Team USA 2018-19 will have a very different look to the one that competed last season. Though Adam Rippon, Mirai Nagasu and Ashley Wagner have been named to the team, the trio have confirmed they will not compete on the Grand Prix circuit this season. Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani have confirmed they are taking the entire season off.
Reigning World champion Nathan Chen is heading into his first semester at Yale University this fall. He is slated to compete at two Grand Prix events, Skate America and Internationaux de France. Though Adam Rippon has been named to the team it is highly unlikely he will continue with his competitive skating career, given his new-found celebrity status in Hollywood. He has achieved everything he hoped to in his skating career, so moving on to new adventures seems the most logical move at this time. Jason Brown and Vincent Zhou will be aiming to have quality seasons, respectively, and improve on last year′s results and standings.
Grant Hochstein announced his retirement in early August. He will marry former U.S. ladies competitor Caroline Zhang on August 18. The couple are both now coaching full-time and are working with the next generation of American skaters.
Bradie Tennell, the reigning U.S. ladies champion, opens her Grand Prix season at Skate America. Gracie Gold is also planning a comeback after taking time away to regroup. Though she has no assigned Grand Prix competitions via US Figure Skating, she has been invited to Rostelecom Cup in mid-November and said she plans to attend. Starr Andrews will make her debut in the senior Grand Prix ranks at Skate America.
Ice dancers Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons kicked off the new season with a silver-medal finish at the first Challenger Series event, Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy, in early August.
Skaters assigned to Team USA 2018-19:
