U.S. Figure Skating: Senior competition gets underway with a record-breaking performance
Correction: A previous version of this article included an incomplete list of Ohio natives competing in the senior events. In addition to Katie McBeath, ice dance skater Eva Pate of Strongsville and pairs skater Linzy Fitzpatrick of Toledo also competed.
Once the junior women's champion was crowned at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Thursday afternoon, it was time for the senior competitors to take the ice at Nationwide Arena.
Skaters from the pairs, ice dance and women's events started with their short programs (or rhythm dances when referring to ice dance) to kick off their championship journeys.
It was a short journey, however, for the pair of Emily Chan and Spencer Howe, who withdrew from the competition just hours after their first-place short program performance. Removing themselves to preserve their health, this was the pair's first competition in 10 months following Howe's surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder.
With Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea now taking over at the top on the pairs leaderboard, reigning world and national champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead the way for ice dance after breaking the U.S. rhythm dance score record with a 92.17.
The women's event is looking to be a tight battle between Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn as they head toward the free skate portion to crown a champion on Friday.
Read More: Lancaster native and CCAD grad designing costume for figure skater Isabeau Levito
Favorites withdraw
Chan and Howe were the favorites to win this year's title after finishing second in 2023. Performing an Elvis-inspired short program, the pair received a score of 65.86, ahead of Kam and OShea's 64.57.
"I've been recovering for quite some time now and we had a lot of challenges leading up to this competition," Howe said. "We weren't even sure if we were going to be in it at all. So for us to be here and sitting where we're sitting is definitely always a huge blessing for us."
It wasn't too long after Howe's statement that their withdrawal was announced.
With last year's national title winners and 2022 world champions Alexa Knierim and Brandon Fraizer taking a step back from competition, the pairs event is the only event that will definitely have a new champion.
Finishing behind Kam and OShea with a score of 64.21 were Daniil Parkman and Katie McBeath.
McBeath, from Cleveland, is one of the few Ohio-natives participating in the four senior events and has had people make the trip to see her in action.
"I've actually had the opportunity to see several people that I grew up with," McBeath said. "One of them played our music yesterday. ... It's been so fun, because I feel like I'm home even though I'm from two hours north."
Levito vs. Glenn
When asked about her toughest competition going into this year's nationals, reigning 2023 champion Levito mentioned Glenn.
Less than half a point separates Levito, who sits atop of the leaderboard with a 75.38 and Glenn, who recorded a 74.98 for her short program. Levito, a 16-year-old from New Jersey, has only her free skate in mind.
"I try to separate the two programs in my head and not let one effect the other," Levito said. "So, the fact that we're so close in score, it's kind of the same as that mindset. I mean it's still anyone's game tomorrow and we're both going to skate our best."
Even though she is from Texas, Glenn had quite a bit of support in the Columbus crowd, with a number of fans waving pride flags for the openly LGBTQ+ skater.
"It means everything," Glenn said. "When I go out there and I see the signs and the flags and how excited people are, I just feel it with me in the performance."
'We are the champions' again?
With the ice dance programs set to the 2023-24 season's theme of "the 80's," it was fitting that the reigning champions Chock and Bates were performing to Queen.
Though "We Are The Champions" was not one of the songs included in their dance melody, the pair is going for its fifth championship, which is one shy of Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who hold the record for most U.S. ice dance titles. Riding an undefeated streak that started in 2023, Chock and Bates lead by nearly nine points over Christina Carreria and Anthony Ponomarenko, who received an 83.19 while skating to Stevie Nicks.
Freddie Mercury was the legendary artist that the first place pair gravitated to though, with Chock even expressing that she would have gone to a Queen concert if given the chance.
"This is as close to getting that concert feeling as we could get, being able to perform to their beautiful music," Chock said. "Kind of gives me chills sometimes when I think about just their band and how iconic they are. And to hear Freddie's voice ring so clearly in an arena is really magical."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: U.S. Figure Skating Championship kicks off senior competition
