Figure Skating

Nathan Chen is a national champion for the sixth straight time.

Chen won the title with a score of 212.62 during Sunday's championship men's free skate in Nashville, Tennessee, to bring his total score to 328.01. Ilia Malinin clinched second place with a total score of 302.48, while Vincent Zhou finished in third after a total score of 290.16.

Here is a look at the full results:

1. Nathan Chen, 328.01 (115.39 short and 212.62 free)

2. Ilia Malinin, 302.48 (103.46 short and 199.02 free)

3. Vincent Zhou, 290.16 (112.78 short and 177.38 free)

4. Jason Brown, 289.78 (100.84 short and 188.94 free)

5. Camden Pulkinen, 260.41 (90.16 short and 170.25 free)

6. Jimmy Ma, 226.98 (91.62 short and 135.36 free)

7. Liam Kapeikis, 221.31 (73.77 short and 147.54 free)

8. Dinh Tran, 215.72 (71.18 short and 144.54 free)

9. Ryan Dunk, 191.36 (65.66 short and 125.70 free)

10. Paul Yeung, 183.74 (60.01 short and 123.73 free)

11. Artur Dmitriev, 183.01 (62.40 short and 120.61 free)

12. Mitchell Friess, 171.19 (66.07 short and 105.12 free)

13. Sebastien Payannet, 162.28 (48.52 short and 113.76 free)

The primary storyline coming into Sunday's free skate was whether Chen would take home the title for a sixth straight time.

For Nathan Chen, the limit does not exist.@nathanwchen x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/P6QiRhPtAB

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

NATHAN CHEN.
NATHAN CHEN.
NATHAN CHEN.
NATHAN CHEN.
NATHAN CHEN.#ToyotaUSChamps22

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

He staked himself to an early lead with a sparkling score of 115.39 in the short program. Zhou was nearly three points behind at 112.78, while Malinin built a cushion in the battle for third with a score of 103.46.

Jason Brown checked in at 100.84 as he competed with the 17-year-old Malinin for the third spot on the Olympic team.

Yet Chen's brilliance stole the show, and George Ramsay of CNN noted his short program score broke his own U.S. scoring record he set in 2020. The three-time world champion looked the part of Olympic favorite even though the competition will increase in Beijing when he faces Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu.

It was Brown who took the ice first among the contenders for the free skate, and an early fall left the door open for Malinin.

Always giving it his all on the ice.

The entire crowd in the arena is on their feet after @jasonbskates's free skate. 👏@USFigureSkating x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/3zqOSIBTVf

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

He wasn't the only one who came up short with an opportunity to jump a spot. Zhou stumbled on multiple landings while making a handful of mistakes. There was something to be said for taking some chances and pressing the technical skills when chasing an all-time great like Chen, but the 21-year-old came up short after he was largely excellent in the short program.

In fact, he barely stayed ahead of Brown despite having approximately a 12-point cushion after the short program.

With second place now realistically on the table, Malinin unleashed a dazzling combination of technical skill and artistry that moved him up the leaderboard. Not only did he fire up the crowd at this year's nationals, but he announced himself as a future star for American figure skating who figures to be a headline name for 2026.

The future of @USFigureSkating is looking bright.

17-year-old Ilia Malinin put on a SHOW in his free skate.@USFigureSkating x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/ZJnukIAMi5

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

It was arguably a cleaner skate than Chen's considering the victor fell multiple times, but the winner's combination of quad jumps and overall program was too much to beat.

The result was another victory on the illustrious resume for the best men's figure skater in the United States heading into the Olympics next month.

As expected, Nathan Chen has gotten off to a strong start at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. And on Sunday, he will have an opportunity to continue his recent dominance at the event.

Chen posted a score of 115.39 points in Saturday's men's short program, breaking his own record of 114.13 that he set at the event in 2020. He will look to seal the gold medal for the sixth consecutive year Sunday, when the men's free skate concludes proceedings at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

There hasn't been a men's figure skater to win six straight U.S. championships since Dick Button captured the gold in seven straight years from 1946-52. If Chen maintains his performance level, he is on track to break that record.

Here's everything else you need to know heading into Sunday's action at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

                   

Sunday TV Schedule

Men's Free, 2-4 p.m. ET, NBC

               

Sunday Preview, Predictions

Chen wasn't the only men's figure skater to have an impressive showing in the short program Saturday. And while he's the leader and in a good position to capture the gold medal Sunday, other skaters are not too far back on the leaderboard.

