Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps perform their free program in the senior pairs figure skating competition at the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships in Gatineau, Que., on Jan. 10.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Deanna Stellato-Dudek is officially the oldest woman to compete in Olympic figure skating since 1928.
The 42-year-old competed in the short event with her partner, Maxime Deschamps. The pair had a solid skate, landing a huge throw triple loop and side-by-side triple toe loops, although Deschamps touched a hand down on the landing.
However the pair had an unfortunate fall on the exit of their final lift. Stellato-Dudek seemed to come down too close to Deschamps’ blades and she was knocked off her feet.
The former 2024 World Champions are in 10th with 66.04 points — about 8 points off of their season’s best — with one group left to go.
Canadian national champions Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud are sitting in second.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps spoke to reporters briefly at a practice session on Friday. She did not reveal details about the incident that led to the injury, saying that she herself was still processing what had happened and was not ready to discuss it. Stellato-Dudek did say that she had been cleared for a return by doctors and that the last week and a half had been a “living nightmare that I would not wish on anybody.”
Stellato-Dudek began her career as a singles skater in the United States, but an injury forced her into an early retirement at age 17. Incredibly, she returned to the sport after a 16-year-old hiatus, switched to pairs and gained her Canadian citizenship.
Prior to the injury, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps were seen as podium contenders in the pairs event. The team won the World Championships in 2024 and three national titles, although they have struggled with consistency the last two seasons. They placed silver at Canadian nationals in January behind Pereira and Michaud.
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