ISU Grand Prix Final 2025: Chock/Bates celebrate three-peat with season best in both programs
In a spectacular display of talent and artistry, Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the USA have made figure skating history by securing their third consecutive ISU Grand Prix Final championship title on December 6 in Nagoya, Japan. Demonstrating their unrivaled skills, the couple achieved their season’s best scores in both segments of the competition, solidifying their status as elite ice dancers.
With an astonishing free dance score of 131.68, Chock and Bates surpassed their previous best by an impressive 3.87 points. This impressive performance propelled them to a winning total of 220.42 points over the course of the championship. The duo started with a solid lead, previously recording an exceptional rhythm dance score that nearly also exceeded their earlier benchmarks.
The competitive atmosphere ramped up as they faced off against French pairs, Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Despite their fierce competition, the French team encountered a couple of setbacks, including a point deduction due to an untimely slip which dramatically adjusted their free score to 126.69, leaving them with an overall of 214.25.
Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson shone under the spotlight, executing a delightful Scottish-themed program that earned them applause and a season-best score of 126.26. Finishing third for the second consecutively year, they edged out Canadian duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier by only 0.6 points, securing their podium placement with an overall score of 208.81.
The disappointing results for Gilles and Poirier highlight the unpredictability of professional figure skating. The world silver medalists fell short, managing a total of 208.75 and finishing fourth for the second year in a row despite making strides in their performance.
As the excitement unfolds, fans of figure skating eagerly await further updates, particularly in anticipation of next year’s competitions. Youthful prowess and seasoned athletes alike continue to captivate audiences on this thrilling journey in the world of professional figure skating.
