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US dancers Chock and Bates, Canadian's Gilles and Poirier building figure skating's best rivalry

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World Championships Figure Skating

Madison Chock and Evan Bates, of the United States, perform during the ice dance rhythm dance program at the figure skating world championships, Friday, March 28, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

BOSTON (AP) — The word “rivalry" tends to carry a combative connotation, so perhaps it's best to describe the relationship between American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates and their Canadian counterparts, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, as healthy competition.

They are fond for each other. Yet they also push each other every time they step on the ice.