The Japanese pair won the free skate, but the night belonged to the Canadians Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps. The duo had a 3.95 point lead after the short program and faced tough competition from Hase/Volodin, who took first place with three teams left to skate. However, Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii made costly errors in their free skate, dropping them out of medal contention.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps put on a powerful performance, with Deanna fighting to land their jumps. The crowd cheered them on as they landed side-by-side triple Salchows and executed lifts and spins with positive Grades of Execution. Despite some struggles on their throw jumps, they finished their routine to a standing ovation.
Miura/Kihara followed with a strong performance, despite a few minor errors. Kihara required medical attention after the skate, but their coach, Bruno Marcotte, stated they were proud of their performance. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps became the first Canadian pair to win a pairs world title since 2016.
Following their victory, Stellato-Dudek expressed their joy and stated they would take time to savor the win. Deschamps reflected on his journey from a young fan in the stands to a world champion, grateful for the experience. Despite not being able to celebrate in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, the night may have belonged to the Canadians but all pairs put on an impressive show for the audience watching virtually or in small crowds.
It was an unforgettable night for figure skating fans as they witnessed an incredible display of athleticism and skill from all competitors involved.
