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Chock and Bates Put U.S. in Team Lead, Pivot to Ice Dance Gold Bid on Tight Turnaround

The reigning world champions start the individual event with limited recovery after back-to-back team skates.

Overview

  • Their season-best free dance on Feb. 7 pushed Team USA into first place by five points entering the team event’s final day.
  • They opened the team competition on Feb. 6 with a high-scoring rhythm dance that jump-started the U.S. lead.
  • They now have about 48 hours before the individual ice dance begins on Feb. 9, with the free dance set for Feb. 11.
  • The duo faces four programs in six days, creating a recovery gap versus rivals whose teams missed the team final or used alternates in the free dance.
  • Chock and Bates enter the individual event as three-time reigning world champions and recent Grand Prix Final and U.S. champions, widely viewed as gold favorites.