While Chen set a new short-program record with 115.39 points, Vincent Zhou (112.78), Ilia Malinin (112.78) and Jason Brown (100.84) all exceeded the 100-point mark. It was an impressive day.

"This U.S. national short program was insane," Chen said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "Every guy laid down amazing programs."

But not one of them was more impressive than Chen's. And he'll be the favorite to win Sunday's free skate.

If Chen is upset, then it will likely be by Zhou, who set a personal best at the event with his short-program score of 112.78 points. The 21-year-old isn't too far behind Chen, and he's had success at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the past.

Zhou has never won the event, but he's captured the silver medal in three of the past five years. He finished third and fourth in the other two years during that stretch.

Like Chen, Zhou was impressed by the performances that took place Saturday.

"One of the craziest short-program events ever probably," Zhou said, per the AP (h/t ESPN). "The general idea, the pressure was on, so I'm honored to have the opportunity to compete in this field."

There's a good chance that the four men's leaders will all perform well again during Sunday's free skate. However, it's highly likely that Chen will continue his dominance and win the gold for the sixth year in a row.

Chen has been on a different level than the rest of the field in recent years. And with him preparing to compete at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in February, he will be focused on building momentum toward that.

Expect Chen to put up another strong score and hold off the rest of the field. Zhou, meanwhile, will take another silver medal.

Nathan Chen set the U.S. National Figure Skating Championship men's short program record Saturday en route to a dazzling performance that highlighted Day 5 of the action at Nashville, Tennessee's Bridgestone Arena.

Chen's 115.39 points broke the record he previously set in 2020 (114.13 points).

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc dazzled once again to win the pairs program, as they took first in the free skate after landing first in the short program two days earlier.

In the ice dance, Madison Chock and Evan Bates won gold after holding off a strong challenge from Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue.

Saturday's action will lead to the final event of the championships, with the men's free skate occurring Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET.

For now, here's a look at the Saturday results as well as some highlights and notes.

---

Men's Free Skate (Top 5)

1. Nathan Chen (115.39)

2. Vincent Zhou (112.78)

3. Ilia Malinin (103.46)

4. Jason Brown (100.84)

5. Jimmy Ma (91.62)

Full results here.

---

Championship Pairs: Total (Top 5)

1. Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc: 225.23 (79.39 Short Program, 145.84 Free Skate)

2. Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson: 209.87 (77.48 Short Program, 132.39 Free Skate)

3. Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov: 191.54 (68.11 Short Program, 123.43 Free Skate)

4. Emily Chan and Spencer Howe: 177.25 (61.94 Short Program, 115.31 Free Skate)

5. Katie McBeath and Nathan Bartholomay: 167.10 (50.11 Short Program, 116.99 Free Skate)

Full results here.

---

Championship Ice Dance (Top 5)

1. Madison Chock and Evan Bates: 227.37 (91.94 Rhythm Dance, 135.43 Free Dance)

2. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue: 225.59 (89.39 Rhythm Dance, 136.20 Free Dance)

3. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker: 205.68 (79.39 Rhythm Dance, 126.29 Free Dance)

4. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons: 203.27 (80.85 Rhythm Dance, 122.42 Free Dance)

5. Emily Bratti and Ian Somerville: 187.98 (76.70 Rhythm Dance, 111.28 Free Dance)

Full results here.

---

Men's Free Skate

Chen nailed a pair of quads en route to his mind-blowing performance. Highlights can be found below.

NATHAN CHEN 👑@nathanwchen x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/LsqvXRG4N1

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

Nathan Chen in slow motion is absolutely mind-blowing. 🤯@nathanwchen x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/EOoo2ChTKN

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

"Chen looked at home in his return to 'La Boheme,' opening with a quadruple flip before hitting a triple Axel and closing with a quad Lutz-triple toe-loop combination.," Nick McCarvel of Olympics.com wrote.

"He earned Level 4s for each of his spins and his step sequence, helping him to a 48.46 overall in Program Components, second only to the ethereal [Jason] Brown (49.15)."

Chen is searching for his sixth straight national title and second consecutive Olympic appearance. He's also been on fire the last four years.

.@nathanwchen's resume is 💯@USFigureSkating | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/09T5bDthKf

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

He rebounded from a 17th-place finish in the short program to take first in the free skate en route to fifth overall.

Vincent Zhou appears well in line to grab an Olympic spot alongside Chen and a to-be-determined third teammate.

