Australian ice dancers Holly Harris and Jason Chan have officially secured their nation a coveted spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, marking a major breakthrough moment for figure skating in the country.

The duo achieved the milestone by finishing second at the "Skate to Milano" qualifying event held in Beijing over the weekend. Their performance not only underlined the progress they have made as a team since partnering in 2019 but also ensured Australia will once again be represented in Olympic ice dance — the first such qualification in over a decade.

The achievement carries additional weight as it represents the first quota spot for Australia in Olympic ice dancing since Danielle O'Brien and Gregory Merriman competed at the Sochi Games in 2014.

A Dream Realised for Harris

For Harris, the result was overwhelming on a deeply personal level. At just 22 years old, the skater admitted the qualification had been a lifelong dream.

"I've been waiting for this my whole career, so I'm in disbelief," Harris said tearfully in an emotional interview on Chinese television after the event. "I'm just so happy. In the end of the program, I think we were just relieved to have done our best and for all the nerves and tension to wash away, because it was all done. The wait time was really nerve-racking because of the suspense music, you think the scores are coming and they just keep not arriving, so at that moment I was really nervous."

Her words painted a vivid picture of the rollercoaster of emotions the pair endured as they waited for the official confirmation of their scores.

The Long Road Back from Heartbreak

Harris and Chan’s Olympic dream almost materialised four years ago, but they missed out narrowly, qualifying only as fourth reserve for the 2022 Beijing Games. At the time, the pair was still relatively new, having started skating together in 2019. Their early progress was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited their training and competition opportunities.

Chan, who previously competed for Canada between 2014 and 2018, was already an experienced competitor. He even won gold at the novice level with his former partner Valérie Taillefer. However, forging a strong new partnership with Harris required time, patience, and persistence.

Looking back, Harris reflected on just how far they had come: "Looking back to the qualifying event four years ago, it feels crazy to see the evolution. We weren't ready back then, we had to really grow as a team, find ourselves and put a lot of work to show that now we're ready, we want it."

Chan echoed her sentiments: "We are a completely different team from where we were four years ago. And also over these past four years, we started to understand each other even on a deeper level, so I think that just brought us closer."

Their progression as athletes and as a partnership has been remarkable, culminating in this hard-earned Olympic quota spot.

Joining Australia’s Olympic Contingent

Their successful qualification means Harris and Chan will join compatriots Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore, who earlier this year secured their own Olympic ticket in pairs figure skating. Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore booked their place by finishing ninth at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston in March.

For Harris and Chan, the achievement was bittersweet as they had fallen just one place short of direct qualification at those world championships. This time, however, they ensured their spot with an assured performance in Beijing.

The distinction between their discipline and pairs skating is also worth noting. Ice dancing focuses on intricate choreography, musical interpretation, and rhythm, with rules prohibiting jumps and limiting distance between partners to no more than two arm lengths. In contrast, pairs skating incorporates more acrobatic elements such as jumps, throws, and overhead lifts.

Ice dancing only debuted at the Olympics in 1976, while pairs and singles skating have been part of the program since 1908.

Gratitude and Celebration

In the aftermath of their qualification, Chan was keen to express the pair’s appreciation for those who had supported them along the way.

"We are just really grateful to everyone back home in Australia, everyone back home in Montreal," he said. "It's amazing to share this experience with so many friends. I think this is a culmination of a lot of hard work and a reflection of our journey."

Their achievement has also provided a timely boost for figure skating in Australia, a country not traditionally known for its strength in winter sports.

Wider Implications from the Event

The qualifying event in Beijing was significant not just for Harris and Chan but for the broader international skating community. Russian skaters, competing as Individual Neutral Athletes due to international restrictions, made their return to major competition for the first time since the 2022 Olympics.

Teenager Adeliia Petrosian stamped herself as a potential Olympic medal contender, scoring 209.63 points across her Michael Jackson-themed short program and an Argentine tango-inspired free skate. She finished ahead of Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia (206.23) and Belgium’s Loena Hendrickx (204.96).

The International Skating Union (ISU) had earlier approved a select group of Russian athletes to compete, including Petrosian and Alina Gorbacheva in women’s singles, and Gumennik and Vladislav Dikidzhi in men’s singles. No Russian pairs or ice dance teams were cleared to compete.

In the men’s singles competition, Gumennik announced himself as a strong contender for the Olympic podium with a dominant victory, winning by a margin of 34 points. Meanwhile, Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius of Lithuania captured victory in the ice dance event.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin on February 6 in Milan-Cortina, and Harris and Chan’s qualification ensures Australia will have a notable presence in figure skating. With their blend of artistry, resilience, and determination, the duo will carry not just their own hopes but those of a growing community of Australian figure skating fans.

For Harris, who described the achievement as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, and for Chan, who has found new meaning in their partnership, the journey to Milan-Cortina is already a triumph. The Games themselves now represent an opportunity to showcase their talent on the biggest stage of all.