2025-26 U.S. Ice Dance News, Updates & Discussion - Backstreet Boys & Spice Girls

[Amantide]

I’m curious as to how people think the rankings will shake out with Madi and Evan retired. Z/K certainly seem positioned for number one although given ice dance, CarPon could return to challenge them with a different set of programs.

Personally I think Green/Parsons have topped out but maybe they’ll try a bit longer. Of the younger teams, the Browns are to my mind the best but Brat/Som still beats them from time to time. Unsure of how far Wolf/Tsar can go and hoping for a recovery from Nes/Mark.

As someone puts it, your thoughts?

The Italian Eurosport commentators went outright and stated that Z&K are the next Olympic Champions.

 

[bwayrose7]

After Hawayek/Baker retired (sorry to bring up painful subjects), it almost seems like no one knew who the new U.S. #2 was supposed to be. Green/Parsons had a quick rise and were sixth at Worlds. Then CPom passed them and were fifth at Worlds. Then Zing/Kol blew past them and were fifth at the Olympics. Lots of bouncing around right below that #1 spot.

But assuming Chock/Bates are really done now, we'll have a new #1, and maybe things will get a little more stable.

I too have my eye on the Browns and Nes/Mark, though I feel more confident about the former. Nes/Mark have the goods, I think, but they could use some help with packaging and choreography and they DESPERATELY need a better coaching situation.

I think, if Green/Parsons do end up sticking it out, we could have a stable top 3, like the Bock/Shibs/HubDon era. If they retire, though, I think it's going to be a bit of a free-for-all. I'd like to see the Browns come out on top (if my avatar doesn't make that obvious lol), and I think they have the momentum, if they can keep it up and if their coaching/financial issues don't hinder their growth and political support.

 

[miffy]

I noticed Igor was in the team USA box throughout the team event, looking extremely happy and cheering all of Team USA on. I wasn’t certain at first it was him because I don’t remember him looking quite that happy even when his teams were winning everything!

Is there any chance Chock/Bates would go and coach/choreograph on his team if they are thinking of a move back to Michigan? (I’m just guessing they are on good terms now with Igor enthusiastically cheering for them.)

 

[jackson]

with Madi and Evan retired. Z/K certainly seem positioned for number one although given ice dance, CarPon could return to challenge them with a different set of programs.

I noticed Igor was in the team USA box throughout the team event, looking extremely happy and cheering all of Team USA on. I wasn’t certain at first it was him because I don’t remember him looking quite that happy even when his teams were winning everything!

Is there any chance Chock/Bates would go and coach/choreograph on his team if they are thinking of a move back to Michigan? (I’m just guessing they are on good terms now with Igor enthusiastically cheering for them.)

That would be a really good coaching partnership, and a great step into coaching for them until they are ready to venture out on their own if they choose to do so!

 

[Sylvia]

Ty Steele's group photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU5w3ANkemM/

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His interview with Emilea & Vadym:

Ty Steele | They just delivered one of the cleanest skates of the Olympics… and many are saying they expect a very bright future for these two ice... | Instagram

429 likes, 24 comments - tysteelenews on February 18, 2026: "They just delivered one of the cleanest skates of the Olympics… and many are saying they expect a very bright future for these two ice...

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

From Chock/Bates' fan thread (@Lanie also posted a video there):

A different Instagram video from USFS has a better angle showing that all (or almost all) U.S. figure skaters (some sitting off ice) were present for Madison's announcement that Evan will be [a closing ceremony] flagbearer.

Congratulations to Evan! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU-j2MpANx_/

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Excerpts from USOPC press release: https://www.usopc.org/news/2026/feb...-for-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-2026

The 2026 Olympic champions, [Hilary] Knight and Bates were chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA athletes through a process led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, which serves as the representative group and voice of Team USA athletes. They are the first winter duo to share the honor of leading the delegation into the Closing Ceremony, which serves as the official close to the Olympic Winter Games.​

... [Bates] now sits tied for sixth in men’s all-time Olympic Winter Games medals. He becomes the first U.S. figure skater to carry the flag into an Olympic Opening or Closing Ceremony since Scott Hamilton in 1980, also joining Tim Wood who held the closing honor in 1968.​

“I’m deeply grateful to be selected as flag bearer and to represent both the United States and the sport of figure skating in this way,” said Bates. “To share this honor with Hilary makes it even more meaningful. My experience at the Milano Cortina Games has truly been incredible in so many ways, and I’m filled with appreciation for everyone who helped make it possible.”​

 

[ice coverage]

NBC has published a four-minute video of Madison announcing Evan as closing flagbearer.
It includes Evan's gracious remarks (unfortunately slightly hard to hear) to the assembled group.
Among other things, he said that he will be representing the U.S. skaters -- and also the federation, staff, and support system. (For example, I could see some of the USFS medical team down at the far end.)
In the last part of the video, Evan speaks to an off-camera interviewer.