That was just *chef's kiss*@govincentzhou x #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/I59Tz9fPYl

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

Jackie Wong of Rocker Skating gave more insight into Zhou's performance Saturday:

Vincent Zhou
4Lz3T, 4S, 3A(q?)
TES 64.82, PCS 47.96, SP 112.78 into 2nd - on review, the axel was just under a quarter, they called it cleanhttps://t.co/SLJBzb800J #ToyotaUSChamps22

— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) January 8, 2022

Ilia Malinin, 17, is in third place, with Jason Brown ending fourth. Malinin was a surprise third-place finisher, but he was sensational Saturday. It appears he'll be going all out Sunday to earn the final Olympic spot, too:

Malinin: “I definitely know if I try my best, and do what I know I can do, I know I can make it to that Olympic spot.”

Says he’s planning 4 quads in the Free.

— Anything GOEs (@AnythingGOE) January 8, 2022

Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi shouted out the top four American competitors:

So impressive those men’s short programs. Blown away with @nathanwchen and @govincentzhou . And certainly future in good hands with Ilia Malinin! Jason Brown stunning as always.

— Kristi Yamaguchi (@kristiyamaguchi) January 8, 2022

Fourteen skaters will take part in the free skate Sunday.

---

Pairs

Cain-Gribble and LeDuc finished what they started on Thursday, taking first overall after a first-place finish in the free skate Saturday.

The Cain-Gribble/LeDuc pair, which also took first in the short program, shone once again:

A performance for a pair of champions. 🏆@icegirlash x Timothy LeDuc | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/YQrpIq5q3L

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

"I don’t have a lot of words. It’s just crazy," Cain-Gribble said, per Dave Skretta of the Associated Press.

"We've visualized this moment so many times and to have done a performance like that, and the whole week the way it went—it's just surreal."

LeDuc, who came out publicly as nonbinary earlier this year, also had a message to share following the team's victory:

"My hope is that the narrative shifts more to 'Queer people can be open and successful in sports.' We've always been here...we just haven't always been able to be open."

Timothy LeDuc, who came out as non-binary this year, and Ashley Cain-Gribble won their second U.S. title ✨ pic.twitter.com/tOJX4Qdyr9

— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) January 9, 2022

Two American pairs will be headed to the Olympics, with LeDuc and Cain-Gribble assuredly one of them, as noted by Wong and Bally Sports' Maggie Hendricks:

Cain-Gribble/LeDuc will be your 2022 US champs and there's really no way they won't be headed to the Olympics after that performancehttps://t.co/GQ4IUow59S #ToyotaUSChamps22

— Jackie Wong (@rockerskating) January 9, 2022

https://twitter.com/maggiehendricks/status/1479983658962403332

Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson closed the pairs competition, and as Wong noted, the group needed to be perfect. They were not, but they were very good in their own right en route to a second-place finish.

A performance for the podium. 🥈@JessicaCalalang x Brian Johnson | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/2DOv0X0Pju

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

Audrey Lu and Misha Mitrofanov, who finished third in the short program, also took third in the free skate to win the bronze.

---

Ice Dance

Bates and Chock are now three-time U.S. national champions after their victory:

3 x U.S. ice dance championship titles 🏆🏆🏆@chockolate02 x @Evan_Bates | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/iePDa2UeBf

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

Per OlympicTalk, Bates will become the first U.S. figure skater to take part in four Olympic Games.

You can also learn more about the duo here:

"Can I do a triple Axel? No." ❌
"But we can do a triple twizzle." ⛸️

Madison Chock and Evan Bates are here to answer the web's burning questions about ice dance ahead of @Beijing2022

What tidbit surprised you? ⬇️@chockolate02 | @Evan_Bates | @ISU_Figure | @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/W8LVL1WP0y

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) January 1, 2022

The gold medalist's training partners, Hubbell and Donohue, finished a close second in their last-ever national performance:

The final embrace and the final bows at the national championships in the careers of @MadiHubbell and @ZachTDonohue. 😢❤️@USFigureSkating | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/XABHVPmMhS

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 9, 2022

Robert Samuels of the Washington Post complimented the duo as they made their nationals exit:

They started their partnership as super sexual, hip swivlers. And now, in their final national championships, they are assured, powerful, confident. Thank you, Hubbell and Donohue for allowing us to see your skating journey. It's been fascinating, and satisfying. #USChamps22

— Robert Samuels (@newsbysamuels) January 9, 2022

Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker held off Caroline Green and Michael Parsons to finish third.

