Canadian Olympic Ice Dance Skater Piper Gilles is a Rockford, Illinois native who has gone viral for incredibly saving a wardrobe malfunction that could have ended their spot on the medal podium.

Olympic Dreams Start in Rockford

Since the Winter Olympic Games began in Milan-Cortina last week, I have been obsessed with watching them, especially when figure skating is on.

I love the artistry and athleticism of figure skating, and I especially love when I can cheer on a hometown hopeful!

READ MORE: Rockford Native Competing for Team USA Skimo

Piper Gilles may be skating for Team Canada in this year's Winter Olympics, but her figure skating dreams began right here in Rockford, Illinois!

Piper Gilles is not only a highly decorated and talented ice dancer, a seasoned Olympic athlete, but also a spokeswoman for the Ontario chapter of the International Dyslexia Foundation, and an ovarian cancer survivor!

Incredible Olympic Costume Save


I was watching that performance, and it happened so fast, I missed it, but if that cuff had hit the ice, it would have landed them a costly penalty.

Piper Gilles and partner Paul Poirier currently sit in third place as they head into the Ice Dance finals today in Milan-Cortina (2/11), right behind Team USA's Madison Chock and Evan Bates who are in second. While I never want to root against a USA team, it would be pretty cool to see a Rockford native win the Gold!

You can watch the Ice Dance Finals live starting at 1:30 p.m. ET today on Peacock and the USA Network.

LOOK: 20 Fascinating Photos From the First Modern Olympic Games in 1896

To celebrate the history of international sports cooperation, Stacker took a look back at that groundbreaking event in Athens, when the modern Olympics were born in 1896. Keep reading to learn more about the athletes, spectators, and sports at that iconic event.

Gallery Credit: Caitlin PenzeyMoog

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman

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