Canadian figure skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, who are reigning world champions from 2024, placed sixth in the pairs event at the Grand Prix Final. Despite their strong track record with two Grand Prix medals, including a bronze in 2023, they scored 194.36 points due to a fall during their free skate routine.
The title was claimed by Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara with a score of 225.21, followed by Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii at 223.28, and Germany’s Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin at 221.25. Deschamps expressed disappointment in their performance, citing fatigue from a busy competition schedule and recent illnesses. He mentioned taking a break to recuperate and prepare for upcoming competitions.
The Grand Prix Final showcases the top six entries in each figure skating category from the Grand Prix series. Canadian ice dancers Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are set to compete in the free dance event after securing third place in the rhythm dance. In the junior ice dance category, Canadians Layla Veillon and Alexander Brandys began in sixth place following the rhythm dance in their first Junior Grand Prix Final.
American pair Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin lead the ice dance field, trailed by Ukraine’s Iryna Pidgaina and Artem Koval, and France’s Ambre Perrier Gianesini and Samuel Blanc Klaperman. Veillon reflected on their performance, emphasizing resilience and focusing on future opportunities.
Additionally, in the junior pairs division, Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov from Winnipeg are positioned third going into the free skate on Saturday.
