ST. LOUIS — World champions Ilia Malinin and the ice dance duo of Evan Bates and Madison Chock will anchor one of the strongest U.S. figure skating teams in history when the Americans head to Italy for the Milan Cortina Olympics in less than a month.
Malinin, fresh off his fourth straight national title, will be the prohibitive favorite to follow in the footsteps of Nathan Chen by delivering another men’s gold medal for the U.S. squad when he steps on the ice at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Bates and Chock, who won their record-setting seventh U.S. title Saturday night, also will be among the Olympic favorites, as will world champion Alysa Liu and women’s teammate Amber Glenn, fresh off her third consecutive national title.
U.S. Figure Skating announced its full squad of 16 athletes for the Winter Games during a made-for-TV celebration Sunday.
“I’m just so excited for the Olympic spirit, the Olympic environment,” Malinin said. “Hopefully go for that Olympic gold.”