Canadian pair Stellato-Dudek, Deschamps out of figure skating team event

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 Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

MILAN — Canadian figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps will not compete in the team event at the Milan Cortina Olympics due to an injury Stellato-Dudek sustained during training in Quebec, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Monday.

Canadian champions Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud will compete in the pairs portion of the team event instead.

Canada finished fourth in the team event at the 2022 Beijing Games and is a podium contender in Milan.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, the 2024 world champions, have not yet withdrawn from the individual pairs event. The duo, which trains outside Montreal, remains back home.

The COC says Stellato-Dudek’s condition will be monitored on a day-to-day basis to see if she can compete. If she cannot, Canadian championship bronze medallists Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Éthier are on standby as alternates in the individual pairs event.

Team competition starts Friday, with the individual pairs short program scheduled for Feb. 15. A withdrawal for individual pairs must be submitted one hour before the short program draw, which takes place on Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. local time.

The 42-year-old Stellato-Dudek, originally from the Chicago area, has represented Canada since teaming up with the 34-year-old Deschamps, from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., before the 2019 season. The three-time Canadian champions won the world title in 2024 and were fifth last year in Boston.

The Americans are the reigning gold medallists in the team event and are heavily favoured to defend their title.

Meanwhile, Snowboard cross athlete Tess Critchlow has withdrawn due to injury. The 30-year-old from Big White, B.C., was sixth in Beijing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2026.

— With files from The Associated Press.