Maxime Deschamps Announces Retirement from Competitive Figure Skating

[gsk8]

OTTAWA, ON (July 7, 2026) – After more than two decades in the sport, World Champion Maxime Deschamps has announced his retirement from competitive figure skating.

Deschamps closes his career as one of Canada’s most accomplished pair skaters. Alongside partner Deanna Stellato-Dudek, he captured the 2024 World title, the 2024 Four Continents title, earned multiple Grand Prix medals, and won three consecutive national titles from 2023 to 2025.

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[4everchan]

Thank you Maxime. I will never forget Montreal 2024 Worlds. I was there, in the audience, to witness the rise of new champions.

Oxygène is perhaps, the most thrilling figure skating experience I have ever lived.

The entire arena was electrified by your and Deanna's performance. I was on my feet. I still have goosebumps writing about it.

Your road was not the easiest one. So many partnerships that didn't bring you where you deserved to be... and then, when you were just about to retire, Deanna showed up. Together, you made pairs interesting again. No to cookie cutter lifts just to get levels. You championed different pair moves (front pivot, backflip, orchid lift) which made the sport more fun and intriguing. You reached your goal to become an Olympian, even that was an act of pure resilience.

What is even more amazing is how you remained so genuine through the highs and lows. I know that young skaters will benefit greatly from your mentorship.

Encore une fois, merci beaucoup !

 

[el henry]

We knew it was coming, but it is still sad.

I did not know much about Maxime until he paired with Deanna. I soon learned he was a star in his own right. The perfect pairs partner, always ready to show something new and to show off his partner. They were never ever ever boring, and often times breathtaking.

Meilleurs voeux pour l'avenir!

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Maxime, merci pour tout. I will miss him a lot. His career really has been nothing but extraordinary. To imagine he would have almost retired before he met Deanna, to then becoming world champions and going to the Olympics...not even talking about his 8 partners before Deanna. I will miss seeing them together, they were so good and pushing boundaries together.

 

[TallyT]

I wonder what Deanna will do.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I wonder what Deanna will do.

She wants to continue skating and is currently looking for a new partner in both Canada and the US. There are a few rumours but nothing officially confirmed at this point. Skate Canada has stated that they wouldn't make switching a problem for her so I guess she won't have to wait longer than 12 months if she really goes back to the US.

 

[iluvtodd]

Maxime, merci beaucoup. Bonne chance pour votre avenir!

 

[TontoK]

She wants to continue skating and is currently looking for a new partner in both Canada and the US. There are a few rumours but nothing officially confirmed at this point. Skate Canada has stated that they wouldn't make switching a problem for her so I guess she won't have to wait longer than 12 months if she really goes back to the US.

OK, I'll spoil the good vibes on this thread. I'm a NO on Deanna returning to skate for America. Same for Jean Luc Baker. I wish you well and I hope you succeed in your endeavors. I'm a fan of you both. But you've chosen, and I don't want any revolving doors concerning representation.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

I also would love for Deanna to keep skating for Canada. But I don't think there are any guys available at the moment. AFAIK the only pairs guy that doesn't have a new partner lined up is Ben Mimar and I'm not even sure he's still skating, he seems to be more into coaching at the moment. So if she wants to keep skating she will have to look elsewhere.

 

[TontoK]

I also would love for Deanna to keep skating for Canada. But I don't think there are any guys available at the moment. AFAIK the only pairs guy that doesn't have a new partner lined up is Ben Mimar and I'm not even sure he's still skating, he seems to be more into coaching at the moment. So if she wants to keep skating she will have to look elsewhere.

I'm genuinely sorry Deanna might be struggling to find a partner. But that is a Deanna Problem or a Skate Canada Problem, not a USFSA problem.

 

[4everchan]

Why would it become a USFSA problem if a world champion like Deanna Stellato came back having found an American partner ? Skate Canada is saying, if we don't have anyone for you, we won't make it hard for you... Why would the USA make it hard for one of their own ?
I don't get that reasoning unless it's about something else, like being upset that she left in the first place. As if Canadians resented Tanith or Cristina for having found amazing partners in the USA. Between Canada and USA, it's often been a win-win situation.

