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<\/a>Heading into the 2024 U.S. Championships in Columbus, it was basically a given that Madison Chock and Evan Bates would win their fifth title. But on the afternoon of the free dance, that suddenly became uncertain. Word starting spreading online and around the arena that Chock and Bates were sick, and considering withdrawing. They took the ice for the six-minute warmup, still not sure if they\u2019d compete.<\/p>\nBut they decided to go for it, taking the ice as the final skaters in the event and doing just enough to capture their fifth U.S. title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Evan and I have always had a lot of determination and willpower. We thought, \u2018Would we regret not going for it and just trying our best today?\u2019 When the answer to that question was yes, we were like, \u2018Ok, let\u2019s make it happen. Let\u2019s step out there and just give it all we\u2019ve got,\u2019\u201d Chock said in the press conference. \u201cWe did that today and I\u2019m really proud of Evan for pushing through because I know [he was] especially not feeling well today. I\u2019m really proud that [he] did it. If we can do this, then we can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chock and Bates made an abbreviated appearance at the press conference, both wearing masks, and then left to rest before boarding a plane to China for the Four Continents Championships, which begin on Tuesday, Jan. 30 in Shanghai. (Editor’s Note: Chock and Bates have since withdrawn from Four Continents)<\/i><\/p>\n
This win was the third consecutive at the U.S. Championships for the duo. Their total score of 215.92 was much closer to their competitors than it would have been if Chock and Bates were at full strength. Last year, they earned 229.75 points en route to their fourth title.<\/p>\n
Bates struggled on two of their twizzles and they skated deliberately, at times a bit slowly, throughout the program. Chock said that her partner started feeling under the weather the evening of the rhythm dance, and that she was unable to get out of bed on Friday, the day between the rhythm dance and free dance. \u201cIf the competition had been yesterday, I don\u2019t think I would have made it to the rink,\u201d Chock said.<\/p>\n
With all that uncertainty backstage, it would have been easy for the rest of the skaters to get distracted by the potential withdrawal and what that might mean for their chances. But silver medalists Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko and bronze medalists Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville both delivered solid, emotional programs to get on the podium.<\/p>\n
Carreira and Ponomarenko were in second after the rhythm dance, which was a surprise to some who viewed them behind competitors Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, who finished 6th<\/sup><\/span> at the World Championships last year, to Carreira and Ponomarenko\u2019s 10th<\/sup><\/span> place finish. Carreira and Ponomarenko looked focused and intense during their free skate, which they said is about the evolution of love to obsession.<\/p>\n They knew Chock and Bates weren\u2019t feeling well, but \u201cit didn\u2019t change the job we had to do,\u201d Carreira said. \u201cI\u2019m really happy we stayed focused and were able to accomplish that.\u201d Ponomarenko looked emotional in the kiss and cry as they got their scores.<\/p>\n<\/a>Carreira and Ponomarenko, last year\u2019s bronze medalists, earned a season\u2019s best score of 126.85 for their free dance. They beat Chock and Bates by three points in the free dance, and only trailed them by five with their total score of 210.04.<\/p>\n