Hometown hero Kaiya Ruiter wins figure skating crown in Calgary

Kaiya Ruiter has won the Canadian women’s figure skating championship in her hometown.

The 17-year-old Calgarian dethroned two-time champion Madeline Schizas by winning Saturday’s free skate. Schizas led after Friday’s short program.

Ruiter, who will compete for Canada in the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, posted a winning total score of 180.86.

Schizas dropped to second at 172.90 following a rocky free skate that scored third-place marks.

Canada’s 2023 junior women’s champion Hetty Shi of Mississauga, Ont., was third with a score of 162.51.

National results factor into Skate Canada’s team selection for the upcoming Four Nations championship in Shanghai and the world championship in Montreal in March.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2024.