One of Winter Olympics’ most glamorous stars saved herself from a world of embarrassment after suffering a wardrobe malfunction mid-routine.
On Tuesday afternoon, Canadian skaters Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier hit the ice for the rhythm dance segment of the competition at the 2026 Winter Games.
However, things nearly ended in disaster when Poirier’s arm cuff snagged on Gilles’ tights as they performed a move, threatening to derail the entire performance.
Some quick thinking from Canadian star Gilles saved the day, however, as she quickly grabbed the cuff and placed it behind her back before they hit their final pose.
Had the piece of clothing fallen on the ice, they would have risked a points deduction.
In the end, the wardrobe malfunction did not have an effect on their score and the Canadian skating duo walked away in third place on Tuesday.
Canadian figure skaters Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier hit the ice on Tuesday for the rhythm dance segment of the competition
Gilles’ quick thinking saved the duo a potential penalty after they had a wardrobe malfunction
Gilles and Poirier scored 86.18 points on the ice, putting them in a podium position as they head into the final, free dance, portion of the medal competition.
A wardrobe deduction can cost a team significantly under ISU rules. If a costume part falls onto the ice surface, judges typically apply a 1.0 point penalty.
Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier have a long history of competitive success. They are the 2024 World silver medalists and two-time World bronze medal winners.
The pair previously competed at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. They finished eighth in Pyeongchang and moved up to seventh place at the Beijing Games.
Gilles was born in the United States but has represented Canada since 2011. She and Poirier are three-time Canadian national champions in the senior category.
Paul Poirier is a veteran of four Olympic Games. He previously competed with Vanessa Crone at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where the pair finished fourteenth.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the day, Canada’s women’s hockey team did not have the same kind of luck that the skating duo did and were humiliated 5-0 by Team USA.
Hannah Bilka led the charge for the US, netting two goals to silence the Canadian contingent while Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms added to the tally early.
Gilles and Poirier scored 86.18 points on the ice, putting them in a podium position
The duo are the 2024 World silver medalists and two-time World bronze medal winners
Laila Edwards scored the final goal to complete the ‘thrashing’ of the tournament’s defending champions, who looked shell-shocked throughout the final period.
Canada’s effort was severely hampered by the absence of legendary captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who watched from the sidelines after a recent lower-body injury.
The humiliation on the ice follows a diplomatic row where the Canadian Prime Minister slapped down the president’s demand for ownership of a bridge between Ontario and Michigan.
President Trump had previously threatened to block the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge unless the United States was granted a 50 percent stake.
In a dismissive response on Tuesday morning, Carney told reporters the situation would be settled before mocking Trump’s public concerns about the hockey game.