U.S. Figure Skating announced its women's team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Saturday, headlined by national champion Mariah Bell.

According to Team USA, Bell is joined by Karen Chen and Alysa Liu, who round out the three-woman squad.

Bell. Chen. Liu. ✨

This squad is set to skate at the #WinterOlympics. pic.twitter.com/FJjG94QADl

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) January 8, 2022

At 25 years of age, Bell became the oldest United States women's figure skating champion since 1927 when she won the title Friday in Nashville, Tennessee, per Alex Azzi of NBC Sports.

Bell will also be the oldest American female figure skater to compete in the Olympics since 34-year-old Theresa Weld-Blanchard in 1928.

This year will mark Bell's first time on the Olympic team, as she was named a second alternate for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Chen, 22, finished second to Bell in the U.S. Championships on Friday and is set to make her second consecutive Olympic appearance.

After finishing third at the U.S. Championships in 2018, Chen was one of three women to be named to Team USA in Pyeongchang, where she finished 11th.

Like Bell, the 16-year-old Liu is set to make her Olympic debut as well. Liu did not place at the U.S. Championships, as she had to withdraw from the competition because of a positive COVID-19 test.

Liu was in third place after the short program, however, and she is the most decorated skater on this year's Olympic team.

In addition to taking bronze at the Junior World Championships in 2020, Liu won gold at the U.S. Championships in both 2019 and 2020.

Isabeau Levito took bronze at the 2022 U.S. Championships, but since she is only 14 years of age, she is not old enough to be part of the Olympic team.

Gracie Gold, 26, won bronze in the team event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, but she failed to qualify for the Beijing Games after finishing 10th at the 2022 U.S. Championships.

Bell, Chen and Liu will all look to become the first American women's figure skater to medal in singles at the Olympics since Sasha Cohen took silver in 2006.

There are two days of events left in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, with the men's short program, free dance and pairs free skate left to come on Saturday, and the men's free skate wrapping things up Sunday afternoon. 

Friday night's women's free skate was upended when two-time national champion Alysa Liu, who came in third in Thursday's short program, withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19 Friday morning.

Mariah Bell took gold in women's free skate, while Karen Chen claimed silver and Isabeau Levito earned bronze. 

Liu is the highest-ranking U.S. woman this season, and her withdrawal does not necessarily endanger her chances of being named to her first Olympic team for the 2022 Games in Beijing. 

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships aren't an Olympic qualifying event; rather, a selection committee will name the team after taking into consideration results over the past year, dating back to the January 2021 U.S. Championships.

Liu will be able to petition for a spot on the Olympic team even though she didn't compete at the U.S. Championships, as will reigning U.S. champion pairs partners Brandon Frazier and Alexa Knierim after Frazier tested positive on Wednesday. 

In 2006, Michelle Kwan petitioned for a spot on the Olympic team after missing the U.S. Championships with a groin injury, though it ultimately kept her out of the Games. 

As long as COVID-19 doesn't continue to derail skaters' plans, let's take a look at the athletes who are scheduled to compete on Saturday and what events will be taking place at Bridgestone Arena. 

       

U.S. Figure Skating Championships 2022 Overview

Dates: Monday, Jan. 3 - Sunday, Jan. 9

Location: Bridgestone Arena; Nashville, Tennessee

TV: USA Network, NBC

Live Stream: Peacock 

      

U.S. Figure Skating Championships Remaining TV Schedule

Saturday, 3 p.m. ET: Men's Short Program (NBC)

Saturday, 6:45 p.m. ET: Pairs Free Skate and Free Dance (USA Network)

Sunday, 12:15 p.m. ET: Men's Free Skate (NBC)

         

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of Saturday's coverage will be Nathan Chen's performance in the men's short program, the same event that saw a singles medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games slip through his hands, finishing in 17th place after a fall. 

He came back to take gold at the World Figure Skating Championships in March 2018 and then went undefeated for the next three-and-a-half years before finishing third at Skate America in October, once again because of mistakes in his short program. 

Chen, now 22, doesn't need redemption, not by any means. But there's a lot riding on his short program performance Saturday afternoon. 

Chen, ranked No. 3 in the world, is again a medal favorite for the Beijing Games. But he has some serious competition in 2021 Skate America winner Vincent Zhou, who has been runner-up at nationals three times. 

World No. 2 Jason Brown, who was an alternate for the 2018 Games, could also earn himself a spot on the Olympic team with a strong finish at nationals. 

