World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek is making a return to the United States after competing for Canada for seven seasons. She will now partner with Danil Siianytsia in pairs skating.
Originally from Chicago and now 43 years old, Stellato-Dudek previously represented the United States in women’s singles over 25 years ago. In 2019, she transitioned to Canada’s program to skate with 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 title in 2024 with Deschamps. Together, they also claimed the 2024 Four Continents title and three Canadian championships. After obtaining Canadian citizenship, she was able to compete for Canada at the Olympics.
Expressing her excitement about the new partnership, Stellato-Dudek stated, “I’m incredibly thrilled to embark on this new journey with Danil, and I am thankful for the unwavering support of my fans throughout my career. I am dedicated to making you proud and representing the USA with all my efforts.”
Looking forward to the future with Siianytsia, Stellato-Dudek shared, “My skating journey has taken me to unexpected places, but the United States is where it all started for me. I appreciate all the experiences I’ve had in my career and am eager to see what Danil and I can achieve together.”
Following a challenging lead-up to her Olympic debut at Milan Cortina 2026, where they finished 11th, Stellato-Dudek suffered a head injury during training just before the event. Despite receiving medical clearance shortly before competing, a fall in the short program dashed their medal hopes.
Siianytsia, aged 25 and originally from Dnipro, Ukraine, has been competing for the United States in pairs since 2017, most recently with Anastasiia Smirnova. Stellato-Dudek and Siianytsia will train under Olympic coach Drew Meekins in Colorado Springs as they prepare for the qualifying season leading up to the 2027 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.