Madison La'akea Te-Lan Hall Chock, born on July 2, 1992, is a prominent American ice dancer. She has achieved remarkable success in partnership with Evan Bates, solidifying her place in the world of figure skating.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the 2019 World Championships.
Early Life and Beginnings
Madison La'akea Te-Lan Hall Chock was born in Redondo Beach, California. She attended Novi High School. Her family boasts a diverse heritage, including Hawaiian, Chinese, German, English, Irish, French, and Dutch roots. Chock started skating at the age of five, sparked by watching skating on TV with her parents. Inspired by Michelle Kwan, she aspired to learn a double axel. At 12, she was encouraged to try ice dance, which she grew to love despite initial reservations about dance.
Partnership with Greg Zuerlein
Madison began skating with Greg Zuerlein in June 2006. In September 2007, they debuted on the Junior Grand Prix, securing a gold medal in Tallinn, Estonia, and a bronze in Chemnitz, Germany. These achievements qualified them for the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final in Gdańsk, Poland, where they finished fifth. In December 2008, they clinched gold at the Junior Grand Prix Final in Goyang, South Korea. In the 2009-10 season, they transitioned to the senior level, making their Grand Prix debut. They placed sixth at the 2009 Skate America and eighth at the 2009 Cup of China. In January 2010, they finished fifth at their first senior national competition.
In the 2010-11 season, Chock and Zuerlein earned their first senior Grand Prix medal, a bronze, at the 2010 Skate Canada International, followed by another bronze at the 2010 Trophée Éric Bompard. After finishing fifth at the 2011 Four Continents Championships, they placed ninth at their first World Championships. On June 7, 2011, Chock and Zuerlein ended their five-year partnership, with Zuerlein retiring from competition.
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Forming a Dynamic Duo with Evan Bates
On July 1, 2011, Madison Chock and Evan Bates announced their partnership, continuing under the coaching of Shpilband and Zueva. They finished fourth at the 2011 Skate Canada International and fifth at the 2011 Trophée Éric Bompard. In the 2012-13 season, Chock and Bates won gold at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy. They also earned a spot on the U.S. team at the 2013 Four Continents, where they won a bronze medal, and finished seventh at the 2013 World Championships. Chock and Bates also competed at the 2013 World Team Trophy.
For the 2013-14 season, Chock and Bates secured bronze medals at the 2013 Cup of China and 2013 Rostelecom Cup. They made the U.S. Olympic team and finished eighth at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In the 2014-15 season, Chock and Bates won silver at the 2014 Nebelhorn Trophy, followed by gold at the 2014 Skate America and 2014 Rostelecom Cup. The team won silver at the Grand Prix Final in December and at the 2015 Four Continents Championships in Seoul. They concluded their season with a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, China.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the Winter Olympics.
In the 2015-16 season, Chock and Bates won gold at the 2015 Nebelhorn Trophy, gold at the 2015 Skate America, and silver at the 2015 Cup of China. They also secured the silver medal at the 2015-16 Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. Throughout the 2016-17 season, Chock and Bates consistently earned silver medals at four international events. In December, they placed sixth at the Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France. They won the bronze medal at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea.
Overcoming Challenges
During the 2017-18 season, Chock faced an injury, with bone fragments chipping off her right ankle in August 2017. Despite this, she and Bates won silver medals at the 2017 Cup of China and 2017 Internationaux de France, qualifying them for their fourth Grand Prix Final. At the U.S. Championships, Chock and Bates placed third overall. They were chosen for the individual ice dancing event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Chock reinjured her ankle during warm-up, and they placed ninth overall. In March, they finished fifth at the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy. On April 6, 2018, Chock underwent surgery to remove the bone fragments from her ankle.
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Chock's recovery from ankle surgery prevented them from competing in the first half of the 2018-19 season. They returned to competition in January at the Toruń Cup in Poland, winning easily. At the Four Continents Championships in Anaheim, Chock and Bates placed second in the rhythm dance, then first in the free dance and overall, marking the team's first gold medal at an ISU Championship. Chock expressed a "newfound joy and happiness" in their skating.