With Frazier and Knierim out, Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson—the 2020 and 2021 U.S. silver medalists who train with them—are the skaters to watch in the pairs free skate. 

Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, the 2019 U.S. champions, could also enter the conversation for the Olympic team if they can take first or second. The pair finished first Friday night in the short program. 

The U.S. women's team will be announced on Saturday afternoon. The full U.S. Figure Skating Olympic team will be named by January 10. 

Saturday predictions: Nathan Chen wins men's short program; Cain-Gribble and LeDuc win pairs.  

The 2022 United States Figure Skating Championships continued Friday with two events from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. 

After a three-event day on Thursday, today's scheduled featured the rhythm dance and ladies championship free skate. 

The rhythm dance was an opportunity to get a first look at the pairings of Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue; and Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Those two teams finished first and second in the ice dance competition last year, with Hubbell and Donohue coming out on top thanks to their showing in the free dance. 

Chock and Bates got the early advantage in the competition with an impressive 91.94 score in the rhythm dance. Hubbell and Donohue were a close second with an 89.39. No one else is within eight points of second place.

The ladies championship was ensured to crown a new winner. Defending champion Bradie Tennell was unable to compete because of a foot injury that forced her to withdraw from the Championships in December. 

Mariah Bell led the way after Thursday's short program with a score of 75.55. Karen Chen, Alysa Liu, Isabeau Levito and Lindsay Thorngren rounded out the top five with scores over 70. 

Bell carried her positive momentum into the free skate. She posted the top score with her routine to win gold at the U.S. Championships for the first time in her career. 

Here are the full results from Friday's action, as well as a look at the remaining schedule for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships over the next two days. 

                 

Championship Ice Dance: Rhythm Dance (Top 5; Free Dance Still to Come)

1. Madison Chock and Evan Bates, 91.94

2. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, 89.39

3. Caroline Green and Michael Parsons, 80.85

4. Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker, 79.39

5. Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, 77.90

Full results here. 

             

Championship Ladies: Free Skate (Top 5)

1. Mariah Bell, 140.70 (216.25 total points)

2. Karen Chen, 139.3 (213.85)

3. Isabeau Levito, 139.75 (210.75) 

4. Gabriella Izzo, 120.60 (188.11)

5. Lindsay Thorngren, 116.16 (186.38)

Full results here. 

               

Remaining Schedule (All times ET)

Saturday, Jan. 8

3 p.m.: Championship Ice Dance / Free Dance

6:45 p.m.: Championship Men / Short Program

8:25 p.m.: Championship Pairs / Free Skate

        

Sunday, Jan. 9

12:15 p.m.: Championship Men / Free Skate

      

Recap

Chock and Bates put together one of the best performances of their career on Friday. Their score in the rhythm dance was the highest ever by a pair at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, per NBC Olympics. 

Watched this lift about 20 times to just figure out HOW?!@chockolate02 @Evan_Bates | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/kAN00YvMKa

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 7, 2022

Last year, Chock and Bates set the pace in this event with a score of 90.10, but their lead was only .41 points. Hubbell and Donohue erased that deficit in the free dance with a score of 134.90—two points better than their rivals (132.83)—to get the win. 

Both times Chock and Bates have won at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships (2015, 2020) they had the top score in the rhythm dance and free dance. 

The door remains open for Hubbell and Donohue to capture their fourth win at this event in the past five years. They put together a clean routine to stay close to Chock and Bates after their record-setting performance. 

This element is kind of INCREDIBLE. 🤯@MadiHubbell @ZachTDonohue | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/5zvECMWqIg

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 7, 2022

In the ladies singles competition, Bell came into the day with little margin for error. She was in a position to medal last year after finishing third in the short program, but she dropped to fifth after her free skate. 

This time around, Bell left no doubt that she is ready to take the next step in her career. The 25-year-old posted the top score in the free skate (140.70) to finish almost three points ahead of Chen. 

It's a GOLDEN Hallelujah! ✨@MariahBell96 is taking home her first national championship title. #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/SLOeaTxlu7

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

Per NBC Olympics, Bell is the oldest woman to win the ladies singles title at the U.S. Championships in 95 years. Beatrix Loughran was 26 years old when she won her third of three straight titles in 1927. 

Chen's opportunity to pass Bell was undone when she was unable to fully rotate on multiple jumps during her routine, prompting the judges to deduct points from her final score. 

