Former world figure skating champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are feeling lighter heading into the Olympic year.

The 2024 gold-medal pair carried the heavy burden of defending their world title through an underwhelming follow-up season.

Now they’re back where they’re most comfortable: on the hunt.

“We're in the perfect place,” Stellato-Dudek said. “Maybe this was the spot that we were meant to be in to give us the fire to push and to get back on top, versus feeling the pressure and the expectation to stay there."

Her partner seconds that emotion.

“It's fun to look at what is in front and to really chase it,” Deschamps said. “When you have the target in front, it’s clear what you have to aim for."

After their historic win on home soil in Montreal, Stellato-Dudek — w

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