Evan Bates receives flagbearer announcement from wife Madison Chock | Winter Olympics | NBC Sports

Evan Bates received the news of being a flagbearer for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony from his wife, Madison Chock. #NBCSports #WinterOlympics #TeamUSA» Su...

www.youtube.com

Such a feel-good moment for all concerned.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

NBC has published a four-minute video of Madison announcing Evan as closing flagbearer.
It includes Evan's gracious remarks (unfortunately slightly hard to hear) to the assembled group.
Among other things, he said that he will be representing the U.S. skaters -- and also the federation, staff, and support system. (For example, I could see some of the USFS medical team down at the far end.)
In the last part of the video, Evan speaks to an off-camera interviewer.

Evan Bates receives flagbearer announcement from wife Madison Chock | Winter Olympics | NBC Sports

Evan Bates received the news of being a flagbearer for Team USA at the Closing Ceremony from his wife, Madison Chock. #NBCSports #WinterOlympics #TeamUSA» Su...

www.youtube.com

Such a feel-good moment for all concerned.

A wonderful moment, and a fabulous choice of closing ceremony flag bearer!

 

[HeatherC]

I am SO over the moon happy for Evan! What a wonderful honor!

 

[ice coverage]

Our friend Melanie Heaney photographs skaters from all disciplines and all countries, but this thread seemed like the best home for today's article and two-minute video about her. From NBC station in Atlanta:

Olympic photographer's road to Milan skated right through metro Atlanta​

Heaney trains at local competitions like the Atlanta Figure Skating Club's Magnolia Open, where 11Alive spoke with her ahead of the Olympics.​

ATLANTA — Any athlete will tell you it takes years of practice, hard work and dedication to reach the Olympic Games. The same is true for photographer Melanie Heaney.​

"Going to the Olympics doesn't automatically make me a better photographer," Heaney said. "It's the fact that I go to these (local) competitions probably 20 weekends a year that makes me better." ...​

https://www.11alive.com/article/spo...lanta/85-41cc6dca-f6b7-4923-aec6-42ebe738b169​

​

Olympics photograher's metro Atlanta ties:​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj51o5qNfTo​

I especially liked this part of the article (with corresponding photos):

"... But for Heaney, it's the full-circle moments that mean the most. She took portraits of Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik at Lake Placid years ago.​

Last month, she photographed Kolesnik again — this time at the U.S. Figure Skating National Championship, where he and his current partner Emilea Zingas secured an Olympic spot.​

"It was just really sweet to be able to think about how I'd been able to capture their journey for the whole time of their careers," Heaney said. "Obviously, the majority of those little kids don't go on to become Olympians, but it's still really rewarding to see the kids develop year after year." ..."​

I'll add here one of Melanie's shots of Zingas/Kolesnik's Olympic FD in Milan:

https://photos2.ice-dance.com/2025-26/26OWG/FD/Zingas-Kolesnik-FD-26OWG-080.jpg​

Thank you for all your work, Melanie!
And thanks to ice-dance.com too.

 

[Karen-W]

Cross-posting this -

Interesting little IG reel about the level of interest during these Olympics. The Top 10 most searched athletes on Google include four figure skaters.

9 - Madison Chock
5 - Amber Glenn
3 - Ilia Malinin
2 - Alysa Liu

NBCU Advertising & Partnerships on Instagram: "The numbers behind the athletes, sports, and moments from Milan Cortina Olympics. Data from @nbcutogether and @google Viewership Source: Nielsen, Adobe Analytics, NBCU Internal Data"

8,526 likes, 57 comments - nbcutogether on February 23, 2026: "The numbers behind the athletes, sports, and moments from Milan Cortina Olympics. Data from @nbcutogether and @google Viewership Source: Nielsen, Adobe Analytics, NBCU Internal Data".

www.instagram.com

 

[Wyliefan]

New FD costumes for Abo/Ves. I liked her blue outfit better. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVcAoRvCKFn/?igsh=MWJyY2hlMW9uM3g3dw==

 

[Belsornia]

New FD costumes for Abo/Ves. I liked her blue outfit better. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVcAoRvCKFn/?igsh=MWJyY2hlMW9uM3g3dw==

Me too; I really liked the early-90s ice dance vibes of the original costumes. This one is a bit too beige for me.

