Chock and Bates withdraw from ice dance worlds after Milan Cortina Olympics

Two-time Olympic champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates will not pursue a fourth straight ice dance world championship, choosing instead to end their season and likely their competitive careers after their performances at the Milan Cortina Olympics

Two-time Olympic champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates will not pursue a fourth straight ice dance world championship, choosing instead to end their season and likely their competitive careers after their performances at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Chock and Bates joined Olympic teammate Alysa Liu on Monday in withdrawing from worlds, which is not an uncommon decision for skaters who compete at the Winter Games. The championships begin March 24 at 02 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic.

Chock and Bates helped the U.S. defend its Olympic figure skating team gold medal in February, then added a bittersweet silver in the individual competition. They were a close second behind the French duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, a result that was heavily scrutinized due to the wild scoring margins turned in by the French judge, Jézabel Dabouis.

“We left it all on the ice in Milan,” Bates said. “Our season feels complete with those four performances where we delivered our best.”

Chock and Bates have not officially retired, but they have hinted for the better part of four years that they would move away from the competitive scene after the Milan Cortina Games. They will do so as two of the most decorated skaters in U.S. history, winning a record seven national titles, three gold medals at the Grand Prix Final and numerous Grand Prix events.