Stellato-Dudek: injury pre-Olympics ‘a nightmare’ – National

MILAN – Canadian figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek says suffering an injury days before the Milan Cortina Olympic Games was “a living nightmare.”

The previous world pairs champion with partner Maxime Deschamps practised for the primary time on the Games on Friday after hitting her head on the ice on Jan. 30 while training in Quebec.

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Stellato-Dudek wouldn’t reveal details of her injury or the way it occurred, however the 42-year-old said it was not a concussion.

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She also said she and Deschamps won’t perform the assisted backflip they’d planned of their short program to “Carmina Burana.”

Stellato-Dudek is poised to grow to be the oldest female figure skater in nearly a century to compete on the Olympics.

She and Deschamps initially withdrew from the team event, but will now compete in the person pairs competition starting Sunday at Milano Ice Skating Arena.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2026.