 

[PRlady]

It also was more goddess-like and went with the theme of the program.

 

[Rackon]

It also was more goddess-like and went with the theme of the program.

I’ve warmed to the new costume - I bet it’s more impressive in person. And I prefer the dress. The original blue costume was a little too 90s Russian coded for me to completely love.

 

[Sylvia]

2026 Junior World champions Aboian/Veselukhin's gold medal free Dance (March 7): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlDBdr7OCIw

ETA excerpts from USFS' March 7 recap:

Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin capped an undefeated season, winning the free dance and the overall title at the ISU Figure Skating Junior World Championships 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia on Saturday.
Winners of seven consecutive competitions, the Connecticut-based team came within one point of achieving both personal-best international free dance and overall scores. They posted a segment-best free dance of 100.26 points and a total score of 166.71.
The two-time and reigning U.S. junior ice dance champions haven't lost since placing seventh at the 2025 Junior World Championships. [...]
Their victory marks the 13th World Junior title for a U.S. ice dance team since the event's inception in 1976.
Reigning U.S. junior silver medalists Jasmine Robertson and Chase Rohner placed 15th in the free dance with a score of 76.22 and 11th overall with 135.38 points.
The first-year team, which trains in Novi, Mich., received Level 4s for two lifts and a spin. They had fall on their choreographic step sequence toward the end of the program set to the musical "Notre Dame de Paris."
Their rinkmates, Michelle Deych and Ryan Hu, placed 16th in the free dance with a score of 75.09. They posted an overall score of 125.87 for 16th overall.

Premiered March 7, 2026 / Filmed in December 2025 in NYC by Jordan Cowan of On Ice Perspectives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P26a-DmQ38

2026 ISU Junior World Championships, Grand Prix Final Champions and U.S. Junior Ice Dance Champions Hana Maria Aboian and Daniil Veselukhin perform their full Free Dance titled "The Goddess Nike and her Sculptor" at Bank of America Winter Village in Bryant Park."[Our coach] Denis got the vision for the program after last year’s JGP Ankara as he was looking at the Nike Statue on the family trip with Melissa and their kids after the competition. The story is that Nike is molded into shape by her sculptor and as he gazes at her, her heart starts beating. Once she comes to the life, they go on a journey and she brings him victory in battle. It is a story of transformation and the possibilities that art can create.
"Music: "Hymnus Orbis,” “Salvation For a Proud Nation” and “Surrender to Hope” by Trailerhead, composed by Yoav Goren
Choreography by Denis Petukhov
Hana and Daniil are coached by Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, and represent Peninsula Skating Club and the Skating Club of New York.
Costumes by Natalia Bolshakova

 

[BittyBug]

Aboian is really something, it’s hard to believe she’s only 15. And Veselukhin is giving me young Sergei Ponomarenko vibes. Please let this team stay together.

 

[Sylvia]

Published today on USFS' International Assignments page re. Worlds:
Chock/Bates (withdrawn 3/9)
Green/Parsons (added 3/9)

 

[SkateFanBerlin]

Glad to learn this. C/B have given so much over the years. What would another Worlds bring that they don`t already have? (Ok, revenge on the French; pointless though. If C/B won the French will still be known as Oly champs)

 

[Sylvia]

"First draft golden waltz" for Bratti/Somerville:

Emily Bratti on Instagram: "First draft golden waltz ✨ #goldenwaltz #icedance"

676 likes, 35 comments - emily.bratti on March 6, 2026: "First draft golden waltz ✨ #goldenwaltz #icedance".

www.instagram.com

 

[Debbie S]

Madi/Evan IG post announcing Worlds WD:

Evan Bates on Instagram: "We left it all on the ice in Milan. Our season feels complete with those four performances where we delivered our best. While we have decided not to compete at the World Championships, we hold dear the incredible memories f

14K likes, 122 comments - evan_bates on March 9, 2026: "We left it all on the ice in Milan. Our season feels complete with those four performances where we delivered our best. While we have decided not to compete at the World Championships, we hold dear the incredible memories from winning the...

www.instagram.com

 

[YukiNieve]

I spoke to Browns at the IDI show on Saturday (March 7), and they told us that they are not planning to take a break, but will go straight to Montreal to spend six weeks there on choreography and training. They are looking forward to skating to the Golden Waltz.


One of the programs Oona and Gage Brown skated at the IDI show, Particles:

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[BittyBug]

Chock and Bates have had such an incredible career, and Evan serving as Olympic flag bearer seems like the perfect end point to that amazing run. With their work ethic I have no doubt they’ll succeed in whatever they do next, but I’ll miss them on the ice.