JAPAN – U.S. ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates made a strong statement on the opening day of the 2025 Grand Prix Figure Skating Final in Nagoya, Japan -- leading the rhythm dance with a season-best score of 88.74.
The reigning Grand Prix Final champions are aiming to secure their third consecutive gold medal at the event.
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The three-time World champions delivered a polished and controlled performance, earning the highest levels on their elements and showcasing their technical skill and artistry.
Their strong start sets a confident tone as they prepare for the free dance, where they will look to maintain their lead and claim another Grand Prix Final title.
“We’re really happy with the score. It’s the best of the season so far,” said Chock. “We’re happy with the levels that we got. We felt like we put out a really solid skate, so this was a great step forward.”
Close behind are France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who sit second with 87.56 points -- just 1.18 points shy of the leaders.
With the top two teams separated by just over a point, the free dance will likely be decisive in determining the champion.
The Grand Prix Figure Skating Final continues Friday, Dec. 5, with the pairs free skate and women’s short program, starting at 5:35 a.m. ET on Peacock.
Looking ahead, Chock and Bates are also preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, which would mark their fourth and fifth Olympic appearances, respectively.