Continued Success and Championship Titles
In the 2019-20 season, Chock and Bates continued their success, winning gold at the 2019 U.S. Classic and the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy. On the Grand Prix, they won silver at the 2019 Internationaux de France and the 2019 Cup of China. At the 2020 U.S. Championships in Greensboro, Chock and Bates won their second U.S. title, five years after their first. They defended their title at the 2020 Four Continents Championships in Seoul, becoming the first ice dance couple to do so since 2006.
The 2020-21 season presented challenges due to the pandemic. Chock suffered a concussion, and they had to quarantine, leading to their withdrawal from the 2020 Skate America. At the U.S. Championships, Chock and Bates finished second overall and were named to the U.S. team for the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm, where they placed fourth overall.
For the 2021-22 season, they chose Billie Eilish songs for their rhythm dance and created a new "Contact" program about an astronaut and an alien. They won silver at the 2021 CS Finlandia Trophy and on the Grand Prix, they won silver at the 2021 Skate America and the 2021 NHK Trophy. At the U.S. Championships, Chock and Bates won their third national title and were named to the American Olympic team, marking Madison's third Olympics and Evan's fourth.
Chock and Bates began the 2022 Winter Olympics as team captains. They competed in the free dance for the Olympic team event, unexpectedly winning their segment and helping America secure a medal. The American team won the silver medal, the first Olympic medal for both Chock and Bates. The team was awarded the gold medal in January 2024.
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Chock and Bates finished the season at the 2022 World Championships. For the 2022-23 season, they aimed to win the World title. They won gold at the 2022 Skate America and silver at the 2022 NHK Trophy. At the U.S. Championships, they secured their fourth national gold medal together. At the 2023 World Championships, Chock and Bates set a new personal best score in the rhythm dance, and despite a fall at the end of their free dance, they won that segment and the overall title, becoming only the second American team to do so. They finished the season at the World Team Trophy, setting new world records in the rhythm dance, free dance, and total score.
In the 2023-24 season, Chock and Bates won their fourth title at the 2023 Skate America and the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, qualifying for the 2023-24 Grand Prix Final. At the U.S. Championships, Chock had flu-like symptoms, but they still won the rhythm dance and placed first overall. The 2024 World Championships were held in Montreal, their training home. They won the rhythm dance, and in the free dance, they finished second but remained first overall, claiming the gold medal.
Chock and Bates started their 2024-25 season at 2024 Skate America, placing second overall. They won gold at the 2024 NHK Trophy. At the U.S. Championships in Wichita, they tied the record for most senior ice dance gold medals. Chock and Bates entered the 2025 World Championships in Boston as strong favorites, winning the rhythm dance and the free dance to claim their third consecutive World title. They were chosen to compete for Team United States at the 2025 World Team Trophy.
"Dance through the Decades" World Champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates' 2025 Rhythm Dance
Personal Life
Madison and Evan were skating partners for several years and began dating in 2017. They got engaged on June 11, 2022, and married in June 2024. Chock designs the team’s costumes. Bates earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational studies from the University of Michigan in 2013 and is the 52nd member of his family to graduate from the University of Michigan. His parents are Eric (cardiologist) and Nancy (artist), and he has two older siblings, Andrew and Alexis. He volunteers with Special Olympics Michigan.
Cultural Identity and Representation
Madison Chock, whose father is Chinese-Hawaiian, expresses a deep connection to her roots. She reflects on the significance of her heritage, stating, "Every time I’m on the bus, I’m just looking out and studying the city and just imagining my roots are here, my ancestors are here."
Her experiences resonate with those of other athletes with diverse ethnic backgrounds, highlighting the evolving face of representation in sports. “It really shows how far we’ve come as a society, to have these different faces representing home for everyone,” says one athlete, emphasizing the importance of diversity in representing one's country.
Program Music
- RD Music: Music from Mr. and Mrs.
- FD Music: "Concerto No.
