Deanna Stellato-Dudek Becomes Canadian Citizen

Deanna Stellato-Dudek, a 41-year-old world figure skating champion, has officially become a Canadian citizen, enabling her and her partner Maxime Deschamps to compete for Canada at the 2026 Milan Olympics. Stellato-Dudek, who previously skated for the U.S., made a remarkable comeback after a 16-year hiatus, winning her world title in March at an age that made her the oldest female champion. The duo has been successful in recent competitions, securing gold at both the Skate Canada International and Finlandia Trophy, although they recently withdrew from the Grand Prix Final due to Deschamps' illness. Stellato-Dudek had filed for Canadian citizenship earlier this year and even initiated a petition that attracted nearly 10,000 signatures. Together, they are considered strong contenders for medals in Milan, having won the Canadian pairs title twice since teaming up in 2019. This transition reflects a common practice in figure skating where athletes switch nationalities, particularly in pairs events.