ST. LOUIS, Missouri — The 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships ice dance event closed out with a series of career-defining statement performances. To no one’s surprise, at the top were three-time world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates.
Claiming an historic 7th U.S. national title, Chock and Bates swept both segments of the competition, finishing at 228.87 overall. Their commanding free dance to “Paint It, Black” blended flamenco and paso doble themes with trademark precision, earning a personal best 137.17 — the highest free dance score of the event — powered by a massive 77.89 technical mark and near-perfect components. Now in their 15th season together, the married duo showed refined unison, speed and authority throughout the program, looking fully prepared for international rivalries heading into an Olympic season.
“This means everything to us. Seven-time national champion. It seems surreal,” Chock said.
While neither formally has announced retirement plans, both have hinted the end may be approaching. If selected to the U.S. Olympic team, Chock, 33, and Bates, 36 would become the oldest American woman and man to compete on a U.S Olympic figure skating team since 1932.
Ahead of the event, the pair reflected on what this U.S. Championships – which could be their last – would mean to them. “I would just cherish every moment of it and really just relish in the love that the fans and U.S. Figure Skating bring to the sport,” Chock said. “We feel so loved by the skating community and in turn love them right back. It’s such a privilege to be part of this wonderful family.”
In 2nd, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik capped a breakthrough season with 213.65 overall after delivering a powerful free dance to “Romeo and Juliet” that scored 127.67. Competing at just their 4th U.S. Championships, the young team has surged onto the international stage this season, qualifying for the Grand Prix Final in December and finishing 6th there. Their acrobatic elements paired with growing emotional maturity left little doubt they firmly are in the Olympic conversation.
Third place went to Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, who returned to their 2023–24 free dance to music from “Perfume” after struggling earlier in the season to find consistency. The decision paid off in St. Louis, where their passionate, dramatic skate, highlighted by difficult lifts and strong symmetry, earned 123.66 in the free dance and 206.95 overall. Coached by two-time Olympic champion Scott Moir and Olympic bronze medalist Madison Hubbell, the team had faced pressure after a rocky Grand Prix fall, but their performance pushed them back into strong Olympic contention following Carreira’s successful completion of her U.S. citizenship process.
Finishing 4th, Caroline Green and Michael Parsons continued their upward momentum with a season’s best free dance score of 121.50 and 202.05 overall. One of several teams in the Olympic mix, they showed clear power across the ice and crisp execution of required elements — particularly their twizzle sequences — signaling that the uneven start to their season firmly is behind them.
In 5th overall, Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, the 2024 U.S. bronze medalists, delivered a controlled and increasingly mature performance to “The White Crow” soundtrack. Their free dance earned 117.86, keeping them steady in the top group as they continue to show technical growth and deeper command of performance quality.
Just behind them in 6th, Oona Brown and Gage Brown posted a season’s best free dance of 118.59 en route to 194.31 overall. The sibling team showcased how much they have progressed since their 2023 World Junior title, drawing big reactions for high-risk choreography — including an assisted backflip where Oona vaulted her brother over her shoulder — within their dramatic “Godfather” program.
Seventh went to Katarina Wolfkostin and Dimitry Tsarevski, the 2025 World Junior silver medalists, who totaled 186.60 after a complex free dance to a “Kill Bill” medley. While their skating still lacks some of the polish of the top senior teams, their speed, difficulty and ambition continue to point toward a long-term promise.
In 8th, Leah Neset and Artem Markelov finished with 176.46 after a steady free dance that maintained their position in the middle of the standings.
Ninth place belonged to Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, who closed an emotional return season following a seven-year hiatus. A stumble on Alex’s twizzle sequence cost valuable points in the free dance, which scored 101.93, leaving them with 173.17 overall. The sense in the arena was that the performance deeply was personal, with Olympic hopes now distant; their program became a metaphor for their struggle through illness and injury to return to the sport they love.
Rounding out the top 10, Amy Cui and Jonathan Rogers finished 10th with 172.39 after placing 9th in the free dance.
With ice dance now complete, all eyes turn to the team announcement, where the performances in St. Louis directly will shape the U.S. Olympic lineup.
Ice Dance results
- Madison Chock/Evan Bates – 228.87
- Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik – 213.65
- Christina Carreira/Anthony Ponomarenko – 206.95
- Caroline Green/Michael Parsons – 202.05
- Emily Bratti/Ian Somerville – 197.29
- Oona Brown/Gage Brown – 194.31
- Katarina Wolfkostin/Dimitry Tsarevski – 186.60
- Leah Neset/Artem Markelov – 176.46
- Maia Shibutani/Alex Shibutani – 173.17
- Amy Cui/Jonathan Rogers – 172.39
- Eva Pate/Logan Bye – 170.49
- Elliana Peal/Ethan Peal – 169.60
- Raffaella Koncius/Alexey Shchepetov – 166.62
- Isabella Flores/Linus Colmor Jepsen – 160.75
- Vanessa Pham/Anton Spiridonov – 158.62
The 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championship continues live on NBC and USA Network, streaming on Peacock.