Champion figure skater Stellato-Dudek becomes Canadian citizen, eligible for Olympics [Video]

World champion figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek has gained Canadian citizenship.

She took the oath of citizenship Wednesday in Montreal, making her eligible to represent Canada at the Olympic Games.

The 41-year-old pairs skater won gold with partner Maxime Deschamps at the world championships in March, becoming the oldest woman to win a world figure skating title.

Born and raised in the United States, Stellato-Dudek has lived in Canada and represented the country in international competitions since teaming up in 2019 with Deschamps, a 32-year-old from Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.

Stellato-Dudek, a former world junior silver medallist, retired at 17 because of a hip injury until returning to skating 16 years later with a dream of winning an Olympic medal. The Chicago native initially skated with fellow American Nathan Bartholomay for three years before moving north to partner with Deschamps.

Stellato-Dudek said earlier this year she filed the necessary paperwork for Canadian citizenship. She also started an online petition that garnered nearly 10,000 …