An artist on ice.@Karebearsk8's free skate that brought her silver. 🥈@USFigureSkating | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/C9AwelBtek

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

Levito actually posted the second-highest score in the free skate to jump up a spot and claim the bronze medal. The 14-year-old was making her senior debut at the United States Championships this week. 

Isabeau Levito‼️

Remember the name of this 14 year old.@USFigureSkating | #ToyotaUSChamps22 pic.twitter.com/Vj3SLCI4AQ

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) January 8, 2022

This event was missing one major competitor, as Alysa Liu announced on Instagram (h/t USA Today's Tom Schad) that she had to withdraw earlier in the day because of a positive COVID-19 test. The two-time ladies singles champion was in third place coming out of the short program. 

Now, the focus for Bell, Chen and the other competitors will turn to the Olympics. The U.S. team that will represent the country in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Games is expected to be announced no later than Jan. 10. 

Mariah Bell could come away with her first gold medal at the ninth time of asking at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

However, the 25-year-old, who first competed at championship level in the tournament in 2014, will need to follow up her impressive opening performance with another strong showing on Friday to ensure she tops the podium.

Bell scored 75.55 points in the women's short program at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday and will look to hold off the other top challengers at the event in Friday's free skate.

That won't be the only action on the ice on Friday, as the championship-level ice dancers will compete in the rhythm dance competition.

Here's a look at the TV schedule for the remainder of this year's championships, followed by more on Friday's events.

        

TV Schedule

Friday, Jan. 7

Rhythm Dance, 4-6 p.m. ET, USA Network

Women's Free, 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC

        

Saturday, Jan. 8

Men's Short, 4-6 p.m. ET, NBC

Pairs Free and Free Dance, 7-10 p.m. ET, USA Network

          

Sunday, Jan. 9

Men's Free, 2-4 p.m. ET, NBC

          

Friday Preview, Predictions

Bell may have the lead in the women's competition after a strong showing in the short program, but her advantage at the top of the standings is narrow. And there are several fellow talented figure skaters who will be looking to overtake her on Friday.

Bell scored 75.55 points in the short program, which gave her a lead over Karen Chen (74.55) and Alysa Liu (71.42). Isabeau Levito (71) and Lindsay Thorngren (70.22) are also close behind and could push their ways into the top three.

It wasn't a huge surprise to see Bell get off to a strong start at the championships. She's had some success at the event in the past, winning the bronze medal in 2017 and 2019 before claiming silver in 2020.

However, the Tulsa, Oklahoma native ended up in fifth in 2021, and there was no guarantee she could get back on the medal stand this year. But she put herself in a great position to do so with her short-program performance, which marked the first time she's finished first in that portion of the competition.

"I've been in every position possible going into the long program, and the objective is always the same," Bell said, via a press release from U.S. Figure Skating. "I wouldn’t want to skate any worse or any better if I was lower or higher. I just want to do the best long that I can. But I feel like I have good confidence going into the free."

Chen isn't too far back in the standings, though, and the 22-year-old knows what it takes to excel on this stage. She captured the gold medal in 2017, and she's taken home the bronze three times, including in 2021.

Liu may not have had her best showing on Thursday, as her short program featured a fall on her opening triple axel. But the 16-year-old got back on track, finished strong and put herself in a position to contend for her third gold medal in four years.

Can Bell now hold off Chen and Liu, or will one of the former champions prevent her from winning the gold for the first time?

The prediction here is that Chen will end up taking the gold for the second time. Her 74.55 score in the short program was a personal best, and the free skate was her better portion last year. If she performs at her best, she should pass Bell, who will likely take home the silver by finishing ahead of Liu.

Liu may have been the favorite heading into the event, but she didn't look her best on Thursday. So while she'll capture the bronze, she won't score enough points to overtake Chen and Bell.

As for the rhythm dance competition on Friday, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue are the duo to watch. They've won the gold medal in three of the past four years, including 2021, and they should get off to a strong start again this year.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates have won a gold and four silvers over the past six years in ice dance, so they should also perform well again this year. But expect Hubbell and Donohue to be atop the leaderboard after Friday.

The top figure skaters in the nation are set to enter the fray at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee, Nashville.

The championship-level competitions get underway on Thursday, with the pairs short program and the women's short program both taking place. They follow the junior women's free skate, which will wrap up the junior portion of the event.

The women and pairs who take the ice will be looking to get off to a strong start before taking part in free skates later in the week (women on Friday, pairs on Saturday). And potential spots in the United States Winter Olympics team will also be on the line ahead of next month's Games in Beijing.

