The greatest identity in U.S. figure skating a�� and one in the biggest labels of the last two Olympic series a�� Nathan Chen provides claimed virtually every concept in the world, but nevertheless features one latest field to test: making singles silver in the Games. At PyeongChang 2018, Chen got a hard spillage into seventeenth destination throughout the short plan; also a stunning, first-place free of charge skate was not adequate to move your onto the podium.
He fell throughout small system at 2021 Skate The usa, but nonetheless acquired sterling silver; during his second 2021-22 Grand Prix project, Skate Canada, Chen rebounded with another fantastic results. Though he decrease during their cost-free skate within 2022 Nationals, his performance ended up being sufficiently strong enough to earn your their 6th straight U.S. Championships subject.
Merely nerves and Japan’s well-known Yuzuru Hanyu can prevent Chen from ultimately claiming the crown jewel of his profession on 2022 wintertime Olympics.
Zachary Donohue, half of just one of the two better ice dance teams in the usa, didn’t beginning skating until he was 10 years outdated. It took another ed with recent mate, Madison Hubbell. Considering that the 2011-2012 season, he and Hubbell need acquired the 2018 great Prix last, three business title medals, and also the U.S. Championships title 3 x. The duo competed at PyeongChang 2018, but finished 4th a�� only 0.02 guidelines behind compatriots Alex and Maia Shibutani. Having punched her citation towards the Olympics, can they eventually clinch an ice dancing medal that barely escaped all of them four years back?
At decade old, Brandon Frazier teamed up with former mate Haven Denney a�� in the beginning, as roller skaters. Frazier and Denney after that competed in pairs from 2005 through 2008 and 2011 to 2020, winning four great Prix medals. When Denney stop figure skating in 2020, Frazier straight away caused Alexa Knierim. They won gold in the 2020 Skate The united states Grand Prix and bronze during the 2021 Internationaux de France. At the 2021 U.S. titles, Knierim/Frazier landed your competition’s highest combined total previously with details.
Hubbell and Donohue not too long ago announced your 2021-22 period will be their particular latest
Frazier ended up being one of the highest-profile sports athletes to withdraw from 2022 Nationals because of COVID. He established severe ailments in an Instagram article the evening before competition going, saying: a�?Although my discomfort are pretty worst, nothing sucks a lot more than not being able to contend.a�? Predicated on Knierim/Frazier’s outcome the very last year, the team nevertheless competent the 2022 Winter Olympics a�� making use of the hopes that Frazier will completely recoup soon.
Buffalo-born Kaitlin Hawayek got a part of ice skating at three years old, beginning in singles. She flipped to ice dancing this year, winning junior-level contests. Hawayek combined with Jean-Luc Baker in . Throughout the second half of the decade-long cooperation, the duo has actually completed within top at three industry Championships. Beginning in 2019, Hawayek/Baker won four straight bronze medals at the U.S. Nationals.
Today, after more than 10 years as associates, Hubbell/Donohue bring established the 2021-22 season would be her latest
Ice dance rapidly turned a household event for Madison Hubbell, just who took toward rink at age 5: In 2001, she teamed up with cousin Keiffer and invested 10 years speeding throughout the world, earning medals and acceptance at different events. In 2011, Keiffer drifted from sport and Madison receive a new mate in Zachary Donohue.
Their own brilliant job have incorporated two silvers and a bronze during the business Championships, three nationwide titles, and a look in the PyeongChang 2018 Games. They located last at most latest video games a�� just 4.90 factors from a bronze medal.