Lia Cho is a Canadian junior figure skater. She is a two-time Canadian junior national champion (2025, 2026) and the 2026 JGP Thailand bronze medalist.
Personal life Lia Cho was born on August 21, 2012 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada to parents, Ara and Brian Cho. She also has a brother, Lucas, who is two years younger than her. The family moved to Calgary in 2021 due to Cho's father's work.
Cho is currently a student at Mount Royal School. In addition, she is fluent in both English and Korean.
Career Early career Cho began skating at age three at the Red Deer Skating Club in Red Deer, Alberta and was coached by Patti Somer. In 2021, after moving to Calgary with her family, Cho began training at The Glencoe Club under coach Scott Davis.
2023–24 season Cho began her season by making her novice debut in February at the 2023 Skate Canada Challenge, where she won the gold medal. Two weeks later, she competed at the 2024 Canadian Novice Championships, winning the gold medal by almost thirty-three points and setting a new Canadian novice women's record with a total score of 166.56 points.
In April, Cho finished her season by winning the 2024 Triglav Trophy on the novice level.
2024–25 season Cho started her season in August, winning gold on the novice level at the 2024 Cranberry Cup. She followed this up by making her junior debut at the 2024 Skate Canada Challenge, winning the gold medal.
In January, Cho won the 2025 Canadian Junior Championships, setting a Canadian junior women's record in all competition segments with a score of 64.19 in the short program, 124.60 in the free skate, and 188.79 for a combined total score. Two months later, she concluded her season with a gold medal win on the novice level at the 2025 Maria Olszewska Memorial.
2025–26 season Beginning her season in August at the 2025 Cranberry Cup, Cho won the gold medal on the novice level. Three months later, she won another gold medal at the 2025 Skate Canada Challenge on the junior level.
In January, Cho won her second consecutive national title at the 2026 Canadian Junior Championships, breaking her previous Canadian junior women's records with a score of 66.77 in the short program, 132.83 in the free skate, and 199.60 for a combined total score. The following month, she finished her season by winning gold at the 2026 Maria Olszewska Memorial on the novice level.
2026–27 season For the 2026–27 season, Cho became eligible to compete on the junior level internationally and the senior level domestically, welcoming the latter as an opportunity "to compete against everyone who's really good in Canada." She made her junior international debut at the 2026 Cranberry Cup, where she won gold.
Cho was assigned to make her Junior Grand Prix debut at the 2026 JGP Thailand in Bangkok. She placed third in both the short program and the free skate, winning the bronze medal. Speaking afterward, she stated that she "wasn't really expecting to get a medal; my goal was to get top 5. I'm so happy and excited that I podiumed."
Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2026–2027 Overture to Die Fledermaus Scheherazade Op. 35 I. Largo e maestoso - Allegro non troppo "The Sea and Sinbad's Ship" III. Andantino quasi allegretto "The Young Prince and The Young Princess" IV. Allegro molto "Festival at Baghdad" 2025–2026 Joli Garçon 2024–2025 The Blue Danube Romeo and Juliet Epilogue Adieu (Farewell Love Scene) Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet 2023–2024 La La Land Planetarium Another Day of Sun The Red Poppy Op.70: II. Scene and Dance. II. Dance III. Scene and Dance with Goldfingers Act Three: Toa-Hoa's Death Op.70: III. Chinese Dance 2022–2023 The Pink Panther The Pink Panther Theme The Pink Panther Theme (Dance Radio Mix) Anastasia Finale Once Upon a December
Competitive highlights
Detailed results
Junior level
References
External links