Madison Chock and Evan Bates Take First Step Toward Record Seventh National Crown at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The story for Madison Chock and Evan Bates was written before they ever put blade to ice. The dynamic duo, who are three-time and reigning world champions, further solidified their dominance in ice dance at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held in St. Louis. Their rhythm dance performance on Thursday afternoon captivated both the audience and judges, allowing them to seize a commanding lead with a score of 91.70.
Chock and Bates now stand on the brink of achieving their fifth-straight and seventh overall U.S. crown. Behind them in second place are Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, who accumulated a score of 85.98. The team of Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko hold third, amassing 83.29 points while Caroline Green and Michael Parsons and Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville round out the top five with scores of 80.55 and 79.43, respectively.
This event is crucial as Team USA is preparing for the forthcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina 2026, set to announce its dance quota spots on January 11. Chock and Bates performed their captivating routine to a medley of Lenny Kravitz hits, gaining resounding admiration from the audience, who responded with the largest cheers and the first standing ovation of the evening.
The reigning champions are aiming for a historic seventh U.S. title that would grant them sole possession of the record they currently share with 2014 Olympic champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Notable Olympic bronze medal winners, Maia and Alex Shibutani, made their return to the U.S. Championships for the first time since 2018 but currently sit in 10th place after the rhythm dance.
As the excitement mounts, fans eagerly await the culmination of this event, where champions will rise to secure their places in history.
Note: National Olympic Committees have exclusive authority regarding the selection of athletes for the Olympic Winter Games, and participation at Milano Cortina 2026 will depend on each NOC’s decisions.
