The Championships took place from January 20th to 26th in the Intrust bank arena here in Wichita. In various
categories, the athletes showed great skills and top sporting performances. The event attracted fans and athletes from all over the country and served as a networking event for many people from the scene and as a springboard for the athletes for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
Ilia Malinin won the men’s competition with a total score of 333.31. This is his third
title in a row, mastering six quadruple jumps in his performance and being the first to land them. Malinin won the men’s competition despite not landing the seventh jump. But he seems to be satisfied with his performance.
Alysa Liu won the women’s race on her comeback. The 19-year-old took the lead with 76.36 points. She performed different variations of double and triple jumps and spins. She even won against the reigning champion Aber Glenn, who had 70.91 points.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates: Duo Champions
Madison Chock and Evan Bates are not only an impressive figure skating team (multiple US-Champions, World Champions and Gold Olympians), but also a dream team in real life. In 2011 they decided to work together as a figure skating couple. In 2017, their relationship developed into a romantic partnership and in June 2024, their relationship was crowned by a wedding in Hawaii.
Their trust and commitment to each other is reflected in the stories they tell on the ice. Since they’ve been a couple, they’ve won numerous titles. They have the record for most US championship titles. Their most recent title came here in Wichita. In doing so, they broke the record held by Meryl Davis and Charlie White. This success in the Intrust bank arena was particularly challenging for them as they competed despite health problems. Both struggled with health problems during the competition but showed remarkable determination and professionalism throughout their performance in rhythm and free dance. They scored a total of 223.52 points.
Their career has been characterized by continuous growth and adaptability. During the Covid 19 pandemic, they had to stay in Montreal due to travel restrictions. Their training during this time was further limited by Chock’s brain damage. Nevertheless, they returned stronger than before and continued their winning streak.
