Madison Chock and Evan Bates announced that they will not compete at the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships, sharing a message with fans after concluding a successful Winter Olympic season. The decision comes after months of intense competition, during which the pair delivered some of their most memorable performances on the international stage.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates Decide to Skip the World Championships
Madison Chock and Evan Bates were among the standout pairs at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Competing in the ice dance event, the American duo delivered strong performances in both the rhythm dance and the free dance.
In the competition, they faced strong challenges from top international teams, including Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, as well as Italy’s Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri.
After the Winter Olympics, the duo was expected to head to the World Figure Skating Championships as the defending champions, having won the title in three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025.
However, the pair later shared a message on their official Instagram account, informing fans about a change in their plans for the upcoming event.
The American ice dance pair explained that the performances they delivered in Milan were among the most meaningful moments of their season. Having competed at the highest level and pushed themselves throughout the campaign, they felt satisfied with what they had accomplished.
As they looked back on the journey, the duo shared a message with fans, explaining their perspective on the season and their decision regarding the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships.
“We left it all on the ice in Milan. Our season feels complete with those four performances where we delivered our best. While we have decided not to compete at the World Championships, we hold dear the incredible memories from winning the last three years. Those achievements have meant so much to us,” read the statement.
As they concluded their message, the Olympic gold medalists also took a moment to acknowledge the support they have received from fans throughout the season.
“We couldn’t be more appreciative of the love and support we’ve felt from you all. Thank you,” they added.
With their withdrawal, the United States will now look toward teams like Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, along with Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville, to lead the charge in ice dance at the World Figure Skating Championships. Chock and Bates’ absence potentially opens the door for a new pair to claim the title this year.