Here's a look at the TV schedule for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, followed by more on Thursday's action.

       

TV Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 6

Pairs Short, 5-7 p.m. ET, USA Network

Women's Short, 8:30-10:30 p.m. ET, USA Network

           

Friday, Jan. 7

Rhythm Dance, 4-6 p.m. ET, USA Network

Women's Free, 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC

         

Saturday, Jan. 8

Men's Short, 4-6 p.m. ET, NBC

Pairs Free and Free Dance, 7-10 p.m. ET, USA Network

          

Sunday, Jan. 9

Men's Free, 2-4 p.m. ET, NBC

          

Thursday Preview, Predictions

Alysa Liu's quest for a third gold medal in four years at the championships will begin Thursday, when the 16-year-old takes the ice for the first time. But she'll face some strong competition over the next two days.

The Californian's two-year run as the women's champion ended in 2021, when Bradie Tennell won the event for the second time. However, the 23-year-old isn't participating this year due to a right foot injury.

That could lead to Liu reclaiming the gold after she placed fourth last year. But some other recent top finishers will also be in the mix.

Amber Glenn won the silver medal in the women's competition at last year's championships, marking her best career showing at the event. The 22-year-old from Texas had never previously placed better than fifth, although she was the junior champion in 2014.

Karen Chen captured the bronze last year, but it wasn't the first time she had appeared on the medal stand. The 22-year-old won the gold in 2017, and she also took home the bronze in 2015 and 2018.

Another name to watch could be Mariah Bell, who won the silver in 2020 after claiming the bronze in 2017 and 2019. The 25-year-old placed fifth last year and will be looking for a bounce-back showing in 2022.

While all of these women have solid chances of winning, expect Liu to get off to a strong start by finishing in first place in the short program. Even though she finished fourth overall in 2021, she still produced a second-place display in the short program. And considering she's been performing better of late, there's a good chance she'll be in first heading into the free skate.

As for the pairs short program, the competition is going to be more open than expected. 

Alexa Scimeca Knierim had won the gold medal in three of the past four years, including with Brandon Frazier in 2021. However, they were forced to withdraw this year after Frazier tested positive for COVID-19.

Jessica Calalang and Brian Johnson have won the silver medal in the pairs competition each of the past two years. However, the prediction here is that the leaders after the short program will be Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc, who won the event in 2019 and captured the bronze last year.

Before the championship-level competitions begin, the women's junior event will conclude with the free skate. Clare Seo won the short program with a score of 67.38 on Wednesday, and after she won the junior bronze last year, don't be surprised if she comes away with gold this time.

The 2021 Canadian Figure Skating Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the event returns this year, although it will look a bit different than usual.

Due to recent COVID-19 surges, no fans will be in attendance when the nation's best figure skaters take to the ice at the TD Place Arena in Ottawa. However, there will be TV coverage on Saturday and Sunday via CBC, as well as live-streaming throughout the event, which begins Thursday and lasts until Jan. 13.

With the Winter Olympics set to take place in February in Beijing, the championships will help decide who will be representing Canada at the Games. So the stakes will be even higher than usual.

Here's everything else you need to know about this year's Canadian Figure Skating Championships.

        

Championship Schedule

Friday, Jan. 7

Women's short program, noon ET

Rhythm dance, 2:45 p.m. ET

Pairs short program, 5:30 p.m. ET

Men's short program, 6:50 p.m. ET

          

Saturday, Jan. 8

Women's free skate, 10:30 a.m. ET

Free dance, 1:45 p.m. ET

Pairs free skate, 5:15 p.m. ET

Men's free skate, 6:45 p.m. ET

Events will be streamed live on CBC.

      

Preview, Top Contenders

While certain figure skaters have dominated the Canadian Figure Skating Championships over the years by capturing multiple titles, the last edition of the event in 2020 had first-time winners in both the men's and women's championship-level competitions.

Roman Sadovsky won the men's gold medal in 2020, after he had never placed better than fourth over the previous seven years. He will be among the top contenders this year, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he tops the podium for the second straight time at the event.

The 22-year-old from Toronto may have taken the gold in 2020, but he placed third in the short program before going on to place first in the free skate. In the short program, he finished behind silver medalist Nam Nguyen and bronze medalist Keegan Messing.

Nguyen is a two-time winner at the championships, as he captured the gold in 2015 and 2019. So if anybody can take down Sadovsky this year, it could be the 23-year-old from Ottawa.

