Figure Skating
World Figure Skating Championships 2024: Madison Chock and Evan Bates capture second consecutive ice dance crown
The USA skaters held off the surging Canadian duo Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, who won the free dance to claim the silver medal in Montreal. Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri took the bronze.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates have secured back-to-back world titles in ice dance at the 2024 ISU World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday (23 March) in Montreal.
The USA athletes held off free dance winners Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, the home hopes surging to claim the silver - up from third in the rhythm dance - marking their best-ever finish at a Worlds.
Chock/Bates won with a 222.20 to Gilles/Poirier's 219.68. Italians Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri claimed the bronze medal with a 216.52.
The win completes an undefeated season for the three-time Olympians Chock/Bates, who have not lost on international ice since the NHK Trophy during the Grand Prix Series in 2022. They have been based in Montreal as their training city since 2018.
"We could not be more thrilled," Chock said after their victory. "And to do it in our adopted hometown of Montreal... the support has been incredible. We're so happy to finish the season with a strong skate."
Chock/Bates are the first USA duo to win a world title in ice dance since 2014 Olympic champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White won the second of their two titles in 2013.
It is a second gold for Chock/Bates in 11 Worlds appearances. In total, they've landed on five podiums in their career, dating back to 2015.
Fellow Montreal-based training mates Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain were fourth (210.92), while Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha of Canada (who also train in Montreal) took fifth (208.01).
Chock/Bates rebound from early mistake, hold off Gilles/ Poirier
The leading duo after the rhythm dance, Chock/Bates skated before their top competitors as the third-last team, their Pink Floyd free dance starting off with a mistake on their opening stationery lift, which received the lowest amount of GOEs (Grade of Execution) of any of their elements.
"Even on that first misstep we just got back into it," said Chock.
Bates added: "We left it all there on the ice and did everything we could, so we're satisfied and fulfilled."
A costume snag for Guignard at the end of their program cost the Italians on their stationery lift too, as they were docked on the GOE.
The free dance day would belong to Gilles/Poirier, the final duo, who skated out to a roar from the Bell Centre crowd which would only grow as the Canadians delivered a career-best free dance, their 133.17 over a point ahead of Chock/Bates (132.12).
"We really laid everything on the table today," said Gilles.
"It was everything we hoped for four years later," she added, referring to the Worlds' cancellation in 2020 due to Covid-19. "I don't think you ever say anything is perfect [as athletes]... but I think it was such a special moment for us sharing that will of Canada in front of a Canadian crowd."
All three teams have taken a season-by-season approach since the 2022 Olympic Games, and none of them would say that they were ready to step away from the sport after the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
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