US-born pair skater Stellato-Dudek becomes Canadian citizen, paving way for Milan Olympics

Pairs world champion Deanna Stellato-Dudek became a Canadian citizen on Wednesday, paving the way for the American-born figure skater to compete with partner Maxime Deschamps at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Stellato-Dudek, 41, born in Chicago, took the oath of citizenship in Montreal.

“Taking the oath of citizenship in Canada is a tremendous honor and I am filled with gratitude to everyone who believed in me and helped me get here,” she said. “I continue to be grateful to compete under the Canadian flag and anthem and look forward to participating in my first international event as an official Canadian citizen with my partner Maxime.”

Stellato-Dudek, 41, began her career as an accomplished individual skater representing the United States, finishing second at the Junior World Championships and winning the Junior Grand Prix Final. But after suffering a series of hip injuries, she decided to retire in 2001, only to make a return to pairs skating with her American partner Nathan Bartholomay in 2016.

The duo twice finished third at the U.S. championships before splitting in 2019, and that’s when Stellato-Dudek teamed up with Deschamps, who had parted ways with American partner Sydney Kolodziej. previous year.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps considered skating for the United States, but they feared he would not obtain American citizenship in time to compete in the 2026 Olympics; The Olympic Charter requires athletes to have the nationality of the country represented by their National Olympic Committee in order to compete in the Summer or Winter Games.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps instead began competing for Canada in Grand Prix and other international competitions, where citizenship is not a requirement of the International Skating Union, the sport’s global governing body.

Together, the duo has won the last two Canadian pairs titles as well as five of their last six Grands Prix. They won the world title last year in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Montreal and won the Finnish and Skate Canada Grand Prix this season before withdrawing from last week’s Grand Prix Final due to a illness which sidelined Deschamps.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps plan to return for the Canadian championships in Laval in January. They are also expected to participate in the world championships which will take place in March in Boston.