World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek has decided to return to representing the United States after competing for Canada for seven seasons. She has formed a new pairs partnership with Danil Siianytsia.
Having previously represented the United States in women’s singles over 25 years ago, the 43-year-old skater from Chicago made the switch to Canada’s program in 2019 to skate with Maxime Deschamps. Deschamps recently announced his retirement from competitive figure skating.
In 2024, at the age of 40, Stellato-Dudek became the oldest woman to win a world figure skating title alongside Deschamps while competing for Canada. Additionally, the duo clinched the 2024 Four Continents title and secured three Canadian championships. Stellato-Dudek acquired Canadian citizenship, enabling her to compete for Canada in the Olympics.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new partnership, Stellato-Dudek stated, “I’m incredibly excited to begin this new chapter with Danil and I’m grateful for the unwavering support from my fans. I am committed to giving my all to represent the USA with pride.”
Reflecting on her skating journey, Stellato-Dudek remarked, “My experiences in this sport have taken me on unexpected paths, but it all started for me in the United States. I appreciate everything I have encountered in my career and look forward to the possibilities that lie ahead with Danil.”
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps finished 11th at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics following challenges in the lead-up to her anticipated Olympic debut. A training accident, where she hit her head on the ice less than three weeks before the pairs event, led to her receiving medical clearance shortly before competing. Unfortunately, a fall during the short program dashed their medal hopes.
Siianytsia, 25, originally from Dnipro, Ukraine, has been competing for the United States in pairs since 2017, most recently skating with Anastasiia Smirnova. The new pairing of Stellato-Dudek and Siianytsia will be training in Colorado Springs under the guidance of Olympic coach Drew Meekins in preparation for the upcoming qualifying season leading to the 2027 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.