Kaiya Ruiter

Born on May 13, 2006, in Ottawa, Ontario, Kaiya Ruiter began her figure skating journey at age four on the Rideau Canal. She started formal training at age six with the Gloucester Skating Club. After moving to Edmonton in 2016 and then Calgary, she trained with coaches Jeff Langdon and Scott Davis. Ruiter quickly developed her skills, landing her first triple jump, a triple toe loop, in November 2018 and mastering all her triple jumps and triple-triple combinations within a year. Her early career highlights include winning the 2019 Canadian novice national title, setting a new record with a score of 139.57. She also secured a third-place finish at her first international assignment, the 2019 Bavarian Open.

Ruiter’s career progressed rapidly into the junior international circuit. In the 2019-20 season, she debuted on the Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit, competing in Latvia and Italy, where she made significant improvements and set a Canadian junior record with 159.07 points. She won the junior event at the 2020 Skate Canada Challenge and subsequently the 2020 Canadian Junior Championships with a total score of 174.83 points. She continued her success by winning gold at the Bavarian Open junior event. In the 2021-22 season, Ruiter earned two JGP medals in Courchevel, securing silver and bronze, becoming the first Canadian woman since 2008 to achieve multiple JGP medals. Her senior career includes a silver medal at the 2022 CS Ice Challenge and a silver medal at the 2023 Canadian Championships. Ruiter achieved a significant milestone by becoming the 2024 Canadian national champion and later earned a bronze medal in the team event at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. In September 2024, she notably moved to Toronto to train full-time at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club under coaches Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson.

Despite facing challenges, including a significant injury in November 2021 that impacted her training for nearly a year and ongoing boot-related issues in 2025, Ruiter has consistently demonstrated resilience and commitment. Her performances in the 2024-25 season included a seventh-place finish at the 2024 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge, an eighth-place finish at the 2024 Skate Canada International, and a seventh-place finish at the 2024 CS Warsaw Cup. Entering the 2025 Canadian Championships as the defending champion, she placed fourth, narrowly missing a podium spot. Ruiter’s dedication is further highlighted by her optimism towards future competitions, including aspiring for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina and her involvement with the Atlos Fund, supporting Canadian athletes.