Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, despite missing the podium and failing to defend their world figure skating title, expressed a sense of relief. The Canadian duo placed fifth in Boston, a year after their impressive gold win in Montreal. Stellato-Dudek mentioned the challenges of being the returning champion, emphasizing the pressure and expectations to win. She acknowledged the valuable lessons learned and expressed readiness for the upcoming Olympics.
Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara claimed their second world title with 219.79 points, narrowly surpassing Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin. Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii secured the bronze medal. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps scored 199.76 points in their underwater-themed free skate but were overtaken by the final group’s performances.
Stellato-Dudek, an American skater who became a Canadian citizen in December, partnered with Deschamps in 2019. Their season-best score this year was 210.92, significantly lower than their previous best. Despite setbacks, including Deschamps’ illness and Stellato-Dudek’s injuries, the duo is determined to strive for success in the upcoming competitions.
The results of this year’s worlds have implications for the 2026 Winter Games, with Canada’s top pairs teams falling short of securing three provisional spots for the Olympics. American skater Ilia Malinin dominated the men’s short program, setting a high score, followed by Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama. Canadian skater Roman Sadovsky placed 15th and is aiming to improve his ranking in the free skate.
The competition in Boston continues with the rhythm dance and women’s free program. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are contending for gold in ice dance. The world championships are being held by the Skating Club of Boston, which is mourning the loss of six members in a recent tragic incident.
