World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek has made a significant decision to return to the United States after representing Canada for seven seasons. She will now partner with Danil Siianytsia in a new pairs collaboration.
Originally from Chicago, Stellato-Dudek, aged 43, previously competed for the United States in women’s singles over 25 years ago. In 2019, she transitioned to Canada’s figure skating program to skate alongside Maxime Deschamps, who retired from competitive skating in July.
Stellato-Dudek made history at 40 by becoming the oldest woman to secure a world figure skating title in 2024 with Deschamps. Their achievements included winning the 2024 Four Continents title and three Canadian championships. After obtaining Canadian citizenship, she became eligible to represent Canada at the Olympics.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new partnership with Siianytsia, Stellato-Dudek stated, “I’m incredibly excited to embark on this new journey with Danil and deeply appreciate the unwavering support from my fans. I am committed to giving my all to make you proud and represent the USA with utmost dedication.”
Reflecting on her skating career, Stellato-Dudek shared, “My journey in this sport has taken me to unexpected places, but it all began in the United States. I am thankful for the experiences throughout my career and eager to see what Danil and I can achieve together.”
Following a challenging lead-up to her Olympic debut, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps finished 11th at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. Despite facing adversity such as a head injury during training, they received medical clearance just days before the competition. Unfortunately, a fall in the short program dashed their medal hopes.
Siianytsia, aged 25 and originally from Dnipro, Ukraine, has represented the United States in pairs competitions since 2017, most recently skating with Anastasiia Smirnova.
Stellato-Dudek and Siianytsia will undergo training in Colorado Springs under the guidance of Olympic coach Drew Meekins in preparation for the 2027 U.S. Figure Skating Championships qualifying season.
