Boston – American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates They have always been treated with such kindness and support of people at their training base for a long time in Montreal that Canada has become a second home for them.
Many of his closest friends are Canadians. They spend as much time there and in the United States.
None of that has necessarily changed, despite the divisive Rhetoric of government officials of both countries and Rate wars over low heat Among the allies of a lifetime. However, the two figures of figures have begun to notice other differences lately.
“We were in a cafe last weekend,” said Cock, “and Evan ordered a coffee, an American, and the barista delivered it and said:” Here is his Canadien. “And we think, ‘Oh.
“That was our first experience with that reflected in Canada.”
Now, the reigning world champions are curious about what Transpire this week in Boston, Where they will try to win their third consecutive title against a field that includes their dear friends and rivals for a long time, Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier de Canada.
Will American fans of TD Bank Garden support everyone universally, as well as the custom in artistic skating, when the competition begins on Wednesday? Or will there be more cheers than usual for Chock and Bates, and maybe even some boos for their northern neighbors, in what should be a preview of the 2026 winter Games in Italy?
“The United States has always had a very global reach when it comes to politics and culture,” said Chock, reflecting on that coffee meeting, “but we never saw that really reflected in it until that moment, when it was like, ‘Oh, it’s fine. Now I understand'”.
The World Couples champion, Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps, are so uncertain what type of reception will have in Boston. Stellato-Dudek was born in the suburbs of Chicago, but about three months ago he approved the exam become Canadian citizenwhich was required for her to compete for that country at the Winter Olympic Games.
That plan was launched long before Donald Trump returned to the White House, when the notion that Canada became a state 51 seemed frankly absurd and the American liquor was was still being supplied on the shelves of Canadian stores.
Stellato-Dudek ended twice in the US Championship.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps considered skating for the US. The Olympic letter requires that athletes have the nationality of the country represented by its National Olympic Committee to compete in summer or winter Games.
“I represented the United States for many years. I am very proud to represent Canada. Now I am a Canadian citizen, which is the honor of my life,” said Stellato-Dudek. “And I have a family that still lives in the United States that will be in an American world to come to see me. They are there to encourage me, and I am excited to skate for them.
“I think sport is one of the few things that unite people of all different nationalities and around the world,” added Stellato-Dudek, “and I hope this world championship also does this for all.”
It promises to be an interesting trial case since the United States will be the host, together with Canada and Mexico – The World Cup next yearAnd two years later, Los Angeles will welcome the world for 2028 Summer Olympic Games.
Even newly chosen President of the Kirsty Coventry International Olympic CommitteeA former Zimbabwe swimmer who graduated from the University of Auburn, alluded to the challenges that could come when dealing with the Trump administration, either due to commercial wars, the war in Ukraine, diversity problems or a large number of other potentially discordant views.
“I have been trying, say difficult men in high positions since I was 20 years old,” Coventry said after winning the COI’s elections in Costa Navarino, Greece. “What I have learned is that communication will be key.”
Meanwhile, the artistic skaters who go to Boston this week hope that sports can be a unifying force.
“I mean, we have passed (that) sport is not political. We have been raised in that way,” said Gilles, who was born in Rockford, Illinois, but whose mother and grandmother are Canadians and became a Canadian citizen 12 years ago.
“We are lucky to be able to skate in Canada and the United States and have been welcome on both soils,” he said. “We are a little focused on our work, and we let the sport be sports, and let’s not let it be political. We cannot focus on what we cannot control. We can control our skating and we can control that we are proud of our country and proud to represent our country in the United States,”
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