“It was quite a relief,” Chan expressed, “and pure exhilaration. Like, ‘We accomplished it.’ We truly went out there, united, and performed that entire routine in sync. I felt like I was on top of the world.”
Chan, 28, and Howe, 29, are slated to compete in Monday’s free skate, joined by another American duo, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who landed in seventh. No American pair has earned a medal in this specific event since 1988, and the United States has yet to claim a gold.
Performing to CH2’s “Nyah,” the pair successfully navigated their routine with only a minor error — Chan’s hand briefly touched the ice during their third element, a throw triple loop, but no points were deducted.
“Stepping onto the ice felt incredibly good,” Howe stated. “I was so focused out there, and I know Emily was too, because we were right there together, striving to nail these elements.”
It’s uncommon for figure skaters to remain in one location for an extended period without active competition. They arrived in Milan over two weeks ago, and this marked their initial competitive performance of the Games.
Emily Chan’s partner, Estonian figure skater Aleksandr Selevko, also qualified for the competition. Their respective families had the opportunity to meet for the first time, posing for pictures atop the Duomo prior to the commencement of the Games.
Chan mentioned that her father and brother were in the audience, witnessing her compete live for the first time in over a decade. Howe’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law were present, along with an aunt and cousin he hadn’t seen in a considerable period.
“Witnessing the immense support from our family and friends who came here to cheer us on has been wonderful,” Howe remarked. “We are incredibly thankful.”
Alongside Maxim Naumov, who placed 20th in the men’s singles event, Howe and Chan are part of the largest group of skaters from the Skating Club of Boston to participate in the Olympics since 1992.
At the US championships, Howe and Chan initially struggled, ranking eighth out of ten pairs in the short program. Their impressive recovery in the free skate — their personal best as a pair — secured their spot at these Games.
“I believe there’s considerable pressure going into that competition, as we’re trying to determine if we’ll make the team,” Howe commented regarding the nationals. “So, once we learned we were on the team, we simply said, ‘Alright, let’s truly concentrate.’ ”
Inside Chan’s Team USA jacket, a message was emblazoned: “Trust the process.”
This sentiment characterizes their partnership on the ice, which commenced seven years ago in Norwood. Throughout this period, Howe has grappled with shoulder injuries — undergoing a torn labrum repair in May 2023 — and completed Army basic training. Howe is enrolled in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program and holds the distinction of being the first figure skater from the program to join an Olympic team.
They secured fifth place at the 2023 world championships but dropped to 12th in 2024, marking their first major competition after Howe’s injury. In January 2025, they finished fourth at the US championships, with Howe beginning basic training a month later.
Howe and Chan did not resume training on the ice together until June 2025, an unusual situation for teams vying for an Olympic spot. Chan noted that the condensed timeframe necessitated a more effective training strategy.
It’s safe to say, their efforts have yielded success.
“We were communicating with each other not only verbally but also physically throughout that routine,” Howe stated on Sunday. “And we truly managed to perform effectively.”
Katie McInerney can be reached at [email protected]. Connect with her on Instagram: @katiemac.sports.