Pereira, Michaud pull off upset to win Canadian pairs title

Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud were standing in the mixed zone, fielding questions, when a television screen just steps away flashed scores that changed everything.

The Canadian pair, long accustomed to finishing as runners-up behind 2024 world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, realized in real time that they'd just won their first national title.

"Oh my God! We won!" Pereira gasped, laughing uncontrollably in disbelief before clutching Michaud in a tight embrace. He immediately burst into tears of joy.

The scores belonged to Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, whose error-riddled free skate helped seal Pereira and Michaud's stunning victory at the Canadian figure skating championships Saturday.

Canadian pair Pereira, Michaud capture their 1st-ever national figure skating title

Pereira and Michaud, in a reintroduced "Gladiator" routine from the 2023-24 season, scored 135.03 points in their free program. That eclipsed Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps by 12.02 to make up a more than nine-point deficit following Friday's short program.

The gold medallists finished with 204.14, while Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps settled for silver, and Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier took bronze.

"This is what we live for," Michaud said.

Pereira then chimed in, "This is unbelievable."

"Shows our grit, our determination and our passion for the sport," she added. "We've really put in the work over our whole three-and-a-half years together. This is going to be a good moment to sit with for a little while."

Pereira, 21, and the 29-year-old Michaud came together in August 2022. Michaud was searching for a new teammate after longtime partner Evelyn Walsh elected to retire, and Pereira was a singles skater.

It didn't take long for