> At a Glance
> – Madison Chock and Evan Bates capped a dominant season with a seventh U.S. title and head into Milan Cortina as three-time world champions.
> – Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik claimed silver; Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomorenko took bronze, positioning both teams for Olympic selection.
> – Oona Brown and Gage Brown earned the night’s first standing ovation despite finishing fifth.
> – Why it matters: U.S. ice dance is peaking at the perfect time as the veteran leaders target their first individual Olympic medal.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates converted a season-long hot streak into a record-setting seventh U.S. ice dance crown, offering a final preview of the form they hope to carry into next month’s Olympics.
Record-Setting Final
The duo’s flamenco-tinged free skate to the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”-arranged for HBO’s Westworld-netted 228.87 points and capped a run that includes three straight world and Grand Prix Final titles.
> Evan Bates said:
> “We like to build momentum through the season, and it’s a great feeling going into a big event knowing you skated well the previous event.”
Battle for Olympic Spots
Behind the champions, the remaining U.S. berths for Milan Cortina are up for grabs:
- Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik-second with 213.65-vaulted from first-year senior unknowns to podium regulars.
- Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomorenko landed third (206.95) after a late-season surge that followed Carreira’s November U.S. citizenship approval.
- Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, the reigning bronze medalists, placed fourth.
Program Highlights
The free dance session delivered a cascade of near-flawless performances after mid-competition stumbles from earlier couples.
- Oona Brown and Gage Brown‘s moody Godfather routine earned an early standing ovation despite leaving them fifth.
- Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville bumped the Browns from the lead, only to be overtaken by Green/Parsons’ Escalate/Son of Nyx program.
Historical Context
Chock and Bates’ Olympic record reads eighth in 2014, ninth in 2018, and a heartbreak fourth in Beijing-followed by a delayed team-gold medal ceremony during the 2024 Summer Games because of Russia’s doping investigation.
> Madison Chock said:
> “We know what to do, we have our plan and we’re executing. We’re going to stick to it.”
Key Takeaways
- U.S. ice dance depth is at an all-time high with multiple podium threats.
- Madison Chock and Evan Bates enter Milan Cortina as heavy favorites for their first individual Olympic medal.
- Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik represent the program’s next generation.
- Christina Carreira‘s new citizenship and strong nationals could lock her into an Olympic debut.
The countdown to Milan Cortina begins now, with American ice dance carrying both momentum and high expectations onto sport’s biggest stage.
