Madison Chock and Evan Bates were unpacking all the old memories. All the disappointments.

Bates pulled out the costume he wore at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

“Which has not come out of that box for seven years,” he said in the new, captivating Netflix docuseries, "Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing."

At that Olympics, Chock and Bates fell during the free dance after the blades of their skates caught – a disastrous mistake. They were expected to compete for a medal but finished ninth.

“It’s kind of hard to look back on those games,” said Chock, the 33-year-old Novi High School alumnus. “It was over before it started.”

OLY FLASHBACK: Winter Olympics: Tiny slips lead to agony for two Michigan teams

Chock pulled out a sweater from Beijing in 2022. Another bad memory. Another disappointment.

“We felt like we delivered a great skate,” Bates said in the doc.

But they finished in fourth place – one spot from a medal, which is no-man’s land at the Olympics.

“After we kind of had the Olympic heartbreak, we packed all of that stuff away and didn’t want to even wear the gear,” Bates said in the doc. “Just the reminder was really difficult.”

After that Olympics they faced a critical decision: Should they keep going, chasing this Olympic dream? Or simply retire?

“It was hard in that moment to commit to another four years after that Olympics,” Bates said in the doc. “But in my heart, I think I knew we weren’t done.”

No, they weren’t. They did keep going – getting married in Hawaii in 2024 – and they have become a force, winning three straight World Championships and running their U.S. championship total to a record seven as they became the gold medal favorites heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games, which will run Feb. 6-22.

“We're entering each competition with the intention to win,” Chock said. “And we have a lot of experience under our belts and are 100% confident in our capabilities to deliver our best performances.”

Before their individual competition, they are expected to participate in the figure skating team competition, which includes all four figure skating disciplines – ice dance (including rhythm and free dance components), pairs, men's and women's. The rhythm dance starts Friday in Milan, with a scheduled start time of 3:55 a.m. Detroit time. Chock and Bates already have a gold medal from the team event in 2022.

“I think this time around, there is also going to be a focus for us to really fully live and experience this Olympic Games, knowing that it could be our last,” Bates said. “So, like Maddie said, we are 100% all in and aiming for the top of the podium in Milan, with also the goal to fully experience and enjoy it.”

Shooting for the top while trying to love every second of it – that’s Chock and Bates.

RED, WHITE & NOVI: Novi ice dancers overcame war, surgeries and a test to make Olympics

Slow motion pairing

How they even started skating together is a crazy story.

Chock was born in Redondo Beach, California, and her family moved to Novi when she was 12 so she could concentrate on figure skating. “I wanted to be Michelle Kwan,” Chock said. “I wanted to jump and do all the singles things.”

But she found her niche in ice dance.

Bates, meanwhile, was born and raised in Ann Arbor. The 36-year-old's father, Eric, is a cardiologist, and his mother Nancy is an artist. Evan graduated from Michigan in 2013 and he comes from a long line of athletes. His grandfather, Mario Fortino, played basketball at Michigan State in the 1940s; Evan's father was the captain of Princeton's cross-country team.

So, athleticism is in his genes.

But this partnership evolved over time. And that brings us to my favorite Chock and Bates story: their first date.

Bates asked Chock out on a date to celebrate her 16th birthday. He took her to Bahama Breeze and gave her a black zip-up sweater from Pink.

So, that sparked everything, right?

Nope.

That was it. One-and-done, so to speak. They both started dating other people and were skating with different partners. Three years later, in the summer of 2011, they finally began skating together.

And they’ve been together ever since.

I’ve written about Chock and Bates for more than a decade and, if I’m being honest, they are two of my favorite athletes I’ve ever covered. They are just so, well, normal.  Just good people. I was once in a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Novi, buying shoes and there was Bates. Just your everyday Olympian, walking around shopping … “Hey man, how you doing?”

It’s wild now to see them on Netflix and in advertisements and on social media, turning into stars – 15 years after starting this journey.

Chemistry was obvious

Back in 2014, I asked Chock to describe Bates.

"I would say Evan is very..." Chock started.

"This is gonna be good," Bates said.

"Intelligent."

"Wow!" he said.

"Well, you are," she said.

"That's nice."

"And hilarious and goofy."

Now remember, this was before they started dating.

"I'd say Maddie has a great sense of humor," Bates said. "She laughs at my jokes, which is great."

She laughed.

"She's serious when she needs to be, definitely driven," he said. "I think that is what has allowed us to succeed together. We are goofy people and we like to have fun at the rink a lot. But at the same time, we are very committed and serious. It's equal balance fun and work."

Looking back at that exchange might explain everything – they had strong chemistry before they were even together, officially.

Now, they are married, heading to their fourth Olympics.

They are known for their risky, creative routines, featuring roles as varied as a snake and a snake charmer and an extraterrestrial and an astronaut. At these Games, their free-dance routine is choreographed to The Rolling Stones’ "Paint it Black" – with Chock as a matador and Bates as a bull. 

