The Canadian team Les Supremes is on course for gold after the Short Program at the 2026 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Salzburg, scoring 83.24 points. Also in medal positions ahead of tomorrow’s Free Skating are the teams Haydenettes from the USA (79.30) and team Nova Senior (75,95).

The 3,000 spectators in the sold-out Salzburgarena enjoyed the top-rated Short Program of the evening by three-time world champions Les Supremes from Montreal. The Canadian team netted 83.24 points for their performance to “Hymne à l’amour” by Céline Dion, which is close to their season’s best.
“We started the summer with a slightly renewed team and a new program. We have had a great season so far, and it continued on the ice tonight,” said Olivia Di Giandomenico, team captain of Les Supremes. Co-captain Julia Bernardo added: “Working together on the ice was a lot of fun. That was our secret to success tonight.”

Passion on the ice

Team Haydenettes from the USA sit in second place after the Short Program with 79.30 points.
“We listened to the music and left our hearts on the ice,” said team captain Paige Felton, celebrating a new season’s best. “We really enjoyed the performance together with the audience. Today was about joy and gaining experience, as the hard work had already been done during our intense World Championships preparation.”

Co-captain Taylor Olender added that the team’s performance clearly showed their deep passion for the sport.


Strong World Championships comeback

Somewhat surprisingly, Canada’s Nova Senior team is in third place with a season’s best of 75.95 points. “It may come as a surprise – even to us that we’ve earned a small bronze medal after the Short Program,” admitted team captain Noémie Beaucage. “But there’s a lot of hard work behind it. Everyone on the team did their job perfectly—we’re very happy.”

Just last year, the team fell short in the tough competition for Canada’s World Championship spots. In Salzburg, however, they have made a remarkable comeback. They are not feeling pressure from the defending champions, Helsinki Rockettes, currently in fourth place.

“It won’t change anything—we’ll stay focused and not look at what others are doing,” emphasized co-captain Morgan Bennett.

No Finnish celebration

A year after the euphoric synchro celebration in Helsinki, where the Finnish teams claimed a home double victory, the opening day in Salzburg was not a successful one for Finland. Reigning World Champions Helsinki Rockettes are in fourth position after the Short Program with 72.44 points but still can reach a medal in the Free Skating. Team Unique, last year’s World silver medalists, sit in seventh place with 66.16 points.

“Incredible atmosphere”

Home team Colibris Vienna came 21st in the Short Program. The team enjoyed the strong support from the crowd.

“It was incredible how loud it was and how strongly we felt the support. It was a huge pleasure to skate here in the Salzburgarena“, team-captain Katharina Grantner said.

ISU Synchronized World Championships 2026