Figure skating | Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps withdraw from the Grand Prix final in Grenoble

(Grenoble) World pairs figure skating champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps withdrew from the Grand Prix final on Monday after the Quebecer fell ill.

The Italians Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini will replace them. The prestigious figure skating competition will begin Thursday at the Patinoire Polesud with the presentation of the short program among couples, and the medals will be distributed after the free program scheduled for Friday evening.

The Grand Prix Final usually serves as a rehearsal for the World Championships, which will take place in March in Boston.

Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps were among the favorites to win the final, which brings together the six best skaters and couples in each discipline to close the Grand Prix season. The pair took third place in the Grand Prix Final last year, before winning the title at the Finnish Grand Prix and defending their title at Skate Canada International, in front of their fans, earlier this season.

Ghilardi and Ambrosini finished third at the Finnish and French Grand Prix earlier this season.