatment. Fournier Beaudry teamed with multiple world champion Cizeron, who retired after winning the 2022 Olympics with Gabriella Papadakis.

France's Cizeron and ex-Canadian skater Fournier Beaudry lead after rhythm dance at worlds

Britain's Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson were third with