When Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue headed to Las Vegas for 2021 Guaranteed Rate Skate America, they knew it would be their last one.
One last time on The Orleans Arena ice. One last time competing at a Grand Prix in front of a home crowd. One last shot to make some Skate America® history.
And that they did, winning their fourth consecutive Skate America® title. The only other ice dance team to win gold at four straight at the event is Olympic champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who did so from 2010-13.
"It has a nice ring to it," Hubbell said with a laugh. "Certainly, when I think of teams that have gone and won Skate America over and over again, I picture Meryl and Charlie, and they're so iconic, so it's great to feel like we have that momentum going behind us."
For a long time, one could wonder whether Hubbell and Donohue would ever truly break out. Before the 2018 U.S. Championships, they were the three-time reigning U.S. bronze medalists and had only one Grand Prix gold medal to their name. In four World Championship appearances, they'd placed 10th twice, ninth and sixth, and they were not named to the 2014 U.S. Olympic team.
Since 2018, however, Hubbell and Donohue have been one of the elite ice dance teams in the world, winning three U.S. titles, two silver medals and one bronze at the World Championships and finishing fourth at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Plus those four consecutive Skate America® titles, of course.
"It's kind of crazy because there's a lot of things we've done that I've forgotten we've done," Donohue said, laughing. "And then I'm like, 'Oh yeah, that's kind of a big deal.' But then at the same time, it feels like I have such a high desire to succeed and be excellent that I feel like I'm still chasing."
That chase will end following the 2021-22 season, presumably with a second Olympic trip and one final push for a World title, and the two are pleased with where it started at Skate America®.
"I think, more than ever, we have this bigger goal of the season, being our last season, being our last Skate America, and we wanted to be in the best shape, just for our own satisfaction," Hubbell said. "So it was great to see that that paid off in the result as well. It's been awhile since we've had a Skate America with such difficult competition, such challenging competition, so that posed its own pressure. But just really, really happy, and feeling quite satisfied with where we're at."
While it was strange to say goodbye to an event that has been so good to them, it wasn't so much a goodbye as it was a joyful start to the season.
"I think that a lot of the things that feel emotional about the last time are more the human connections that I've cherished over the years," Hubbell said. "And especially at something like Skate America, all of the staff and the people from U.S. Figure Skating, and the media, and the other skaters, I kind of knew that it wasn't the last time that I would see them. So I tried to enjoy the energy of the arena, which really helped me just enjoy and have maybe a more fun experience than what other competitions will be later in the season when it's really going to feel like, 'This is my last time.'
"It felt more just like joy of starting out the season on home ice, with family in the audience, and a lot of energy in the arena for the first time in two years. And so I think it was a really fun way to open up the season. It really did feel like kind of a celebration."
The two will next be in action at the Gran Premio d'Italia, held in Torino, Italy, on Nov. 5-7. It's the first time since 2017 (other than 2020, when all athletes had just one domestic Grand Prix assignment) that they are not competing in Skate America® and Skate Canada International back to back.
"We were both very excited to have at least that one week in between to take a little bit of rest and refocus, just have a little dip before we have to go up and peak again," Hubbell said. "We've been in Torino before. We're excited to go back. And it will be our first time doing a Grand Prix with (four-time World champions) Gabby (Papadakis) and Guillaume (Cizeron) for five years. Quite a long time. So it's no small feat. It's a huge challenge. They're iconic in themselves. So we're excited for the chance to compare ourselves so early in the season and see how we stack up, and just get more feedback about how we can reach towards the very top."
The two are not shy about their goals as the finish line of their career is in sight.
"I would definitely like to retire with an Olympic medal and a World title," Donohue said. "Those are our two biggest goals, for sure. We're very much looking forward to having a chance to compete in the team event; something else we kind of want to tick off the to-do list. I'd say those are probably top three."
Hubbell and Donohue are armed with two powerful programs for their professional swan song. Their free dance is set to "Drowning" by Anne Sila and showcases their connection, intimacy and incredible lifts. Their rhythmdance, meanwhile, is set to a Janet Jackson medley and has provided some thrills of its own.
It was choreographed in part by Vincent Noiseux, who was a backup dancer on Jackson's last tour.
"He reposted our video a few days ago, and then Janet Jackson saw it and reposted it," Hubbell said before squealing. "Janet Jackson has officially seen me skate. I can retire now."
"No, you can't," Donohue joked. "Not yet."
"A couple more months," Hubbell conceded. "I'm pretty satisfied."
Fans can watch the action in Torino live and on-demand on
Peacock Premium. Check out the
Grand Prix Series Competition Central page to follow Team USA throughout the season.
