SEOUL, South Korea — At the Four Continents figure skating competition on Thursday, U.S. ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates found themselves trailing by just one point behind Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier. Their spirited rhythm dance, set to a medley that included classics like “Rock Around the Clock” and “Stayin’ Alive,” earned them a score of 86.21.
In contrast, defending champions Gilles and Poirier, last to perform, showcased an energetic program to a medley of surf-inspired songs, achieving a higher score of 87.22. Another Canadian duo, Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha, secured third place with a score of 82.86. Chock and Bates were seeking to reclaim their title at this event, which they missed last year, and this competition could lead them to their fourth title, having previously won in 2019, 2020, and 2023.
Despite their strong performance, the only blemish for the American couple was a mishap that cost them a level in their midline step sequence. “Maddie and I are pleased with the performance today,” Bates shared after their routine. “We are always aiming for our best score of the season, and while we came up a bit short today, I still believe we performed well and felt free on the ice.”
The Four Continents serves as a crucial stepping stone for them as they prepare for the world championships scheduled in Boston later this month, from March 25 to 30. Chock emphasized the significance of this competition, stating, “It’s important not just because of the high-caliber skaters who are here but also as it represents our final test before the worlds. This is an excellent chance to demonstrate our hard work.”
The ice dancing events will conclude on Saturday with the free dance segment.
In the men’s short program, Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan took the lead with an impressive score of 94.73, mainly due to a stunning quadruple lutz-triple toeloop combination at the start and another quad toeloop later in his routine. He held a notable advantage over the U.S. competitor Jimmy Ma, who gathered a score of 82.52. Kazuki Tomono from Japan followed in third with 79.84, while South Korea’s Junhwan Cha could only manage a double salchow in his initial move, placing him fourth.
The pairs short program saw Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara clinch first place with a score of 74.73. Close behind were U.S. skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who scored 70.32, while Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud finished third with 69.79. The Canadian world champions Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps ended the segment in fourth position.
Miura and Kihara’s routine, set to “Paint it Black,” featured notable elements, including a level three triple twist, a throw triple lutz, and a level four step sequence, showcasing their skills ahead of the upcoming championships.
