Canada has no pairs skaters at Grand Prix Final after Stellato-Dudek, Deschamps withdraw
World pairs champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps of Canada have unfortunately had to withdraw from the highly anticipated Grand Prix Final due to Deschamps recovering from an illness. This news comes as a disappointment to fans who were eagerly anticipating their performance at the prestigious event.
In their absence, Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini of Italy have been selected to replace them in the competition. The Grand Prix Final is set to kick off on Thursday at the Patinoire Polesud in Grenoble, France, with the pairs short program. The medals will then be decided after the pairs free skate on Friday night.
The Grand Prix Final is known as a preview of the world championship, which will be held in March in Boston. Stellato-Dudek, originally from Chicago but representing Canada, and Deschamps from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., were considered to be among the favorites for the Grand Prix Final. The event brings together the top six skaters and pairs in each discipline to conclude the Grand Prix season.
Last year, the couple finished third at the Grand Prix Final and went on to sweep the Grand Prix of Finland. This season, they successfully defended their Skate Canada title in front of their home fans. Ghilardi and Ambrosini, who placed third at the Grand Prix of Finland and Grand Prix de France this season, will now have the opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage.
Despite the setback, fans can still look forward to an exciting competition as the world’s top pairs skaters battle it out for the prestigious title. The event promises to be a thrilling display of talent and athleticism as the pairs vie for the top spots on the podium.
As we eagerly await the start of the Grand Prix Final, we wish Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps a speedy recovery and hope to see them back on the ice soon. In the meantime, let’s cheer on all the pairs competitors as they compete for glory in Grenoble.
