Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a show-stopping rhythm dance in Chongqing on Friday, taking a commanding lead at the 2025 Grand Prix Cup of China. Skating to a medley of Lenny Kravitz hits, the reigning world champions infused the ice with rock’n’roll attitude — a performance that reminded everyone why they remain among the most magnetic duos in  Winter Olympic figure skating.

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Their electric interpretation of Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way” and Fly Away combined sharp precision with swagger and chemistry, earning them a season-best score that brought the Chinese crowd to its feet. We wanted to bring something raw and real, Chock said afterward. Lenny’s music has such energy and soul — it felt like the perfect way to start this Grand Prix season.

A New Chapter in Winter Olympic Figure Skating Expression

After a busy off-season balancing performances, coaching work, and choreography projects, Chock and Bates entered the 2025–26 Olympic cycle with renewed focus. Now veterans of the sport, they’re blending experience with creativity — aiming not just to win medals but to leave a lasting artistic mark before  Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026.

Every program now feels like a chance to tell our story, Bates explained. We’ve evolved so much as athletes and as people. This season is about skating from the heart — and having fun with it. The Lenny Kravitz rhythm dance is the centerpiece of that new philosophy. Created in collaboration with choreographer Sam Chouinard and long-time mentor Marie-France Dubreuil, the program celebrates individuality and self-expression — qualities that have defined Chock and Bates throughout their two-decade partnership. The music gives us permission to let loose, said Chock. It’s about confidence, connection, and freedom. You don’t have to overthink it — you just have to feel it. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026 Sato Shun Leads After Cizeron-Choreographed Short at Cup of China

Rock’n’Roll Meets Refinement

While the program is filled with energy, it’s also a technical masterpiece. From the precise twizzles to the lightning-fast midline step sequence, every element was executed with control and intention. Their transitions — set seamlessly to Kravitz’s guitar riffs — flowed with ease, creating the illusion of improvisation while maintaining the difficulty that judges demand.

They make the ice feel like a concert stage, said one commentator. It’s performance, sport, and theater all in one. The audience response was immediate. As the final note of Fly Away faded, the crowd erupted in cheers a mix of awe and admiration for a team that continues to reinvent what ice dance can look like. Even in a field featuring younger competitors, Chock and Bates’ maturity and poise gave them a commanding edge.

Enduring Legacy in Winter Olympic Figure Skating

Now in their 13th competitive season together, Chock and Bates have evolved from talented hopefuls into true icons of  Winter Olympic figure skating. Their chemistry both professional and personal has become their signature, allowing them to bring authenticity to every performance.

We’ve been through so much together victories, injuries, heartbreaks, said Bates. But the reason we’re still here is because we love it. We love the challenge, and we love growing together.

That shared resilience was tested in past seasons as they navigated the emotional aftermath of Olympic disappointment and the physical demands of staying competitive in their 30s. But each challenge, Chock says, has deepened their artistry. When you’ve lived through ups and downs, it changes how you move, she said. You don’t skate for validation anymore — you skate for truth.

Artistic Risk, Technical Reward

Their rhythm dance at the Cup of China exemplifies that philosophy. While the music choice might seem unconventional for ice dance, the blend of rock and rhythm works seamlessly with their style — bold yet elegant, structured yet spontaneous.

Dubreuil praised the pair’s ability to find balance between technical mastery and emotional storytelling. Madison and Evan have this incredible sense of musicality, she said. They can take a piece of music and make it breathe. That’s something rare. Their efforts paid off in scores, with particularly high marks for performance, interpretation, and musical timing. Judges praised their confidence and connection, noting that the routine showcased “commanding presence and originality.

Rivals in Pursuit

Trailing closely behind are Italy’s Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri, whose Latin-inspired rhythm dance also earned strong reviews. The Italians remain one of Chock and Bates’ biggest rivals heading into the free dance, setting up a compelling showdown for gold.

