Madison Chock and Evan Bates skate parallel to each other at NHK Trophy (she on the right, he on the left). She wears a bright red halter dress while he wears a blue suit with a white shirt. They both smile, their arms spread wide as they skate.
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National Team: Figure Skating Kristen Henneman

Chock and Bates, Carreira and Ponomarenko Go 1-2 in Rhythm Dance at NHK Trophy

Kam and O'Shea in position for second straight Grand Prix medal

Three U.S. teams are in podium position after day one of NHK Trophy in Tokyo, Japan.

Team USA posted the top two scores in the rhythm dance as Madison Chock and Evan Bates placed first and Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko finished right behind in second. If the standings hold, the United States would record its first one-two finish in ice dance at a Grand Prix other than Skate America.

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea will enter the pairs free skate in third and are vying for their second straight Grand Prix medal.

The two-time and reigning World champions, Chock and Bates lead the ice dance event by more than six points with a rhythm dance score of 86.32.

Performing to a medley of songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Olympic team event gold medalists going for their 20th Grand Prix medal earned strong grades of execution and the highest program component score of the competition. They were the only team to score over 12 points for an element, which they achieved twice for their midline step sequence and pattern dance type step sequence.

At their first Grand Prix of the season, Carreira and Ponomarenko secured a new international personal best of 79.64. The 2024 U.S. silver medalists and two-time Four Continents bronze medalists' skate to "Rip It Up" and "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard and "I Just Want to Make Love to You" by Etta James collected Level 4 marks on two elements their set of sequential twizzles and rotational lift and two elements were awarded more than 11 points.

Caroline Green and Michael Parsons sit just outside the top three in fourth. Also competing at their first Grand Prix of the season, the 2022 Four Continents champions performed to "These Boots Are Made for Walking (SILO x Martin Wave Remix)" by The Supremes and Martin Wave and "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones. After a set of Level 4 sequential twizzles and two elements that received over 10 points each, they totaled 74.38 points in the segment.

Kam and O'Shea, who are seeking their fourth international podium finish this season, thrived with their artistry in Japan, claiming the second-highest component score in the event at 32.68 points. With positive grades of execution on six of their seven elements, the 2024 U.S. champions who brought home silver at 2024 Skate America came out firing with a strong triple twist lift that garnered 6.84 points – their highest-scoring element – and ended with a strong Level 4 lift. Their program to "Rain, in Your Black Eyes" by Ezio Bosso achieved 69.15 points, good for third in the pairs rankings.

In their first international event of the season and second Grand Prix of their careers, Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard placed eighth with a score of 48.95.

The U.S. women secured two top-five placements with Alysa Liu in fourth and Bradie Tennell in fifth after the first day of competition.

Both struggled on their opening jumping pass, but then skated clean the rest of the way.

Liu came back with a double Axel, triple Lutz and two Level 4 spins to produce 65.03 points for her program to "Promise" by Laufey.

Liu, a 2022 Olympian and World bronze medalist, returned to the sport this season after retiring following the 2022 season.

Tennell, who is making a comeback of her own after missing the 2023 Grand Prix season due to an ankle injury, performed to music from Lord of the Dance. Her strong components, along with a double Axel and triple loop, placed the 2018 Olympic team bronze medalist in fifth.

Also representing Team USA was Lindsay Thorngren, who earned silver at this event last season. Her first Grand Prix appearance of the year, Thorngren generated 54.79 points for 10th place on day one.

In the men's event, Andrew Torgashev leads Team USA in fourth.

Competing for the second straight weekend after clinching bronze at Grand Prix de France last weekend, Torgashev finds himself in the same position heading into the free skate as in Angers. He trails Tatsuya Tsuboi of Japan by less than a point.

Torgashev kicked off his skate to "L'enfer" by Stromae with a quad toe loop that was awarded 10.31 points. He also secured Level 4s on each of his spins and his step sequence for a short program total of 84.36.

