Mitchell Islam & Alexandra Paul

Figure Skating

Mitchell Islam: Jan. 24, 1990 –

Alexandra Paul: Sep. 16, 1991 – Aug. 22, 2023

Alexandra and Mitchell were heavily involved in the Barrie sports scene throughout their youth. While their athletic careers culminated as Canadian Olympians in figure skating, the two also participated and excelled in various other sports in the community.

Alexandra Paul spent most of her days as a young athlete at the rink, and evenings in the dance studio. She excelled in various dance forms from ballet, to jazz, to tap, becoming a highly accomplished studio dancer. When Alexandra decided to focus solely on figure skating, she used her experience and training in the studio to propel her to quickly become one of the best ice dancers in the world.

Mitchell Islam was a member of the Barrie Minor Hockey Association from 1997-2004, playing at the AAA level with the Barrie Icemen for several seasons. In the summer, he played rep soccer with the Barrie Soccer Club, before discovering another summer sport, lacrosse. As a member of the Barrie Minor Lacrosse Association, Mitchell continued to grow as a young athlete. He played both field and box lacrosse at the highest level until he was 16, captaining his A-level rep box lacrosse team for multiple seasons.

Alexandra and Mitchell were training mates at the Barrie Skating Club and Mariposa School of Skating and, with different partners, excelled as ice dancers at the junior level. After both of their first partnerships dissolved, the two paired up as a junior team in 2009 and began a meteoric rise, becoming one of Canada’s top ice dance teams almost overnight. By the end of their first season together, Alexandra and Mitchell were the 2010 Junior Ice Dance Champions of Canada and were assigned to represent Canada at the 2010 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in the Netherlands. It was there, in March 2010, that they became the World Junior Ice Dance Silver Medalists after only one year as a team.

Alexandra and Mitchell moved into the senior ranks for their second season together, and at their first senior Canadian National Skating Championships in 2011, they earned a bronze medal. They would go on to win two more Canadian National bronze medals in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, after a triumphant third-place finish at Nationals, Alexandra and Mitchell earned a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team that was headed to Sochi. After the experience of a lifetime and an 18th-place finish at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the two were off a few weeks later to their first ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Japan, where they placed 10th. The following year, Alexandra and Mitchell would again represent Canada at the 2015 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in China, on the heels of their third bronze medal at Canadian Nationals.

Over the span of their 8-year partnership, Alexandra and Mitchell would compete in 21 international events throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, winning five medals for Canada. After giving everything they had to their sport as athletes, Alexandra and Mitchell decided to retire from competition in 2016.

Both Alexandra and Mitchell continued with post-secondary studies while competing at the highest level, completing their Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science with honours. Alexandra would go on to attend the University of Windsor’s law program after retiring from skating, and quickly secured a job as a lawyer at Barriston Law in Barrie. A longtime Midhurst resident, Alexandra was inducted into the Springwater Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 2021 for her accomplishments as an ice dancer.

Mitchell realized his passion was still on the ice and transitioned into a coaching career at the Mariposa School of Skating. He is now the school’s Ice Dance Director and is helping shape the next generation of young skaters.

Alexandra and Mitchell’s relationship also transcended the ice. The two married in 2021 and welcomed their son, Charles, into the world in 2022.