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Meanwhile, rising Chinese duo Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu thrilled the home crowd with an emotional and technically solid performance, securing third place. The energy in the arena was incredible, said Wang. To skate in front of our fans means so much.

Chock and Bates’ Enduring Impact on Winter Olympic Figure Skating

Beyond the standings, Chock and Bates’ performance in China represents something bigger — a reaffirmation of their enduring influence on the Winter Olympic figure skating world. Known for pushing artistic boundaries, the pair continues to inspire younger athletes to see ice dance as not just competition, but a form of creative expression.

Watching Madison and Evan is like watching movement set to emotion, said one fan online. They remind us why we fell in love with  Winter Olympic figure skating in the first place. Their connection to the sport’s deeper values — artistry, vulnerability, and passion — has earned them a devoted following around the world. Whether it’s their ethereal A Star Is Born” free dance or their fiery new Kravitz rhythm, the duo continues to reinvent themselves without losing authenticity.

Eyes Toward Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026

With the Winter Olympic  Milano Cortina 2026 Games approaching, Chock and Bates are aware that each performance carries extra weight. They’ve been open about viewing this Olympic cycle as potentially their last, but rather than succumbing to pressure, they’ve chosen to enjoy every moment.

We’re skating for joy, Chock said simply. If that joy inspires others  on or off the ice  then that’s what really matters. Bates echoed the sentiment: This isn’t just about medals. It’s about meaning. We want to leave the sport better than we found it.

Artistry, Freedom, and the Future of Winter Olympic Figure Skating

As the Cup of China moves toward its free dance finale, one thing is certain: Chock and Bates are not just leading — they’re leading with purpose. Their Kravitz rhythm dance has proven that even in a sport rooted in precision, personality still reigns supreme. And when the final note rings out and the crowd rises again, it’s clear that Madison Chock and Evan Bates aren’t just skating to win — they’re skating to live out loud.

For the reigning World champions, the performance in Chongqing felt like another statement of intent — a reminder that ice dance continues to evolve beyond classical molds. Their rhythm dance showcased not only technical mastery but also the fearless creativity that has defined their partnership for over a decade. It’s this blend of innovation, connection, and pure musicality that has kept them at the forefront of Winter Olympic figure skating, inspiring a new generation to find freedom and individuality on the ice.

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Sato Shun delivered the performance of his life in Chongqing on Friday, gliding into first place after the men’s short program at the 2025 Grand Prix Cup of China Winter Olympic figure skating event. The 20-year-old Japanese skater stunned both the audience and judges with his seamless blend of technique and artistry — the latter shaped by none other than Guillaume Cizeron, the Olympic ice dance champion whose influence has brought a new emotional depth to Sato’s skating.

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Scoring 97.86 points, Sato edged ahead of American phenom Ilia Malinin and Canada’s Wesley Chiu, setting the stage for a thrilling free skate showdown. But beyond the scores, what captivated fans most was the emotional fluency of his performance — a piece choreographed by Cizeron that Sato described as the most personal and freeing program of his career.

Winter Olympic 2026: Finding Freedom Through Artistry

I wanted this program to show who I really am, Sato said afterward. Working with Guillaume taught me that movement isn’t just about steps — it’s about breathing, feeling, and letting the music guide you.

The short program, set to Experience by Ludovico Einaudi, showcased that philosophy beautifully. Every glide, turn, and extension seemed to flow effortlessly, as if the ice were responding to him in real time. While his jumps — including a clean quad toe loop and triple Axel — anchored the performance technically, it was the in-between moments that made it memorable.

Cizeron, who has turned to choreography full-time since retiring from competition, praised Sato’s openness during their collaboration. Sato has a natural fluidity, Cizeron said. He listens to his body and to the music. My goal wasn’t to change him, but to help him connect to something deeper. The result was a program that blurred the line between sport and art — one that left even veteran observers describing it as sublime and transcendent. You Can Read Winter Olympic 2026: Gunnarsdottir and Piazza’s fearless lifts spark Iceland’s pairs Olympic Figure Skating rise

The Journey to Confidence

Sato’s rise has not been without struggle. Coming off a difficult 2023–24 season marked by inconsistency and self-doubt, he entered this Grand Prix cycle determined to rebuild his confidence. Last year, I was trying too hard to be perfect, he admitted. Now I just want to be real.