Achievements and Records
Madison Chock and Evan Bates have achieved numerous milestones throughout their careers:
- Gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics (team event)
- Three-time World champions (2023, 2024, and 2025)
- Two-time Grand Prix Final winners (2023-24 and 2024-25)
- Four-time U.S. national champions
- Broke the world record for highest-ever rhythm dance and free dance score at 2023 World Team Trophy
- First ice dance team to go undefeated in a calendar year (2023)
- First ice dance team to win back-to-back World titles at the 2024 World Championships
- Ice dance team with the most World medals (five)
- First ice dance team to win three World titles at the 2025 World Championships
Before partnering with Evan, Madison won the 2009 World Junior Championships and the Junior Grand Prix Final in 2008-09 with Greg Zuerlein.
Other Figure Skating Stars
Here's what other famous figure skaters are up to:
- Scott Hamilton: The 1984 Olympic gold medalist continues to inspire with his resilience. "Every time I've gotten knocked down, I've been able to get up," he told People in 2015.
- Brian Boitano: The 1988 Calgary Games gold medalist has his skates in the National Museum of American History.
- Nancy Kerrigan: After her triumph in Albertville, Kerrigan skated professionally, became a public speaker, and authored the book Artistry on Ice.
- Michelle Kwan: During the Champions on Ice Tour in 2002, Kwan spoke about the audience's supportive reception, "It's more a reassurance, not like a pity... They realize the pain [of losing]."
- Tara Lipinski: The youngest-ever world champion and Olympic gold medalist has remained active in the skating community and media.
- Sarah Hughes: The 2002 Salt Lake City gold medalist attended Yale and law school and is now a practicing attorney in New York.
- Sasha Cohen: Cohen has made numerous TV appearances and graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science.
- Johnny Weir: Known for his flamboyant style, Weir continues to be a prominent figure in skating commentary and fashion.
- Meryl Davis and Charlie White: The first-ever American gold medalists in ice dancing in Sochi have since retired and pursued personal endeavors.
- Adam Rippon: Now coaching first-time Olympian Mariah Bell, Rippon emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of athletes.
- Gracie Gold: She has become well-known for her contributions to the conversation about athletes' mental health, sharing her struggles with eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.
- Ashley Wagner: Wagner teaches skating and sculpt classes and coaches youth, reflecting on her competitive career: "I never loved skating. I saw it as an opportunity, a means to an end. When I was done, I was really done."
Madison Hubbell
Madison Hubbell, born on February 24, 1991, is an American former ice dancer. She competed with Zachary Donohue from 2011 to 2022 and with her brother Keiffer Hubbell from 2001 to 2011. Hubbell began dating Spanish ice dancer Adrián Díaz in 2014, and they married on June 7, 2023, in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. Hubbell began skating as a five-year-old.
Early Career with Keiffer Hubbell
The Hubbells moved up to the junior level both nationally and internationally. Making their ISU Junior Grand Prix debut in Courchevel, France, the Hubbells placed second in the compulsory and original dances and then won the free dance. They won the silver medal behind Ekaterina Bobrova / Dmitri Soloviev by a margin of 0.78 points. The Hubbells were then assigned to their second event, in The Hague, Netherlands. Championships, the Hubbells placed second in both compulsory dances behind Samuelson/Bates. They won the original dance and went into the free dance in first place overall, where they placed second. The Hubbells withdrew from their 2007-08 Junior Grand Prix events and missed the fall season due to an injury to Keiffer. At the national championships, the Hubbells won the compulsory dance, placed third in the original dance, and then won the free dance to win the gold medal overall. The Hubbells moved up to the senior level nationally and remained juniors internationally. They competed on the 2008-09 Junior Grand Prix circuit. The Junior Grand Prix Final was held for the first time concurrently with the Grand Prix Final and therefore did not include a compulsory dance segment.
