Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, the reigning 2024 world champions from Canada, took the sixth spot in the pairs competition at the Grand Prix Final. Their performance in the free skate was marred by a fall, resulting in a total score of 194.36 points. The title was claimed by Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara with 225.21 points, followed by Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii in second place with 223.28 points, and Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin in third with 221.25 points.
Deschamps expressed disappointment over their performance, citing fatigue and illness from their busy schedule of competing in four events within nine weeks. The duo plans to take a week off to recuperate and recharge for the remainder of the season.
The reigning 2024 world champions, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada, concluded their pairs free skate in last place at the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, Japan.
The Grand Prix Final showcases the top six entries in each figure skating discipline from the Grand Prix season. Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are set to perform their free dance routine after securing third place in the rhythm dance event.
In the junior ice dance category, Canadians Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys began in sixth position following the rhythm dance segment at their inaugural Junior Grand Prix Final.
Currently, Americans Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin lead the competition, trailed by Ukraine’s Iryna Pidgaina and Artem Koval, and France’s Ambre Perrier Gianesini and Samuel Blanc Klaperman.
Layla Veillon shared their perspective on the competition, emphasizing resilience and looking forward to future opportunities despite setbacks. In junior pairs, Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov from Winnipeg hold the third position going into the free skate scheduled for Saturday.