Chock and Bates Capture Third Straight Ice Dance World Title in Boston

BOSTON (AP) — Madison Chock and Evan Bates clinched their third consecutive ice dance world title on Saturday night at TD Garden, adding a significant chapter to their illustrious careers and setting their sights on Olympic glory in 2026.

The married duo performed masterfully, scoring a total of 222.06 points to outperform silver medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, who finished with 216.54 points. British couple Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson earned bronze, marking Britain’s first world medal in ice dance since 1984.

“We’ve been wanting a moment like that for a long time,” Bates said in an NBC Sports interview regarding their championship on home ice. “This will go right to the top of the list forever.”

Chock, 32, and Bates, 36, have skated together since 2011 and were married last June. Their journey through the Olympics has seen them finish eighth in 2014, ninth in 2018, and fourth in 2022. With all three Olympic medalists from 2022 retiring from international competition, they have stepped up to fill the void, winning eight consecutive competitions from January 2023 through March 2024.

The pair faced challenges this season, including losses to other competitors. They were defeated by Fear and Gibson at October’s Skate America and by Gilles and Poirier in February’s Four Continents Championships in Seoul. Despite these setbacks, they accomplished their objective to capture victory in Boston.

“We are a little bit disappointed to not have won here; that was the objective that we set for ourselves,” Poirier commented after their performance. “But I think at the same time, we can be very proud of the way that we’ve handled the season.”

The success of Chock and Bates comes amidst a broader backdrop of American figure skating achievement at the world championships, as Ilia Malinin of the United States claimed gold in the men’s event earlier the same day.

Chock and Bates enter the 2025-26 Olympic season with the goal of becoming the oldest ice dance champions in Olympic history. “We’re going to treat it like it’s our last shot,” Bates said before the championships. “We have been so focused on absolutely maximizing our potential for Boston, for the next 12 months.”

With the announcement of the 2025-26 rhythm dance theme being the 90s, Chock expressed excitement about the upcoming season’s music. “I’m a 90s baby, so that’s very exciting for me,” she said. “It will be very nostalgic, and I’m already enjoying listening to all the music.”

As they set their sights on competing in Milan at the Winter Olympics, Chock noted the special significance of the Olympic season. “You have this incredible opportunity to reach the entire world, and it makes it really special,” she said. “It amplifies our voices on and off the ice.”

World Championships concluded with the men’s free skate, broadcasted live, showcasing contributions from athletes across the globe as they gear up for the Olympic year.