Madison Chock, Evan Bates lead after world championships rhythm dance
Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead after the rhythm dance at the world figure skating championships, eyeing a repeat title and to complete an undefeated season.
The Americans tallied 90.08 points, the best score in the world this season, on Friday in their training base of Montreal.
They take a 2.56-point lead over Italians Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri into Saturday's free dance (1:30 p.m. ET, Peacock).
Chock, 31, and Bates, 35, are already the oldest couple to win a world title in ice dance, doing so last year for the first time in their 12th season together.
FIGURE SKATING WORLDS: Results | Broadcast Schedule
They went into these worlds with the world's best total score this season from winning December's Grand Prix Final for the first time.
They have won every major ice dance competition except the Olympics, where their best finish was fourth in 2022. They are Olympic champions in the team event from 2022.
This could be the last competition of their career. They plan to get married in June and have been reassessing their future in the sport on a season-by-season basis.
Worlds continue later Friday with the men's free skate, live starting at 6 p.m. ET on Peacock and 8 p.m. on NBC, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.
Ilia Malinin set for world championships medals showdown after all-star short program
Shoma Uno, Yuma Kagiyama and Ilia Malinin all delivered clean short programs at the world figure skating championships.
