The two started skating together fairly recently, in 2011, and date a pair of other ice dancers, who just happen to skate together too.
But before they dated and skated, and broke up, they actually didn’t like each other at all.
“We were both competitors against each other and we hated each other,” Madison shared with People. “Our mutual coach at the time kind of forced us to start skating together just to kill time.
She adds, “We didn’t really want to skate together. It was fate.”
Madison and Zachary will make their Olympic debut TONIGHT @ 8PM ET/PT on NBC.
Maia and Alex Shibutani show off their strong skills on the ice at 2016 Progressive Skate America held at Sears Centre Arena over the weekend in Chicago, Ill.
“It’s not a choice a lot of other teams are making, but it really allows us to show our leg lines and movement and really just skate freely,” Maiashared of wearing pants for their short dance.
She added, “It was a collective thought from the group that created the program, and it’s one thing to have the idea, but it takes confidence to wear pants out there, and I have that now! So it’s just fun.”
“As @maiashibutani and I stood on the ice last night surrounded by an incredible crowd, we told each other to ‘Remember this moment. Remember this feeling.’ What is the ‘feeling’? Joy… Love… Pride… Gratitude… So many things,” Alex wrote on Instagram after the event.
He continued, “Throughout our career, we’ve performed in so many different places and we’ve been fortunate to experience so many special moments. But, to have the opportunity to close out the Free Dance at a World Championships in the United States, in Boston, at a venue that means so much to the both of us is the stuff that dreams are made of. Thank you to our family. Thank you to our coaches. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged us on this journey. We are so excited to share this with all of you.”
Alex & Maia Shibutani – Free Dance – Worlds 2016
15+ pics inside from the Free Dance at Worlds 2016…
The brother and sister duo will compete for the title on Thursday, March 31, against Team USA teammates Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, and current leaders Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron from France.
“Maia and I are very excited that the World Figure Skating Championships are here in Boston. The enthusiasm and support the city has shown for this event has been amazing, and the Local Organizing Committee has been working extremely hard so that we can all enjoy #Worlds2016,” Alex shared in a little note on Instagram.
He added, “As athletes, it is a gift that we can pursue our dream and perform for an audience. We truly appreciate your support and all of the gifts that are thrown out onto the ice. Because of your generosity, it is sometimes not possibly for the athletes to bring everything home. Therefore, a system will be in place at the TD Garden that will facilitate the donation and delivery of stuffed animals and gifts skaters have received to Boston Children’s Hospital.”
Be sure to tune in TOMORROW to watch Team USA compete for the medals at 7:30PM on NBC!
10+ pics inside of Alex, Maia, Madison C, Evan, Madison H and Zachary…
The 19-year-old Olympian wowed the crowd and judges with a flawless program, beating out Polina Edmunds, Ashley Wagner and Mirai Nagasu to take the title for the second year in a row.
Earlier in the day, Tarah Kayne and Danny O’Shea scored the Pairs title after scoring 211.65 points, ahead of reigning champs Alexa Scimeca and Christopher Knierim, and Marissa Castelli and Mervyn Tran.
“That’s no surprise,” Evan shared after the event. “We know very well the Shibutanis are excellent competitors and I think our rivalry is nothing new to anybody. We’re expecting that and I think it’s going to set up for a really good free dance tomorrow.”
While Madison and Evan are at the top with 73.95 points, the ShibSibs are just .11 behind in second with 73.84.
