Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek, right, and Maxime Deschamps acknowledge the crowd after their performance in the pairs free skate figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
August 27, 2026 - 12:48 PM
World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek is switching back to the United States after seven seasons representing Canada, forming a new pairs partnership with Danil Siianytsia.
The 43-year-old Chicago native represented the United States in women’s singles more than 25 years ago before moving to Canada’s program in 2019 to skate with Maxime Deschamps.
Deschamps announced his retirement from competitive figure skating in July.
At 40, Stellato-Dudek became the oldest woman to win a world figure skating title when she and Deschamps captured gold for Canada in 2024. The pair also won the 2024 Four Continents title and three Canadian championships. She later received Canadian citizenship, making her eligible to represent Canada at the Olympics.
“I'm incredibly excited to begin this new chapter with Danil, and I'm so grateful for all the fans who continue to support me through every chapter of my journey. I'll give everything I have to make you proud and represent the USA with everything I have,” Stellato-Dudek said.
“My journey in this sport has taken me places I never could have imagined, but the United States is where it all began for me. I'm grateful for everything I've experienced throughout my career and excited about what Danil and I can build together.”
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps finished 11th at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics after a difficult lead-up to her long-awaited Olympic debut.
Stellato-Dudek hit her head on the ice during a training session less than three weeks before the pairs event and received medical clearance only days before competing. A fall in the short program ended their hopes of contending for a medal.
Siianytsia, 25, was born in Dnipro, Ukraine, but has represented the United States in pairs competition since 2017, most recently with Anastasiia Smirnova.
Stellato-Dudek and Siianytsia will train in Colorado Springs with Olympic coach Drew Meekins ahead of the qualifying season for the 2027 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.?
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2026.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2026