Olympic ice dancing duo reveal how they train at home

A pair of figure skaters have revealed just what it takes to get ready for the Olympics at home, from twice-daily workouts to maintaining day jobs while keeping up with their rigorous training schedule.

Madison Chock, 25, and Evan Bates, 29, have been skating together since 2011 and started dating in 2016. Together, the athletes, based in Novi, Michigan, have won two world championship medals (one silver and one bronze) and landed in eighth place at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. 

And the duo recently revealed to Self exactly what it takes to achieve success in the sport, giving an honest picture of the persistent hard work that has gone into their Olympic dreams – which were dashed in devastating style on Tuesday when they ended their medal campaign with a shocking fall, which saw them finish in ninth place.

Regimen: Figure skaters Madison Chock, 25, and Evan Bates, 29, (pictured performing in PyeongChang on Monday) have detailed their rigorous at-home training schedule

End of the road: The duo crashed out of medal contention in PyeongChang on Tuesday when they suffered a fall on the ice during the final, and ended up in ninth place 

End of the road: The duo crashed out of medal contention in PyeongChang on Tuesday when they suffered a fall on the ice during the final, and ended up in ninth place 

Heartbreaking: They were the only ice dancers to have a fall in the entire competition, and it came as they were preparing to do a combination spin

Heartbreaking: They were the only ice dancers to have a fall in the entire competition, and it came as they were preparing to do a combination spin

How it happened: The skaters' blades clicked just as he was bending down and she was beginning to spin, resulting in the fall

How it happened: The skaters’ blades clicked just as he was bending down and she was beginning to spin, resulting in the fall

Partners: Madison and Evan have been skating together since 2011 and started dating in 2016

Partners: Madison and Evan have been skating together since 2011 and started dating in 2016

Rigorous: They train on the ice twice a day and supplement these sessions with other kinds of workouts. Madison is pictured doing yoga

Rigorous: They train on the ice twice a day and supplement these sessions with other kinds of workouts. Madison is pictured doing yoga

The pair – who were the only skaters to suffer a fall during the ice dancing final – were left heartbroken by the result, and Madison was even pictured breaking down on the ice.  

Given the years of hard work and training that have gone into that one shot at Olympic medal glory, it’s not hard to understand 

Evan and Madison wake up each morning around 7, ready to tackle two training sessions. They try to get eight hours of shuteye each night, with Madison going up to 10 if she gets a chance.

The pair is on the ice by 8, and trains for about two hours. They break for lunch, then go back to the ice rink for an additional session in the afternoon. 

Madison and Evan typically train for four hours every day during a regular period, and six hours when they are getting ready for a competition. 

However, their athletic endeavors don’t always stop after their two training sessions. 

Several days a week, the figure skaters complete other kinds of workouts to train their bodies in different ways.

Madison sometimes does yoga or gyrotonics, a method inspired by tai chi, dance, gymnastics, swimming, and yoga. Evan, meanwhile, takes a weekly dance class and lifts weights three times per week.

Schedule: Evan and Madison wake up each morning around 7, ready to tackle two training sessions. They try to get eight hours of shuteye each night

Schedule: Evan and Madison wake up each morning around 7, ready to tackle two training sessions. They try to get eight hours of shuteye each night

Hard work: On regular days, Madison (center) and Evan (right) train for about four hours. This duration goes up to six hours before a competition

Hard work: On regular days, Madison (center) and Evan (right) train for about four hours. This duration goes up to six hours before a competition

It's all in the head: While their days are ruled by physical challenges, Evan deemed the mental aspect of figure skating to be 'the biggest challenge' of his sport

It’s all in the head: While their days are ruled by physical challenges, Evan deemed the mental aspect of figure skating to be ‘the biggest challenge’ of his sport

Day jobs: When he's not training, Evan teaches English to Chinese students online, while Madison works as a part-time coach and skating costume designer

Day jobs: When he’s not training, Evan teaches English to Chinese students online, while Madison works as a part-time coach and skating costume designer

‘The training never stops,’ Madison told the magazine. 

‘Even when you aren’t practicing directly, you still think about it and do things outside of practice to help, such as eating right and taking care of your body with proper recovery. I find myself always thinking of ways I can improve day-to-day and how to be more efficient with my time.’ 

The couple’s days end with dinner and a bit of downtime, during which they like to play with their dogs.

They go to bed at 10 or 11 pm, ready to rest and recuperate so as to be able to perform and train again the next day.

