Zachary Lagha

Biography

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha were crowned world junior ice dance champions in 2019. They were just the second Canadian duo, after Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in 2006, to win a world junior title in ice dance. Two years later in 2021, they competed at their first senior ISU World Championships. 

Lajoie and Lagha made their international debuts in a Junior Grand Prix event in October 2015. A few months later, they captured the silver medal in the junior ice dance event at the 2016 Canadian Championships. They represented Canada at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer where they finished fourth in the ice dance event but won a bronze medal in the mixed team event. They ended the season by competing at their first of four straight world junior championships. 

Over the course of their junior careers, Lajoie and Lagha won three junior national titles (2017, 2018, 2019) and qualified for back-to-back Junior Grand Prix Finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19. They started competing as seniors in 2019-20, which included their debut on the ISU Grand Prix circuit and a silver medal at the national championships. They followed up with a fifth-place finish at their first Four Continents Championships. They were named to the Canadian team for the 2020 World Championships before they were cancelled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2021, they posted their first top-five finish in a Grand Prix event at the NHK Trophy in Japan. 

After winning bronze at the 2022 Canadian Championships, Lajoie and Lagha made their Olympic debuts at Beijing 2022 where they placed 13th. They followed up with an 11th place finish at the 2022 World Championships.

A Little More About Zachary

Getting into the Sport: Started figure skating at age 8 and began competing in ice dance at 12… Was also a singles skater until age 15… Initially didn’t want to try ice dance when a coach suggested he be matched with Lajoie; his mother convinced him it would be just for a club show and he just never stopped… Has wanted to represent Canada since attending the 2011-12 Grand Prix Final in Quebec City as a fan… Inspired by Scott Moir, who he calls “the most charismatic male ice dancer of our time”… Outside Interests: Grew up in a family that loves arts and culture… Has been playing piano in competitions and concerts since he was 5… At age 11 won a competition that earned him the honour of playing piano at Carnegie Hall in New York City… As a young teenager, dreamed of being a professional ballet dancer… Loves the technical aspect of figure skating and is certain he will be a coach one day… Enjoys playing chess, reading, watching ballroom dance competitions from past years…