Ice Dancers Win Record 7th US Title Before Milan Olympics

Madison Chock and Evan Bates glided into the record books on Saturday, capturing their seventh U.S. Figure Skating title and cementing their status as the most decorated ice dancing duo in American history. The three-time world champions delivered a season-best performance to a flamenco version of "Paint It Black," scoring 228.87 points in their final competition before heading to the Milan Cortina Olympics next month.

"The feeling that we got from the audience today was unlike anything I've ever felt before," Chock said after their historic win. "I felt so much love and joy, and I'm so grateful for this moment."

The pair will enter the Winter Games as heavy favorites for gold. They're currently the reigning world champions for three consecutive years, a feat no ice dancing team had achieved in nearly three decades until they did it in March 2024.

Their journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Chock and Bates initially received silver medals in the team event, watching as Russia's team stood above them with gold. But 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva had tested positive for a banned substance, and justice moved slowly.

The couple had to wait more than two years to receive their rightful gold medals. The Court of Arbitration for Sport finally confirmed Valieva's doping violation in January 2024, and the American team received their gold medals during a special ceremony at the Paris Olympics last summer, in front of more than 13,000 cheering fans.

Why This Inspires

Despite the frustration of waiting years for recognition they deserved, Chock and Bates have responded with remarkable grace. When asked what they'd say to Valieva, who was just 15 during the controversy, they chose compassion over bitterness.

"I think grace should be given to humans across the board," Bates said at a recent media summit. Chock added, "Life is short, and at the end of the day, we're all human just going through our own human experience together."

Now 36 years old, Bates and his partner are proving that persistence, excellence, and kindness can coexist at the highest levels of sport. They've turned disappointment into motivation, creating a legacy that extends far beyond their record-breaking seven titles.

As they prepare for what could be their final Olympic performance next month in Italy, they're focused on the joy of skating rather than dwelling on past injustices.