That mindset shift has paid dividends. His jumps have grown steadier, his spins more centered, and his performance quality more mature. Those close to him credit his collaboration with Cizeron for helping unlock that balance between control and release.

Guillaume told me to stop chasing power and start chasing presence, Sato said. That changed everything. Sato’s coach, Mie Hamada, echoed that sentiment. He’s grown immensely — not only as an athlete but as a person, she said. When you watch him now, you see joy and calm in his movement. That’s the mark of a skater who’s found his voice.

A New Generation’s Expression

The partnership between Sato and Cizeron reflects a broader trend in men’s Winter Olympic figure skating: a new generation embracing fluidity, vulnerability, and expressiveness as strengths rather than embellishments. While powerhouses like Malinin dominate headlines for their quadruple jumps, skaters like Sato remind audiences of the sport’s artistic roots.

During Friday’s short program, Sato’s gentle arms and flowing transitions contrasted sharply with the explosive energy of his competitors. Yet the audience response was universal — thunderous applause that continued long after his music ended. Japanese skating commentator Nobunari Oda described it perfectly: Sato brought the audience into his world. That’s rare. He didn’t perform for the judges — he performed for himself.

Balancing Artistry and Ambition in Winter Olympic Figure Skating

Despite his artistic breakthrough, Sato remains a fierce competitor. His technical base remains solid, and he’s working to expand his jump repertoire while maintaining the fluid quality that defines his skating. I don’t see art and sport as opposites, he said. They feed each other. When I skate with emotion, my technique follows.

Heading into the free skate, he holds a slim lead over Malinin, who remains the favorite to win overall. But Sato insists that the standings are not his main concern. The goal is not to win, it’s to connect, he said. If I can skate with the same honesty I did today, then I’ve already succeeded.

Still, his progress has reignited excitement in Japan’s men’s skating scene — one long defined by champions like Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno. With his blend of sensitivity and precision, Sato is increasingly seen as part of the next generation poised to carry Japan’s legacy forward into Winter Olympic Milano-Cortina 2026.

A Creative Partnership Redefining Men’s Winter Olympic Figure Skating

The collaboration with Cizeron has also given Sato a new perspective on what it means to perform at the highest level. Guillaume never talks about medals, Sato shared. He talks about energy, about being present. He taught me that audiences don’t remember who wins — they remember who moves them.

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Cizeron, for his part, believes that Sato represents the kind of skater who can redefine modern men’s Winter Olympic Figure skating. He’s not afraid of softness, Cizeron said. That’s powerful. We need more of that. Their partnership has drawn comparisons to iconic skater-choreographer duos of the past, with fans praising the synergy between Cizeron’s lyrical touch and Sato’s understated charisma. It’s like watching movement breathe, one viewer commented online after the performance.

Winter Olympic Figure Skating – Skating for Peace and Purpose

As the Winter Olympic figure skating Cup of China heads into its decisive free skate, Sato’s challenge will be maintaining that sense of flow under pressure. His long program, also designed with Cizeron’s input, is said to push even deeper into emotional territory — a reflection on self-discovery and transformation. I’m not skating for perfection anymore, Sato said. I’m skating for peace.

Whether or not he holds onto first place, Sato’s Cup of China short program has already marked a defining moment in his Winter Olympic figure skating career — one that showcases both his evolution as an athlete and his courage as an artist.

As the lights dimmed after his performance, Cizeron watched from the stands, visibly moved. Later, he shared a simple message on social media: Flow like water. Skate with heart. Always proud of you, Sato. In a Winter Olympic figure skating world often dominated by numbers and technique, Sato Shun has reminded the world of something timeless — that true mastery isn’t about chasing points, but about capturing hearts.

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