Partnership with Zachary Donohue
Hubbell and Donohue took bronze at the 2012 Finlandia Trophy and competed at two Grand Prix events. They placed fifth at the 2012 Skate Canada International and fourth at the 2012 Trophée Éric Bompard (second in the free dance). After sustaining a concussion in June 2013, Hubbell spent six weeks recuperating. She attributed the injury to a "lack of focus, as painful as that is to admit. Hubbell and Donohue won gold at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy, placed fourth at the 2013 Skate America, and won their first Grand Prix medal, bronze, at the 2013 Skate Canada International. In November 2015, Hubbell and Donohue won their first Grand Prix title, taking gold at the 2015 Trophée Éric Bompard in Bordeaux as a result of their first place in the short dance, ahead of Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. The second day of competition was canceled due to the November 2015 Paris attacks. In March, Hubbell and Donohue won a small bronze medal for their short dance at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. They qualified to their third consecutive Grand Prix Final. Hubbell and Donohue were not selected for the team event, but competed in the individual ice dancing event. In the free dance, Donohue put both hands down in the middle of a sliding move, which constituted a technical fall. Classic, Hubbell and Donohue were assigned to consecutive Grand Prix events, the 2018 Skate America and 2018 Skate Canada International. They won gold at both events, becoming the first team to qualify for the Grand Prix Final. They next competed at the 2019 Four Continents Championships, placing first in the rhythm dance with a new personal best. In the free dance, they unexpectedly dropped to fourth place following multiple errors, including receiving only a base level on their stationary lift after it was deemed non-stationary. Hubbell and Donohue placed fourth in the rhythm dance at the 2019 World Championships, but overtook Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin in the free dance to place third overall, winning the bronze. For the musical-themed rhythm dance, Hubbell and Donohue chose to skate a Marilyn Monroe program, a longtime goal of Hubbell's. They became two-time Skate America champions with a total of 209.55 points after placing first with a personal best of 84.97 points in the rhythm dance and second in the free dance with a score of 124.58, 0.08 points behind the free dance score of silver medalists Stepanova/Bukin. Returning to the Four Continents Championships after the disappointment of the previous year, Hubbell and Donohue won the rhythm dance again, albeit by a margin of only 0.03 over Chock and Bates, and 2.03 points ahead of Gilles and Poirier in third. In the free dance, both made errors in their twizzle sequence, and they dropped to third place, winning the bronze medal. On the Grand Prix, Hubbell and Donohue began at 2021 Skate America, competing against primary domestic rivals Chock and Bates. They won both segments of the competition to take the gold medal, their fourth consecutive at the event and prevailing over Chock and Bates by 1.31 points. They were initially assigned to the 2021 Cup of China as their second Grand Prix, but following its cancellation, they were reassigned to the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia. With training partners Papadakis and Cizeron also assigned to the event, Hubbell and Donohue were the presumptive silver medalists, and finished second in both segments of the competition despite a late-program flub on their free dance choreographic lift. They went on to win the free dance but remained in second place overall with a performance that felt present, and we're both very satisfied with how we skated. Hubbell and Donohue began the 2022 Winter Olympics as the American entries in the rhythm dance segment of the Olympic team event. They scored a new personal best of 86.56 to win the segment, securing ten points for the American team and notably prevailing over reigning World champions Sinitsina and Katsalapov of the ROC. Hubbell and Donohue concluded their competitive careers at the 2022 World Championships, held in Montpellier. In the free dance they set another personal best (132.67) as well as a personal best for total score (222.39), winning their third World silver medal. With Papadakis and Cizeron taking the gold medal and Chock and Bates the bronze, the entire podium consisted of skaters from the Ice Academy of Montreal. Hubbell said, "we knew that we wanted to skate our best for each other for our last moment, and we found peace in that. In 2024, Hubbell began advocating for the inclusion of same-sex partnerships in competitive figure skating.
| Season | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Winter Olympics (Team Event) | 1st |
| 2022-2023 | World Championships | 1st |
| 2023-2024 | World Championships | 1st |
| 2024-2025 | World Championships | 1st |
Madison Chock and Evan Bates continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide with their exceptional talent, dedication, and artistry on the ice.