Jason Brown and Tomoki Hiwatashi also skated for the red, white and blue in Tokyo.

Brown, a 2014 Olympic team event bronze medalist who is in the midst of his first season back in the Grand Prix Series since 2021, ended day one with 77.08 points for 10th place.
Hiwatashi, who trains in Japan, finished 11th with 74.59 points.

For full results from NHK Trophy, as well as bios and how to watch information, visit the 2024 Grand Prix Series Competition Central.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jason Brown

#13 Jason Brown

Dec. 15, 1994
Senior/Men
Los Angeles, Calif.
  Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

#43   Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

Oct. 3, 2003 | Oct. 3, 1995
Senior/Ice Dance
Washington, D.C. | Wheaton, Md.
  Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko

#16   Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko

April 3, 2000 | Jan. 5, 2001
Senior/Ice Dance
Montreal, Quebec | San Jose, Calif.
  Ellie Kam and Danny O

#57   Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea

Dec. 20, 2004 | Feb. 13, 1991
Senior/Pairs
Yokota Air Base (Japan) | Pontiac, Mich.
Tomoki Hiwatashi

#52 Tomoki Hiwatashi

Jan. 20, 2000
Senior/Men
Englewood, N.J.
  Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard

#79   Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard

Feb. 7, 2006 | Jan. 11, 2001
Senior/Pairs
Arlington Heights, Ill. | Oak Park, Ill.
  Madison Chock and Evan Bates

#19   Madison Chock and Evan Bates

July 2, 1992 | Feb. 23, 1989
Senior/Ice Dance
Redondo Beach, Calif. | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Bradie Tennell

#114 Bradie Tennell

Jan. 31, 1998
Senior/Ladies
Winfield, Ill.
Lindsay Thorngren

#115 Lindsay Thorngren

Dec. 5, 2005
Senior/Ladies
White Plains, N.Y.
Andrew Torgashev

#117 Andrew Torgashev

May 29, 2001
Senior/Men
Coral Springs, Fla.
Alysa Liu

#73 Alysa Liu

Aug. 8, 2005
Senior/Ladies
Clovis, Calif.

Players Mentioned

Jason Brown

#13 Jason Brown

Senior/Men
Los Angeles, Calif.
Dec. 15, 1994
  Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

#43   Caroline Green and Michael Parsons

Senior/Ice Dance
Washington, D.C. | Wheaton, Md.
Oct. 3, 2003 | Oct. 3, 1995
  Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko

#16   Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko

Senior/Ice Dance
Montreal, Quebec | San Jose, Calif.
April 3, 2000 | Jan. 5, 2001
  Ellie Kam and Danny O

#57   Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea

Senior/Pairs
Yokota Air Base (Japan) | Pontiac, Mich.
Dec. 20, 2004 | Feb. 13, 1991
Tomoki Hiwatashi

#52 Tomoki Hiwatashi

Senior/Men
Englewood, N.J.
Jan. 20, 2000
  Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard

#79   Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard

Senior/Pairs
Arlington Heights, Ill. | Oak Park, Ill.
Feb. 7, 2006 | Jan. 11, 2001
  Madison Chock and Evan Bates

#19   Madison Chock and Evan Bates

Senior/Ice Dance
Redondo Beach, Calif. | Ann Arbor, Mich.
July 2, 1992 | Feb. 23, 1989
Bradie Tennell

#114 Bradie Tennell

Senior/Ladies
Winfield, Ill.
Jan. 31, 1998
Lindsay Thorngren

#115 Lindsay Thorngren

Senior/Ladies
White Plains, N.Y.
Dec. 5, 2005
Andrew Torgashev

#117 Andrew Torgashev

Senior/Men
Coral Springs, Fla.
May 29, 2001
Alysa Liu

#73 Alysa Liu

Senior/Ladies
Clovis, Calif.
Aug. 8, 2005