Canada’s Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, last year’s world figure skating champions, find themselves in the seventh spot after the short program at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston. The Canadian pair, skating to a remix of Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love,” earned 67.32 points after an error-filled performance.
A Challenging Night on the Ice
Despite bringing a dynamic energy to their program, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps faced a few technical setbacks. Stellato-Dudek stepped out of a throw triple loop, and the duo encountered synchronization issues during their side-by-side spins. Reflecting on their performance, Stellato-Dudek acknowledged, “It just felt a little off, but not that bad. Everything’s pretty tight here, so you gotta be on your game… Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn.”
The result stands in stark contrast to their spectacular short program performance at last year’s championship in Montreal, where a personal-best score helped them secure gold. This season has brought its challenges, with injuries and illnesses disrupting the pair’s rhythm. However, Stellato-Dudek remains hopeful about bouncing back, emphasizing, “This year has been tough, but we’re not out for the count.”
Dominating the Short Program
Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara currently lead after earning 76.57 points with a clean and powerful program. Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii are in second (74.61), while Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin sit in third (73.59). The Canadians will need a near-perfect performance in Thursday’s free skate to climb the leaderboard.
A Challenging Year for Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps
The reigning world champions have faced numerous obstacles this season. Between Deschamps’ illness, which forced them to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final, and minor injuries for Stellato-Dudek, the pair has struggled to deliver their usual clean programs consistently. Additionally, Stellato-Dudek humorously recounted almost taking the ice in “joggers” after forgetting her dress at the hotel. “I hoped it would arrive because I’m gonna look ridiculous if I’m out there in sweats, but it’s not an excuse or anything for today,” she said.
Rising Canadian Star in Women’s Singles
Canada’s Madeline Schizas brought a sparkle of good news for fans, placing sixth after a season-best short program score of 69.18. Skating to her “Lion King” program, Schizas delivered a clean performance, securing one Olympic quota spot for Canada in the women’s event. “I came in really confident,” she said post-skate. “I’m hoping to make it two after the free skate.”
Schizas’ finish helps maintain Canadian hopes for the future, underscoring her growth since her 12th-place finish in last year’s World Championships.
What’s Next?
The competition continues Thursday with the pairs free skate, where Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps will aim to redeem themselves with a stronger performance. For fans eagerly watching, the stakes are high, as teams compete for Olympic quota spots and strive to leave their mark in Boston.
A Hopeful Look Ahead
Despite the hurdles, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps remain optimistic about their future in the sport. Their determination and resilience continue to inspire fans, and they are far from counting themselves out of the competition for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina.
If you’re a fan of figure skating, this year’s World Championships are brimming with drama, resilience, and world-class performances. Stay tuned for more action as the event unfolds!