“We knew that it was something different than what we had done in previous free dances, and that was really something that was exciting to us,” Bates said. “I think part of our longevity has allowed us to reinvent ourselves year after year, and sometimes taking on those risks have really paid off for us.”

It’s clear they have complete trust in each other, not to mention total confidence. They collaborate on everything from musical choice to picking costumes, which Bates designs.

“If we're emotionally and physically well-rested, we can accomplish anything,” she said.

For Chock and Bates, the main competition for the gold medal will be Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, a new team representing France. He won gold in Beijing with his former partner, Gabriella Papadakis. Other contenders include the Canadian team of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier and Italy’s Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri.

“Olympic gold was always the goal,” Chock said at the end of the doc. “What if it all works out? What if all our dreams come true? What if we get exactly what we've been working for?”

The answer seems obvious: The fairytale will come true.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.

MORE FROM SEIDEL: How a Charlevoix crash survivor earned his own Christmas miracle

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chock and Bates just your normal Olympic figure skating superstars

Jeff King left a legacy we all should strive to achieve.

He was nice to everyone. He loved his family. He loved his community, showing it most through his unwavering commitment to Wyoming High School as the Cowboys’ long-time public-address announcer.

And King was consistent in doing all those things, his family, friends and former Wyoming coaches told The Enquirer.

King announced nearly 3,000 Wyoming sporting events in almost four decades behind the mic, using his voice to impact generations the same way his father, Nelson King, did as a legendary country music disc jockey on Cincinnati's WCKY radio station.

Jeff King died on Jan. 28. He was 76. The social media tributes from Wyoming residents, current and former coaches and athletes, referees and opposing team coaches and fans have beautifully captured his impact.

As a Wyoming resident, I can attest to this. My friend, Marc Brafman, who worked alongside King in the football press box, and others in the neighborhood have always spoken highly of King's kindness and commitment to our school and community.

"Honestly, one of the nicest human beings I ever met," said Madeira football coach Chris Stewart, a former Wyoming teacher and assistant coach. "What he did creates a culture in the community. It was always about the kids. He helped others in his role, and that leaves a legacy."

At the risk of sounding cliche, King was the type of person who makes high school sports such a special part of a community. He was the resident and parent who got asked to help do a role that required him to give up lots of nights and weekends. King, a 1967 Wyoming graduate, gladly took on public-address announcing, running the clock and keeping the scorebook for any sport he was asked to do.

He called football, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' lacrosse, girls' volleyball and boys' and girls' basketball games. Sometimes, he'd do public address, run the clock and keep official statistics for a game.

King became part of the fabric of one of the best high school football programs in the state, with his distinct, crisp and nasally voice beloved by generations of Wyoming families.

"That voice was so good," said King's son, Jeff, a former Cowboys football star. "He got asked if he’d be interested in doing it in 1987. He instantly fell in love with it. He continued to perfect his craft. No matter what sport it was, he was so committed to making sure everyone had an incredible experience at the game."

The elder King's love of the Cowboys was instilled in his three children, all of whom were athletes at Wyoming. The younger Jeff served as the school's athletic director for a few years before leaving for a private-sector job in 2023. Father and son were inducted together into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2022.

"It was a way of life for us," the younger Jeff said. "Dad’s got a game tonight. So, we’d all go, my mom and my two sisters. I'd sit in the press box with him sometimes."

An Air Force veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, the elder King spent most of his career as a mortgage loan officer. But he fell in love with announcing at a young age. He'd sometimes go to work with his father, who worked at WCKY and other radio stations in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

The late Nelson King, a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, would sometimes have Jeff do the on-air sports update during the news breaks. Those opportunities helped prepare Jeff for his public-address work.

Tom Brown worked alongside King in the football press box as his spotter for about 17 seasons and called him a "straight shooter." Brown was impressed by how committed King was to the craft. King made sure before every game to go down on the field and check with opposing coaches the correct pronunciation of players' and coaches' names. He got to know officials and opposing coaches who'd call plays from the press box, and some of them offered tributes on social media.

“He was always so positive to both teams," said legendary former Wyoming football coach Bernie Barre, who grew up down the street from King. "He never tried to be a homer. He was fair to both teams. He announced the game and nothing else.”

King took great pride in doing that.

“You’re not a cheerleader,” he told Spectrum News in 2023. “You are to announce the game and announce the action. That’s it.”

And King did that even when his own children were playing. Jeff's daughters, Jen and Becky, played soccer. He called his son's football games. They were all treated like every other athlete on the field.

The elder Jeff King maintained his professionalism amid a devastating injury his son suffered during a game in 2005. The younger King went down with a neck injury and couldn't move his legs. His dad left the press box and went with his wife, Kathy, and their son in the ambulance to the hospital.

The younger Jeff stayed the night in the hospital, and there was concern he was paralyzed from the waist down. He started to regain feeling late the following afternoon. The younger Jeff went on to be a defensive lineman at Ohio University.

"Jeff was such an optimistic person," Barre said of the elder King. "He kept everyone's spirits up in the hospital."

