Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates perform at Vail Ice Spectacular after a year filled with victory

Madison Chock and Evan Bates have lived a bit of a storybook life, at least in the last couple years. The ice dancers claimed their second consecutive victory earlier this month at the Grand Prix Finals while also winning the World Championships the last two years. Additionally, the couple, who are partners on and off the ice, had a fairytale wedding last June in Hawaii, describing the location as “magical.”

Chock and Bates have known one another since they were teenagers. In 2011, they began skating together, but their relationship remained platonic for the first five years. On June 11, 2022, Bates proposed to her in Thailand. He chose the date in the sixth month of the year to honor the six years they had dated and the 11^th day of the month to celebrate their 11 years of skating together.

Since Chock is partially Hawaiian, the couple incorporated Hawaiian traditions into their wedding, including traditional music and a lei exchange.

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They’ve said last summer was their best ever. In addition to being surrounded by family and friends at their wedding, less than two months later, the ice dancers finally received their long-awaited gold medals on Aug. 7 under the Eiffel Tower at the Summer Games in Paris, for their win at the 2022 Olympics.

“It was surreal,” Bates said, adding how grateful they were that their family members could attend. “It was a really exciting time when we found out. It was the best ending that we could have hoped for.”

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In fact, the entire year has been charmed, as they’ve completed their first undefeated season. They became five-time National champions in January, two-time World champions in March and celebrated their second consecutive Grand Prix Final victory on Dec. 7. Not even getting the flu two days before January’s Nationals could stop them.

“It was certainly not ideal, but that’s why we train so hard and so often,” Chock said about the illness. “It’s for moments like that (when) you never know what will happen, but we knew (gold) was within our capacity. It taught us about ourselves and made us stronger.”

In fact, they credit skating for teaching them plenty of lessons, professionally and personally, including always communicating and respecting one another, as well as oneself.

“We’re very different people, but that makes us stronger,” Bates said. “We have different points of views, but we’re able to support the other person and make the other shine.”

“Communication is always going to be a really important part of our success. It’s an avenue to make sure we’re on the same page and that our goals and values line up,” Chock said. “(Being a couple) certainly comes with its challenges, but it’s extremely rewarding. We have shared passions and goals and taken on challenges together. It’s a unique dynamic and one that has enriched both of our lives. It’s also a unique work environment and one I don’t take for granted.”

Bates explained that their 100% on-ice commitment “flows from one facet of life to another.” They’ve competed in the last three Olympics, winning gold in Beijing in 2022, placing ninth in 2018 and eighth in 2014. Coming off this stellar year, they’re poised for a strong standing in the 2026 Winter Games. Though onlookers might think each Olympics gets easier, the couple actually finds more pressure in each one.

“You realize the magnitude; it’s the pinnacle of the sport. The athletes have all dedicated themselves to this one competition. It feels different than the rest because it only happens every four years,” Chock said. “The first time, I was so excited. Everything was magical. As the years go by, you get more stressed because you care more and more.”

Bates adds that the couple’s expectations rise — and, the world expects more, too.

“The first time, you’re just happy to be there. Then, the goals get loftier,” he said.

Still, the Games inspire them, from staying in the village with other athletes to participating in something bigger than oneself.

“It fills me with pride to represent the U.S.,” Chock said.

It’s also an event where some of their favorite on-ice memories have taken place, including seeing 30 family members in the audience in Vancouver and winning a gold medal in the 2022 team event.

As they head toward the 2026 Winter Games, Chock said, “the No. 1 thing is that it’s a quest for ourselves to improve … it’s really our passion — skating and creating and dancing and performing.”

The couple currently trains in Montreal, Canada.

“The coaches are the best in the world, in our opinion. They’ve put together an incredible school,” Bates said. “It has added a lot; we were looking for a spark — a change of scenery. It led to a career renaissance.”

The couple trains alongside two-time World Ice Dance medalists and U.S. competitors Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue.

“Training with the best in the world brings out the best in you,” Bates said. “We like the camaraderie and the competitiveness. We have a long history and have been friends for a long time … and we have so much fun touring with them in Stars on Ice. We have a mutual respect.”

They’ve even switched partners in shows, where Chock and Donohue performed a lift together and then Bates, Donohue and another male skater lifted Hubbell and Chock — the two Madison’s.

Chock and Bates have interpreted everything from The Jackson 5, disco, Queen, Pink Floyd, Elvis Presley and Cole Porter to Bruno Mars and Sergei Rachmaninoff and say each program becomes their favorite in one way or another.

“Each program has been a joy to perform. Every time we put together a piece of choreography, we learn a lot about ourselves,” Chock said, adding that if they revisited the programs, they would feel very different to perform.

They’ve transformed into a snake and its charmer — one of the first programs the public responded strongly to, Evans said — and to an alien and astronaut, which they prided themselves for, for stepping outside the box and presenting the nontraditional program at the Olympics.

“Our goal is to keep it fresh and (express) a new point of view,” he said. “Each year’s a blank slate.”

And, when it comes to showtime, they strive to make the audience feel good.

“When you go and see a live event, it’s all about enjoyment,” he said. “Show skating is obviously less stressful, and it really brings out the love and joy of skating, especially when you mix that with the holidays. (Vail’s) lineup is so good. It really has a lot of quality, high-level skaters that you might see at the next Olympics or that you might see at the next World Championships.”

If you want to learn even more about the couple, check out their podcast, “Unlaced with Chock and Bates,” which they launched leading up the 2022 Olympics to provide insight into their daily lives and what preparing for competitions entails.

“It’s a fun and creative outlet,” he said.