Skate America

Gracie Gold performs at the Hiltion HHonors Skate America competition.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American skater Gracie Gold won the bronze medal.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Gracie Gold performs in the free skate.   (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Fifteen-year-old Russian skater Elena Radionova performs in the free skate.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Elena Radionova won gold in the women’s competition.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Fans cheer on their favorite skaters, including Gracie Gold.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

French skater Mae Berenice Meite performs in the free skate.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Russian skater Elizaveta Tuktamysheva performs in the free skate.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Russian pairs skaters Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov compete in the Skate America competition at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates on Sunday.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American pairs skaters Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier compete.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American pairs skaters Madeline Aaron and Max Settlage placed fifth.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American skater Samantha Cesario performs in the free skate.   (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American skater Samantha Cesario performs in the free skate.   (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American pairs skaters Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier won a silver medal.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

American pairs skaters Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim placed fourth in the competition.   (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim perform.  (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Silver medalist Jason Brown, gold medal winner Tatsuki Machida of Japan and bronze winner Nam Nguyen of Canada at the medal stand.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown stands on the podium after receiving the silver medal in the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown slips during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown slips during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown falls during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Tatsuki Machida of Japan, winner of the gold medal in the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Tatsuki Machida of Japan, winner of the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jeremy Abbott of the United States during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Fans throw stuffed animals on the ice after the skate by Jason Brown.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Denis Ten of Kazakstan during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Artur Gachinski of Russia during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Douglas Razzano falls during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Chafik Besseghier of France during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Nam Nguyen of Canada during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Nam Nguyen of Canada during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Jorik Hendrickx of Belgium during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Alexei Bychenko of Israel during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Douglas Razzano of the United States during the Men’s Free Skate.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States during their gold performance during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Federica Testa and Lukas Csolley of Slovakia during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Federica Testa and Lukas Csolley of Slovakia during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Federica Testa and Lukas Csolley of Slovakia during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus, pumping his fist, during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy during the Ice Dance Free Dance.  (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune)

Young fans throw stuffed animals and flowers to the ice after Gracie Gold of the United States competes.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Gracie Gold of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Gracie Gold of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Gracie Gold of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Gracie Gold of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Elena Radionova of Russia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Elena Radionova of Russia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Haruka Imai of Japan falls to the ice while competing in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Haruka Imai of Japan competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Mae Berenice Meite of France competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Samantha Cesario of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Samantha Cesario of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Samantha Cesario of the United States competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Mirai Nagasu of the United States reacts after competing in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Mirai Nagasu of the United States falls to the ice while competing in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Brooklee Han of Australia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Natalia Popova of Russia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

So Youn Park of South Korea competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Elene Gedevanishvili of Georgia competes in the ladies short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Madeline Aaron and Max Settlage of the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierimof the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Alexa Scimeca and Chris Knierim of the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Hao Zhang, bottom, lifts Cheng Peng of China as they perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier of the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Haven Denney and Brandon Frazier of the United States perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov of Russia perform in the pairs short program.  (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA falls while competing in the men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Jason Brown of the USA competes in the Men’s short program.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus of the USA compete in the short ice dance.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Anastasia Cannuscio and Colin McManus of the USA compete in the short ice dance.  (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)