Just like at the Cowboys games. Just like at home with his family, even as he battled health problems in the past year. The younger Jeff King, 37, calls his dad his "hero." That's the most important legacy any father could hope for.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 44 years, three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren. There will be a visitation, memorial service and celebration of King's life beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center.

"His voice resonated not only in the gyms and fields," King's obit said, "but also in the hearts of all who had the joy to hear him call the games."

Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wyoming's King leaves legacy we all should strive to achieve

Jeff King left a legacy we all should strive to achieve.

He was nice to everyone. He loved his family. He loved his community, showing it most through his unwavering commitment to Wyoming High School as the Cowboys’ long-time public-address announcer.

And King was consistent in doing all those things, his family, friends and former Wyoming coaches told The Enquirer.

King announced nearly 3,000 Wyoming sporting events in almost four decades behind the mic, using his voice to impact generations the same way his father, Nelson King, did as a legendary country music disc jockey on Cincinnati's WCKY radio station.

Jeff King died on Jan. 28. He was 76. The social media tributes from Wyoming residents, current and former coaches and athletes, referees and opposing team coaches and fans have beautifully captured his impact.

As a Wyoming resident, I can attest to this. My friend, Marc Brafman, who worked alongside King in the football press box, and others in the neighborhood have always spoken highly of King's kindness and commitment to our school and community.

"Honestly, one of the nicest human beings I ever met," said Madeira football coach Chris Stewart, a former Wyoming teacher and assistant coach. "What he did creates a culture in the community. It was always about the kids. He helped others in his role, and that leaves a legacy."

At the risk of sounding cliche, King was the type of person who makes high school sports such a special part of a community. He was the resident and parent who got asked to help do a role that required him to give up lots of nights and weekends. King, a 1967 Wyoming graduate, gladly took on public-address announcing, running the clock and keeping the scorebook for any sport he was asked to do.

He called football, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' lacrosse, girls' volleyball and boys' and girls' basketball games. Sometimes, he'd do public address, run the clock and keep official statistics for a game.

King became part of the fabric of one of the best high school football programs in the state, with his distinct, crisp and nasally voice beloved by generations of Wyoming families.

"That voice was so good," said King's son, Jeff, a former Cowboys football star. "He got asked if he’d be interested in doing it in 1987. He instantly fell in love with it. He continued to perfect his craft. No matter what sport it was, he was so committed to making sure everyone had an incredible experience at the game."

The elder King's love of the Cowboys was instilled in his three children, all of whom were athletes at Wyoming. The younger Jeff served as the school's athletic director for a few years before leaving for a private-sector job in 2023. Father and son were inducted together into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2022.

"It was a way of life for us," the younger Jeff said. "Dad’s got a game tonight. So, we’d all go, my mom and my two sisters. I'd sit in the press box with him sometimes."

An Air Force veteran who served two tours in Vietnam, the elder King spent most of his career as a mortgage loan officer. But he fell in love with announcing at a young age. He'd sometimes go to work with his father, who worked at WCKY and other radio stations in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

The late Nelson King, a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, would sometimes have Jeff do the on-air sports update during the news breaks. Those opportunities helped prepare Jeff for his public-address work.

Tom Brown worked alongside King in the football press box as his spotter for about 17 seasons and called him a "straight shooter." Brown was impressed by how committed King was to the craft. King made sure before every game to go down on the field and check with opposing coaches the correct pronunciation of players' and coaches' names. He got to know officials and opposing coaches who'd call plays from the press box, and some of them offered tributes on social media.

“He was always so positive to both teams," said legendary former Wyoming football coach Bernie Barre, who grew up down the street from King. "He never tried to be a homer. He was fair to both teams. He announced the game and nothing else.”

King took great pride in doing that.

“You’re not a cheerleader,” he told Spectrum News in 2023. “You are to announce the game and announce the action. That’s it.”

And King did that even when his own children were playing. Jeff's daughters, Jen and Becky, played soccer. He called his son's football games. They were all treated like every other athlete on the field.

The elder Jeff King maintained his professionalism amid a devastating injury his son suffered during a game in 2005. The younger King went down with a neck injury and couldn't move his legs. His dad left the press box and went with his wife, Kathy, and their son in the ambulance to the hospital.

The younger Jeff stayed the night in the hospital, and there was concern he was paralyzed from the waist down. He started to regain feeling late the following afternoon. The younger Jeff went on to be a defensive lineman at Ohio University.

"Jeff was such an optimistic person," Barre said of the elder King. "He kept everyone's spirits up in the hospital."

Just like at the Cowboys games. Just like at home with his family, even as he battled health problems in the past year. The younger Jeff King, 37, calls his dad his "hero." That's the most important legacy any father could hope for.

Jeff is survived by his wife of 44 years, three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren. There will be a visitation, memorial service and celebration of King's life beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center.

"His voice resonated not only in the gyms and fields," King's obit said, "but also in the hearts of all who had the joy to hear him call the games."

Contact columnist Jason Williams at jwilliams@enquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Wyoming's King leaves legacy we all should strive to achieve