Chock and Bates skate through sickness to title in what may be last nationals dance

Madison Chock and Evan Bates strike a pose while winning 5th U.s. title. (U.S. Figure Skating)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There is no more haunting question in life than, “What if?”

The desire not to let it go unanswered played a significant part in why ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates competed in the free dance Saturday afternoon at the Prevagen U.S. Championships.

Both had been sick for at least a day. Chock said it had felt like a 24-hour flu. How Bates felt was evident by the pallor of his face.

They already have enough baubles to fill several trophy cases. Yet they were determined to try for another in a discipline with spinning that could make a healthy person dizzy and lifts that require strength and sure-footedness on a slippery surface.

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