Messing, a 29-year-old from Alaska, has never won this event. But he captured the silver medal in 2018, then the bronze in both 2019 and 2020. Maybe this could be the year when he surpasses Sadovsky and Nguyen to win the gold.

In the women's championship-level competition, Emily Bausback is looking to become a two-time winner. She captured the gold medal in 2020, which was her third appearance in the competition. She placed second at the junior level in 2017.

The 19-year-old from Vancouver will likely be the favorite to win this year's women's event, but there are some other strong competitors in the field.

Alison Schumacher and Madeline Schizas won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, in 2020. They'll both be competing again in 2022, with each looking to win the gold for the first time.

Gabrielle Daleman is among the most decorated women's figure skaters at this year's event. She is a two-time winner of the competition, capturing the gold in both 2015 and 2018. She also won the silver medal in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

However, the 23-year-old from Toronto placed fifth in 2019 and eighth in 2020. So she's going to be aiming to get back on the podium after tougher showings in her last two appearances at the event.

Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro won the pairs competition in 2019 and 2020 and will be chasing a third gold this year. Evelyn Walsh and Trennt Michaud finished second in both of those years, and they'll be looking to go one better in 2022.

Now, the action is really underway at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. And things are only going to ramp up through Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Tuesday, the junior competitions began at Bridgestone Arena, with the men, pairs and ice dancers taking part in short programs. There will be more junior competitions on Wednesday and Thursday, before the championship-level competitors start taking the ice Thursday.

With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics set to begin in February, this week's event will help to decide who represents the United States in figure skating at the Games. So these competitions are even more important than usual.

Here's the full TV schedule for this week's U.S. Figure Skating Championships, followed by a preview and predictions for Wednesday's action.

          

TV Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 6

Pairs Short, 5-7 p.m. ET, USA Network

Women's Short, 8:30-10:30 p.m. ET, USA Network

           

Friday, Jan. 7

Rhythm Dance, 4-6 p.m. ET, USA Network

Women's Free, 8-11 p.m. ET, NBC

        

Saturday, Jan. 8

Men's Short, 4-6 p.m. ET, NBC

Pairs Free and Free Dance, 7-10 p.m. ET, USA Network

            

Sunday, Jan. 9

Men's Free, 2-4 p.m. ET, NBC

               

Wednesday Preview, Predictions

There's a full slate of junior competitions set to take place Wednesday. And all of it can be streamed live on Peacock Premium, where figure skating fans can get a glimpse at the future of the sport.

The competitions taking place Wednesday are: the junior women's short program (10 a.m. ET), the junior men's free skate (1 p.m. ET), the junior pairs free skate (4 p.m. ET) and the junior free dance (9:30 p.m. ET). There will also be a practice for the championship-level women at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Will Annis jumped out to a lead in the junior men's competition on Tuesday by scoring a 75.81 in the short program. He has the advantage over Kai Kovar (68.7) and Maxim Zharkov (67.07), who ranked second and third, respectively.

Annis finished in first place at the U.S. Junior Championship Series event held in Allen, Texas, in October. A former U.S. juvenile and novice champion, the 16-year-old from Boston could be heading toward a victory at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Wednesday.

While Kovar and Zharkov have the potential to end up in first place, the prediction here is that Annis has another strong showing on Wednesday and claims the gold medal. He had momentum entering the competition and was the clear best skater in Tuesday's event.

Sonia Baram and Daniel Tioumentsev are in first place in the junior pairs competition after posting a score of 62.26 points in Tuesday's short program. They have a sizable advantage over Isabelle Martins and Ryan Bedard, who had a score of 54.89.

Don't count out Martins and Bedard heading into Wednesday's free skate, though. They've had success at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships before, having won the silver medal in 2021. They may come up a bit short of the gold again this year, but there's still a chance they could end up in first.

The junior women's competition will get started on Wednesday with the short program, before wrapping up the junior side of things with the free skate on Thursday.

Among the junior women's competitors to watch are Clare Seo and Ava Ziegler. Seo, a 15-year-old from Colorado, won the bronze medal at the event last year; and Ziegler, a 15-year-old from New Jersey, placed fourth in 2021.

Expect Ziegler to get off to a strong start and perhaps be in first place after the short program. She won the 2021 Cranberry Cup, as well as a pair of U.S. Junior Championship Series events last year. She should build off her fourth-place showing from last year by ending up in the top three.

Seo has a strong chance of competing for the gold medal, but the prediction here is that Ziegler will be the top contender to watch.