While their days are ruled by physical challenges, Evan deemed the mental aspect of figure skating to be ‘the biggest challenge’ of his sport. 

‘There are no opponents on the ice with you when you are out there competing,’ he said. ‘So in a way, it’s really like you are competing with yourself. I like that part about skating. It’s always about trying to beat your best effort.’

In addition to their incredibly demanding training schedule, Evan and Madison, like many Olympians, also have day jobs.

Both picked lines of work with flexible schedules, which enable them to devote most of their day to training while still making ends meet.

Evan teaches English to Chinese students online, while Madison works as a part-time coach and skating costume designer. 

Constant: 'The training never stops,' Madison said. 'Even when you aren't practicing directly, you still think about it and do things outside of practice to help'

Constant: ‘The training never stops,’ Madison said. ‘Even when you aren’t practicing directly, you still think about it and do things outside of practice to help’

Appetite: Naturally, Madison and Evan also pay attention to their diet at home, so as to fuel their performances in the best possible way

Appetite: Naturally, Madison and Evan also pay attention to their diet at home, so as to fuel their performances in the best possible way

Free time: After a day of training, the pair (pictured at the Olympics) like to play with their dogs

Free time: After a day of training, the pair (pictured at the Olympics) like to play with their dogs

Naturally, the pair also pay attention to their diet at home, so as to fuel their performances in the best possible way.

Madison typically has oatmeal with flaxseed, almonds, blueberries, and cranberries for breakfast before training, then has a second breakfast that typically consists of bread topped with half of an avocado, cheese, and egg whites.

Her lunch break is also a chance for Madison to go through some chores, take a nap, or answer her emails. 

Throughout the day, the pair drink Gatorade and snack on ‘nuts, bars, and fresh fruit’ as well as the occasional smoothie, Madison said.

As for dinner, Evan mostly has a source of protein, which can be fish or chicken, along with vegetables and rice, and Madison follows a similar diet.

‘I usually have some type of protein such as fish, chicken, or red meat, along with a side of veggies,’ she said. ‘If I’m not too hungry I will have a salad with avocado, beets, feta cheese, and cucumber.’

Evan and Madison performed during their first event on Monday in PyeongChang, placing seventh during the short dance program.

Madison revealed afterwards that she has been coping with a foot injury for months, which resurfaced while she and Evans warmed up right before they were due to step onto the ice. 

Athletes: Evan and Madison performed during their first event on Monday inPyeongChang, placing seven during the short dance program

Athletes: Evan and Madison performed during their first event on Monday inPyeongChang, placing seven during the short dance program

Mishap: Madison revealed afterwards that she has been coping with a foot injury for months, which resurfaced while she and Evans warmed up

Mishap: Madison revealed afterwards that she has been coping with a foot injury for months, which resurfaced while she and Evans warmed up

Achievement: Evan (pictured training with Madison) deemed their 75.45 score 'incredible', 'considering the stumble in the warm-up and the pain that Maddie's competed in'

Achievement: Evan (pictured training with Madison) deemed their 75.45 score ‘incredible’, ‘considering the stumble in the warm-up and the pain that Maddie’s competed in’

‘We just had a weird moment,’ Madison told People about the time when Evan lifted her. ‘It was the exact same thing that we did that originally injured my foot, and so that was just kind of traumatic.’

Evan, meanwhile, deemed their 75.45 score ‘incredible’, ‘considering the stumble in the warm-up and the pain that Maddie’s competed in’.

Madison later detailed her injury, an ‘osteochondral lesion in [her] foot’.

‘There’s a loose bone fragment that’s in the joint that just is being held in by the cartilage right now,’ she said, explaining that when mishaps such as what happened during the warm-up occur, ‘it kind of just jostles it more and it just doesn’t feel very good’.

‘But I’ve been dealing with it all season so it’s really no different,’ she added. ‘I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing, just maybe a little extra ice and PT today.’

The duo faced a devastating fall in the figure skating final, however, which saw them finish in ninth place, a heartbreaking result for a pair who had been dreaming of ending up on the podium. 

They were the only ice dancers to have a fall in the entire competition, and it came as they were preparing to do a combination spin. Their blades clicked just as he was bending down and she was beginning to spin. 

‘We were too close together,’ Chock explained.

‘It’s a moment we wish we could have back,’ Bates added. ‘It’s a mistake that has never happened in training before, ever. There’s no explanation.’



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk