Team USA proved it is the team to beat at ISU World Team Trophy, securing 50 points and an 11-point lead on the opening day in Tokyo, Japan.
En route to its first place standing, the United States clinched the maximum 12 points in two of the three events with
Madison Chock and Evan Bates winning the rhythm dance and World bronze medalist
Ilia Malinin clinching first in the men's short program. Overall, the U.S. men scored 21 points, the women claimed 17 and Team USA scored 50 of a possible 58 points on the day.
Korea will enter day two in second place with 39 points while Japan ranks third with 36 points.
Kicking things off for the red, white and blue were the reigning World champions, Chock and Bates. The three-time Olympians who have twice helped Team USA win this event not only set a new international personal best but broke the world record for best rhythm dance score with 93.91 points.
They earned Level 4 marks on every level element in their skate to "Let's Dance" by David Bowie, claiming more than 13 points on both their midline step sequence and pattern dance type step sequence.
Malinin also gave his best-ever performance on international ice. Tallying 105.90, he shattered his previous international personal best my more than five points.
The 2023 U.S. champion set the tone with a quad Lutz-triple toe combination that received his highest GOE at 4.11, scoring a total of 19.81 on that one element. Malinin continued to receive positive grades of execution on every element and secured Level 4s on each of his spins and his step sequence.
After earning his best result at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships since 2015,
Jason Brown added another nine points to Team USA's total with a fourth-place result. His performance to "Melancholy" by Alexey Kosenko was awarded the highest component score of the event at 47.95.
Brown, who is competing at World Team Trophy for the fourth time and was named Team USA's captain, also received all positive grades of execution. His highest scoring element was his triple Lutz-triple toe halfway through the performance, and he received at total score of 95.61.
Sixteen-year-old
Isabeau Levito led Team USA in the women's event, earning third place to bring home 10 points for the United States.
Amber Glenn also contributed seven points with a sixth-place finish.
Levito opened with a strong triple flip, going on to score 71.22 while Glenn's skate to "Hit the Road Jack" by 2Wei totaled 66.55 points.
Competition continues Friday with the pairs short program, free dance and women's free skate. For full results, how to watch, athlete bios and more, visit the
World Team Trophy Competition Central.
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