Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps have shown yet again why they are the reigning world champions, clinching their second consecutive gold medal at the ISU Figure Skaking Grand Prix event held at the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki on November 17, 2024. The Canadian duo dominated the competition with their remarkable performance, scoring 207.44 points— the best of their season so far— and finished the event with over 23 points separating them from their closest competitors.
After their triumphant home victory just weeks earlier at the Skate Canada International event, the pair took their momentum to Helsinki, where they initially established themselves as frontrunners after the short program. They displayed superb artistry and technical skill, including executing level-four triple twists and side-by-side triple toe jumps, leading to their first-place position entering the free skate.
The free skate performance, which featured selections from the popular documentary series Blue Planet II, was not devoid of challenges. Stellato-Dudek experienced a slight slip after landing her difficult throw triple Lutz but remained composed enough to continue performing admirably. Despite minor hiccups, their overall commanding lead ensured they would take home the gold.
“Every season is a different roller coaster ride and this year is no different. We’d like to continue to improve.” Stellato-Dudek shared after the competition. “We’re hoping to have a slow burn of increases each competition.”
On the podium, behind Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps, were Hungary’s Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko, who performed well enough to secure the silver medal with 184.21 points. Their performance showed growth and featured more dynamic elements than previous outings. Italy’s Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini rounded out the podium, securing bronze with 181.59 points.
Earlier, fellow Canadians Kelly Ann Laurin and Loucas Ethier also had their moments to shine, finishing just off the podium with fourth place after delivering one of their best performances this season, finishing only three points shy of bronze.
While Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps were basking in the glory of their victory, the ice dance category also delivered thrilling entertainment, with Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson taking the gold. The duo skated to a Beyoncé medley, scoring 203.22 points after overcoming significant pressure—they had trailed earlier on, but took advantage of their rivals' missteps to secure the win.
Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who had led after Saturday's rhythm dance, finished with silver after Poirier lost his balance during their routine, marking a challenging but graceful recovery to score 200.79 points. They were clearly disappointed, as they had aimed for victory but managed to maintain elegance under pressure. “We wanted to go out and just do ourselves proud today and skate how we’ve been training, with charisma, with confidence and with joy,” Fear said, reflecting on her team’s determination not only to skate well but to deliver artfully as well.
The grand events of the Finlandia Trophy not only showcased the athletes’ techniques but also their resilience, passion, and dedication to the sport. With each performance serving as the most recent theater for artistry on ice, these Canadian athletes are already turning their thoughts toward future competitions, including the upcoming Grand Prix Final scheduled for December 5-8, 2024, in Grenoble, France. With their placements firmly securing their spots, it seems Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps are ready to keep their momentum charged as they tackle the challenges of the season.
Next on their path is maintaining this level of excellence and exploring how we can support not only their performances but their overall careers as they continue to define what it means to be champions on the ice
