Above: Madison Chock and Evan Bates turn up the volume with their fun rhythm dance at Skate America. Photo credit: Melanie Heaney
By Darci Miller
In many ways, the 2024–25 season for Madison Chock and Evan Bates has been about reflection.
First came the work that needed to be done skating-wise, as they fell short of the top of a podium for the first time in nearly two years at Skate America, settling for silver.
They earned another silver at the Four Continents Championships in February – perhaps jarring for fans to see after their undefeated 2023–24 campaign.
“We don’t ever expect to win,” Chock said. “I think that’s easy to say or for people to expect us to win, but we certainly always want to win, and we go into the competition with every intention to win. But we can’t hold those kinds of expectations because, at the end of the day, it’s kind of out of our control what the judges do.”
But Chock and Bates are in the midst of a marathon, not a sprint, and used what may be perceived as failures — if silver medals can be considered failures — to their benefit.
“Whenever we don’t quite reach the goal we set ourselves, it always makes us examine a little bit more closely what we’re capable of, what’s in our control and what we could maybe do a little bit better or differently next time,” Bates said. “Having the experience of so many years of competing, we have learned to win and lose and to kind of not let a disappointing result completely derail us from the larger goals.
“So it was almost like some of these competitions where we didn’t win or we didn’t get the result that we wanted, maybe, in the long run, they might serve us well because it’s going to help us examine what we’re doing, and make a plan, and prepare maybe a little bit differently than if we had just won and had easy sailing throughout the season. So we weren’t too bent out of shape about it. We can recognize the value in silvers and bronzes.”
The six-time U.S. champions also faced some adversity en route to their latest title, as Chock had a stomach bug during the U.S. Championships.
“We’re well-seasoned athletes, and so we just kind of keep going with the flow, rolling with the punches, and there are always lessons,” she said. “Even at nationals. I think even just feeling that way and knowing that we can still compete, but then also learning for next year that maybe I will distance myself a little more and be careful of what I touch and what I eat just a little bit more. There are always big lessons and little lessons tucked in throughout the season.”
Then, of course, came the sobering reflections that came after the crash of American Airlines Flight 5342, which killed 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community. Earlier this month, Chock and Bates participated in Legacy On Ice, a tribute to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy.
“I think it’s just given us the perspective of having gratitude for each moment on and off the ice,” Bates said. “Skating can sometimes suck us in, and we get hyper-focused on what we’re doing on the ice or preparing for the next competition. And then, when something happens that’s about much more than skating and it’s about life and community, and it brings the community together in a way that’s meaningful, it just makes you widen the scope of your focus and realize that there’s so much more to skating than just winning medals. It really is so much about the community and the support that you give and receive.”
Chock and Bates will compete this month for their third consecutive World championship at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 on March 25–30. Aside from the historical implications of their pursuit — no ice dance team has won three consecutive World titles in three decades, and no U.S. ice dance team has ever won three World titles — it’ll be even more poignant because of the location: Boston, which lost two skaters, two mothers and two coaches in the plane crash.
“It’s special,” Chock said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to compete in another home Worlds, which was in Boston in 2016, and it’s always a special experience. They did an incredible job hosting, so we’re looking forward to revisiting Boston and seeing what they have to offer. I know it’ll still be a time where we’ll all be needing to support each other in the skating community in light of what’s just happened with the plane crash. We’re looking to see everyone come together again and have the skating community flourish and have a great time in Boston.”
Chock will have other things going on that week off the ice, as headbands she designed in partnership with Lele Sadoughi will be on sale, and some of her costume designs will be on display at costume designer Mathieu Caron’s booth on the concourse.
But as Chock and Bates pursue yet another piece of history, nothing is diverting their focus from the job they have to do each day in training.
“When you think about the big-picture thing, the number of titles and things like that, it kind of brings you out of the process, and for us, the process is the most important part,” Chock said. “For us, it’s the journey. It’s where we learn the most. It’s the most fulfilling part. And I think when we zoom out and look at all the titles and all the wonderful experiences we’ve had in the sport, it’s a great reflective moment, and we’re so, so grateful for all of those times. I think right now, in the day-to-day life, we’re focused on our goals and how we can still improve and what we want to accomplish leading up to the World Championships.”
Don't miss Madison Chock and Evan Bates compete at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 next week. For tickets, results, how to watch information and more, visit the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 Competition Central.
