Madison Chock and Evan Bates are back-to-back ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final champions.
The American ice dance duo claimed their second consecutive gold at the Final on Saturday (7 December) evening in Grenoble, France, scoring a 219.85 overall after a 132.12-point performance in the free dance.
They successfully defend their 2023 title, a sixth podium for Chock/Bates at this event, having won four silver medals previously. Chock and Bates are the two-time and reigning world champions.
Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri took the silver medal with a 206.11 (122.99), while Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain rounded out the top three with a 205.18 (122.87).
Chock and Bates had finished second to Fear and Gibson at Skate America to open the Grand Prix season, but bounced back well winning the Grand Prix Finland and then the title here.
“It feels amazing, frankly,” Bates told the in-venue audience in Grenoble. “We just love skating here… we love dancing with each other. To share our love of skating with a public that loves it [too], that’s just the best combination.”
Said Chock of their back-to-back wins: “Each time feels like the best time every time we’re in it.”
Earlier this season, Chock told Olympics.com that the team is eyeing not one but two Olympic gold medals at the coming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. It will be a fourth Games for her, while it would be number five for Bates.
More to come.
