Post‑Olympic World Championships are a rare kind of chaos — a reshuffling of the deck where new stars can rise overnight. With many of the top pairs teams in the world deciding to retire or forgo this year's World Championships, the field is wide open for a dark horse to emerge. Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman are hopeful they can shake up the podium.

After a superb showing at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, where they won the bronze medal, McBeath and Parkman were named to the 2026 World Team. To say they were ecstatic would be an understatement.

"When we found out there were yells of excitement," McBeath said. "Pure joy was in Daniil's voice when I told him. For me, I danced around the room."

The pair, who teamed up in July 2023, have had a strong domestic and international season. Being able to cap their competitive season with a trip to Prague is particularly special, as it will be their first time competing together at a World Championships. Parkman, who previously represented Georgia with his former partner (reigning Olympic silver medalist Anastasia Metelkina), competed at the 2021 World Championships.

"We are thrilled to compete at our first Worlds together," McBeath said. "It is meaningful because it is an opportunity we earned together through our work, commitment and training."

It has been a slow build to become one of the top pairs in the world. Being selected for the 2026 World Championships team reflects the solid partnership they have created over time, as well as their continuous improvement.

"Katie and Daniil respect each other and each of them brings different strengths to the team," said Jenni Meno, who serves as one of the team's coaches. "They've made many improvements this season."

Since the 2026 U.S. Championships, McBeath and Parkman have competed once. They took part in the 2026 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, held in Beijing, where they finished in sixth place.

The event, which is historically held in February, was moved up to late January to accommodate the timing of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. McBeath and Parkman took advantage of the extended break between their competitions to polish their programs.

"It's been nice to have extra time after Four Continents to focus on fine tuning the small details of both programs," Meno said. "We've continued to push the consistency of the elements and work on speed and connection between them."

Even as their season gained momentum, a harsh reality loomed for McBeath and Parkman, as they were ineligible to compete at the Winter Olympics due to citizenship issues. Parkman, who was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, does not hold U.S. citizenship. The pair chose to channel their disappointment in missing the Games into motivation.

"We did get a chance to see the coverage of the Olympics," McBeath said. "It was exciting to see Team USA win gold in the team event. It was also thrilling to watch Alysa Liu win gold in the women's event. It was inspiring to see that."

The team has remained focused on their next steps and have been working diligently to make sure they put their best foot — or rather, skate — forward in Prague.

"Training has been good since coming back from nationals," Parkman said. "It's been super exciting to have an opportunity for our season to continue to Worlds, so we're taking the time to enjoy the work."

McBeath and Parkman are eagerly awaiting their chance to compete against the best pairs in the world. As many skating insiders know — one never knows what can happen at a post-Olympics World Championships.

"I'm excited for Katie and Daniil to have the experience of competing in their first World Championships together," Meno said. "My goal for them is to enjoy it, and in the process perform the programs the way we know they can."

The pair hopes to continue to build upon the success they have already achieved this season, Parkman said.

"We hope to reach new personal bests here," he said. "We want to perform for the audience, and we hope they can feel our emotions and energy."

No matter the outcome or placements in Prague, the team is looking forward to their future.

"We plan to continue our journey together," Parkman said. "There will be more skating adventures from us, as well as continuing to grow as people."

In a season defined by uncertainty, McBeath and Parkman have remained anchored by the comfort and security of their partnership.

"This season will be one we always remember, for all the good and all the wild," McBeath said. "We are most proud of our commitment to each other and our ability to rise and support one another through any challenge."