World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek has made the decision to return to the United States after representing Canada for seven seasons. She will now team up with Danil Siianytsia in a new pairs partnership.
Originally from Chicago and now 43 years old, Stellato-Dudek previously competed for the United States in women’s singles over 25 years ago. In 2019, she transitioned to Canada’s program to skate alongside Maxime Deschamps, who retired from competitive figure skating in July.
Stellato-Dudek made history at 40 by becoming the oldest woman to win a world figure skating championship in 2024 with Deschamps for Canada. Their successes included winning the 2024 Four Continents title and three Canadian championships. After acquiring Canadian citizenship, she was eligible to represent Canada at the Olympics.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the new partnership, Stellato-Dudek stated, “I’m incredibly excited to start this new journey with Danil and appreciate the ongoing support from my fans. I am fully committed to making you proud and representing the USA with all my dedication.”
Reflecting on her career, she added, “My skating journey has taken me to unexpected places, but it all began for me in the United States. I am thankful for the experiences throughout my career and look forward to the possibilities with Danil by my side.”
Following a challenging lead-up to her long-awaited Olympic debut, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps finished 11th at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics. Despite facing adversity, including a head injury just before the event, she obtained medical clearance to compete. Unfortunately, a fall during the short program dashed their medal aspirations.
Siianytsia, aged 25 and hailing from Dnipro, Ukraine, has been representing the United States in pairs competitions since 2017, most recently skating with Anastasiia Smirnova.
The duo of Stellato-Dudek and Siianytsia will undergo 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.