(Photo U.S. Figure Skating)
Many (many!) moons ago, I worked in the sports department of The Ann Arbor News. One of my co-workers in the news department during that era was a reporter whose byline was Karl Leif Bates. We were both young journalists and, as life does, we pursued paths that took us to different parts of the country. I to Alaska and he, ultimately, to the Researach Triangle in Durham, NC.
We had a couple of mutual acquaintances who kept us apprised of what was happening in the others’ life and I was intrigued well over a decade ago when I learned his nephew was Evan Bates, an accomplished American ice dancer.
I even asked Karl about what it was like having a world-class figure skater in the family during a previous Conversation (S:2, E:15).
When I decided to make the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics one of my Around the World in 80 Sporting Events, I made sure to nab tickets to the final night of ice dancing just in case Evan and his partner (and now wife!) Madison Chock would be there. Sure enough, they are! (Read Chock and Bates’ bio here.)
That’s when the gears really began grinding and I reached out Karl to see if an opportunity to speak to Evan’s parents, Eric and Nancy, was a possibility.
The “yes” from Eric came far quicker than either Karl or I thought was possible.
And the resulting Conversation – found below and in all the usual spots – with a pair of very proud parents who are nervously excited to see what their son and daughter-in-law will accomplish in the coming week on the Milano ice was a sheer delight for me to participate in.
My hope is that you’re able to pick up on how much is – and is not – riding on what is likely the final two routines of Chock and Bates’ competitive careers. The 7-time U.S. National Champions and winners of the past three World Championships perform in the Rhythm Dance on Monday and the Free Dance on Wednesday.