In a testament to their resilience, Madison Chock and Evan Bates overcame illness to claim their fifth U.S. ice dance title in Columbus, Ohio. The reigning world champions, who have remained undefeated since the beginning of 2023, demonstrated their unwavering determination and skill, earning a total of 215.92 points across their thrilling performances in the rhythm dance and free dance categories.

Despite facing a challenging setback, both skaters exhibited remarkable bravery by opting to compete despite falling ill. Chock developed flu-like symptoms, including a fever, on Friday, while Bates began feeling unwell even earlier, possibly on Saturday. Making a final decision just moments before their free dance, following their warm-up, the duo refused to let their ailments deter them from the pursuit of victory.

Unfortunately, Bates lost his balance during their first two twizzles, resulting in them achieving the second-best free dance score, trailing behind Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko. Nevertheless, their impressive lead from the rhythm dance proved to be enough as they emerged victorious with a comfortable 5.88 point margin.

With their triumph, Chock, 31, and Bates, 34, have solidified their status as one of the most accomplished U.S. ice dance pairs of all time. Taking a season-by-season approach in their competitive journey, the duo has not yet committed to participating in the 2026 Olympics. However, fans of the pair will have the opportunity to celebrate their forthcoming nuptials as they are set to tie the knot in June.

Last year, Chock and Bates dominated the competition with a staggering 22.29 point lead, the largest margin since the ice dance format changed in 2011. In addition, they have already claimed the accolade as the oldest U.S. ice dance champions in over 50 years, following their 2023 title. The impressive legacy of Chock and Bates is further enhanced by the fact that only the 2014 Olympic champions, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, have won more U.S. ice dance titles, with a total of six.

This year, Chock and Bates added further milestones to their accomplished careers. They achieved their 12th consecutive podium finish, matching a record previously held by Michelle Kwan, Theresa Weld Blanchard, and Nathaniel Niles, a pairs' team from the early 20th century.

Looking ahead, Chock and Bates are poised to lead the U.S. ice dance team into the upcoming world championships in March, where they will defend their title in their training base of Montreal. Despite facing adversity, the determination and indomitable spirit displayed by this talented duo continue to inspire and captivate the world of ice dance.