 

[TontoK]

Why would it become a USFSA problem if a world champion like Deanna Stellato came back having found an American partner ? Skate Canada is saying, if we don't have anyone for you, we won't make it hard for you... Why would the USA make it hard for one of their own ?
I don't get that reasoning unless it's about something else, like being upset that she left in the first place. As if Canadians resented Tanith or Cristina for having found amazing partners in the USA. Between Canada and USA, it's often been a win-win situation.

She DID represent America. And she left the instant it became inconvenient to continue representing USA.

I'm fine with her decision to leave to skate for Canada. As I said, I'm a fan. I'm not fine with a decision to return.

I know many don't mind the federation hopping and the continual shift in loyalties. I'm not one of them. And we don't have to agree on that - it's fine, but I'm not changing my mind. If an athlete wants to represent America, then I'm behind them. They want to leave, then leave. But don't come back.

 

[4everchan]

She DID represent America. And she left the instant it became inconvenient to continue representing USA.

she left when her partner was injured and unsure of his skating future. At least, that's what is common knowledge. Maybe you have other information ?

I'm fine with her decision to leave to skate for Canada. As I said, I'm a fan. I'm not fine with a decision to return.

I know many don't mind the federation hopping and the continual shift in loyalties. I'm not one of them. And we don't have to agree on that - it's fine, but I'm not changing my mind. If an athlete wants to represent America, then I'm behind them. They want to leave, then leave. But don't come back.

Well... I see it as a job. One can work for a company, then work for another one if a new opportunity comes up, but when that is over, why not move back to your old company ? It happens all the time. Why prevent a skater from making a living ?

I agree with you when it comes for singles. I don't like country hopping all that much in those circumstances. However, with pairs and dance, as we know, it's hard to find a partner and I don't mind it, when in circumstances like Deanna's.

Will I cheer for her as hard when she carries the US flag ? Maybe not. If her new partnership is exciting, I will. I am less picky when skaters represent Canada simply because some of my tax money funds sports organizations so I am supporting all Canadians, whether or not they are world champions

 

[NanaPat]

She DID represent America. And she left the instant it became inconvenient to continue representing USA.

I think this is extremely harsh. Change inconvenient to impossible and see how that sounds. Should she have retired? Maybe that would have been better for USFSA, but fans would have missed out on a lot of excellent skating if she had.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Should she have retired? Maybe that would have been better for USFSA, but fans would have missed out on a lot of excellent skating if she had.

This. Imagine everyone who doesn't find a new partner in their home country would just retire. We'd miss out on a lot.

 

[TallyT]

Does she have dual citizenship? I admit, I personally look squint-eyed people who keep switching their allegiance for selfish reasons (once, okay; more than once... what is your allegiance worth, hmmm?) but hey, people do worse things for shallow motives.

If the countries involved are happy to make it easy, not my place to do anything more than look squint-eyed.

And if she does have it (I do myself) then no problem.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

As far as I know she does have dual citizenship.

 

[TallyT]

As far as I know she does have dual citizenship.

In that case, have at it Deanna.

 

[TontoK]

I think this is extremely harsh. Change inconvenient to impossible and see how that sounds. Should she have retired? Maybe that would have been better for USFSA, but fans would have missed out on a lot of excellent skating if she had.

As I said, it was fine that she switched federations and skated for Canada. I'm a fan.

It was the right thing for her, in her estimation. I wished her well as a Canadian, skater and I continue to do so... as a Canadian skater.

I repeat what I said earlier: I acknowledge that others are more flexible concerning a revolving door of allegiances. I simply disagree with them.

 

[4everchan]

I am really not understanding why people are even discussing changes of national representation in figure skating, especially pairs.
Sorry, it's beyond my intellectual and emotional capacity.
Why aren't people able to just let others follow their own path without having to question it or become judgmental about it ?
I wish Deanna all the best. Gosh I wish she claimed Italian citizenship now and represented a third country just for the pearl clutching ladies to have a major fit.