Who is Emily Chan?

Early Life and Athletic Origins

Emily Chan was born on February 7, 1998, and grew up in Pasadena, Texas, a city not traditionally associated with winter sports. Despite this, she fell in love with skating early. Her initial experience with the sport began at a friend’s birthday party at an ice rink around age four. From that joyful beginning, Chan took to the ice with a natural ease that soon became discipline and steady progress. Her parents, John and Mary Chan, and younger brother Alan would support her endlessly – from travel logistics to handmade skating costumes her mother crafted, including the outfit she wore at the Olympics.

While most young athletes focus on a single discipline, Chan’s early athletic life was wonderfully eclectic. Alongside skating, she trained in rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, and Chinese modern dance, showcasing her innate talent for athletic movement, balance, and performance. In gymnastics she excelled, winning state and regional championships; in dance and ballet she developed the grace that would later complement her technical skating elements.

This multidimensional foundation would later prove invaluable – not just as embellishment for her skating programs, but as evidence of an athlete who nurtured both athleticism and artistic expression. It’s a rare combination that distinguishes skaters at every level: power paired with poise, strength brought to beauty, and athletic precision enlivened by emotion.

Rise Through Competitive Ranks

Emily Chan’s early competitive record reflects promise and versatility. She was a 2015 U.S. novice figure skating champion and followed that with a 2016 U.S. junior championship title. While the novice and junior titles in singles are often stepping stones to professional careers in that discipline, Chan’s interests expanded beyond singles.

Her beginnings in pairs skating trace back to juvenile levels, where she began exploring the unique demands and dynamics of pairs competition – elements that require not just technical skill but intense coordination and sync with a partner. At times, this transition can be as challenging as mastering new technical elements: lifts, twists, throws, and synchronized footwork all require trust, timing, communication, and mental compatibility between partners.

After her early singles success, Chan adopted a long-term focus on pairs competition. This was a defining decision in her skating evolution – one that would eventually lead her to partner with Spencer Akira Howe.

Forming a Lasting Partnership with Spencer Akira Howe

In April 2019, Emily Chan teamed up with Spencer Akira Howe, a skater whose own journey had taken him from the Los Angeles area to training and competitive success in pairs. The duo based themselves at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, under the guidance of coaches Olga Ganicheva and Aleksey Letov — a coaching team known for developing technically sound and artistically expressive pairs teams.

Howe, born August 11, 1997, brought his own strengths to the partnership. Besides being a talented athlete, his background included military service; he is associated with the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program, balancing his skating ambitions with the demands of service — an uncommon but profoundly motivating combination.

Chan and Howe’s union was not an overnight success; their early seasons were defined by hard work, increasing synergy, and development. Pair teams often take years to achieve consistent performance because alignment and communication — both verbal and physical — are as important as technique. They trained intensively in Norwood and gradually improved their skills and competitive presence.

Their breakthrough on the international stage came with a fifth‑place finish at the 2023 World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan — a result that reflected both competitive maturity and promise among the world’s best pairs teams.

Yet despite that promising result, their trajectory was not linear.

Setbacks, Injuries, and the Road Back

Figure skating, like all elite sport, is unforgiving. Even as Chan and Howe appeared poised for continued success after 2023, adversity continued to test them.

In 2023, Howe was skating with a torn labrum in his shoulder, a serious injury that affects strength and mobility – especially crucial in pairs skating where lifts and support are fundamental. He underwent surgery in May 2023, and the pair were forced to withdraw from the 2023‑24 U.S. Championships while sitting in first place after the short program due to his recovery.

The recovery setback meant missing much of the competitive season that followed – a blow to rhythm, ranking, and confidence. They withdrew from Grand Prix assignments and lost valuable competition time. Returning to form after such an absence is a struggle that goes beyond physical healing; it requires rebuilding timing, trust, and competitive nerve. Such rebuilding is not smooth or guaranteed – it tests every partnership.

The 2024 U.S. Championships reflected these ongoing challenges. Despite being named to the U.S. team for the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Chan and Howe finished twelfth overall, a placement considerably lower than their 2023 performance. That period tested their resilience and commitment.

Rebuilding and Near‑Misses (2025 Season)

The 2024‑25 season was a period of recovery and rebuilding for the pair. They experienced moderate results in Challenger Series and Grand Prix events: a fourth‑place finish at the 2025 CS John Nicks International and a bronze medal at the 2025 CS Trialeti Trophy, and placements in the 2025 Grand Prix circuit where they competed strongly but fell short of podium finishes.

They finished fourth at the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, narrowly missing a national podium spot that season – a bittersweet result that nonetheless kept them within striking distance of international selection.

At this stage, Chan and Howe were not top favorites – often competing behind teams that might have had higher world rankings or more consistent seasons. Yet the broader landscape of pairs skating, especially heading into 2026, was unusual: two pairs ahead of them at the 2026 U.S. Championships were later disqualified from the Olympic team due to citizenship issues, which would dramatically alter Chan and Howe’s destiny.

These twists of fate, though beyond their control, highlighted the unpredictable nature of sport – how opportunities can arise from circumstances that test every athlete’s readiness and adaptability.

The 2026 U.S. Championships & Olympic Selection

The 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis were a crucial moment for Chan and Howe. After an unsteady short program that placed them eighth, they delivered a stronger free skate – reminiscent of their best performances – and climbed to fourth place overall.

Normally, the top finishers at nationals secure selection for the Olympic team. However, because both the gold medalists and the bronze medalists did not have U.S. citizenship in time to compete for the United States, the selection committee awarded the Olympic pairs spots to Chan and Howe and the other eligible team.

This twist was both a validation and a challenge – a chance to compete at the greatest international stage without the certainty that comes from being a favored team. Yet Chan embraced it fully, embodying a mindset she and Howe had developed over years together: “Trust the process.” One observer noted this message printed inside her Team USA jacket during the Olympics, a testament to the emotional and athletic process she had endured.

Making Olympic History: Milano‑Cortina 2026

In February 2026, Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe made their Olympic debut at the Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy – a journey that began with inflatable rings and birthday cakes at Texas ice rinks and culminated in the world’s most prestigious sporting event.

Two Americans competing among the top 10 in pairs was itself noteworthy: for the first time since the 1920s, the United States had two pairs teams (including Chan/Howe) secure placements in the Olympic top 10.

Their Olympic short program session positioned them ninth, and their free skate marked a powerful comeback – scoring a personal season‑best free skate score of 130.25 and finishing seventh overall with a combined score of 200.31.

Though they did not reach the podium, their performance was remarkable for several reasons:

It was Chan’s first Olympic appearance at age 28, a stage reached through years of persistence.
Their free skate marked their best score in that program at a major international event.
They outscored their U.S. counterparts in the pairs event, demonstrating the quality and execution of their performance.
Their overall placement ahead of other experienced teams highlighted their competitive maturity and resilience.

Though the United States did not medal in the pairs event – the nation’s last Olympic medal in pairs dating back to 1988 – Chan and Howe’s placement contributed to the visibility and progress of U.S. pairs skating on the global stage.

Beyond the Scores: The Person Behind the Skates

To reduce Emily Chan’s career to scores and placements would miss the essence of her story. She represents a blend of ambition, artistry, intellect, and compassion.

Her official biography notes that she graduated valedictorian from Texas Online Preparatory School – a reflection not just of athletic drive but academic discipline and balance.

Beyond competition, Chan has pursued interests that deepen her connection to others. She is studying family and marriage counseling at Grand Canyon University, a field centered on empathy, communication, and support – qualities she brings into coaching young skaters at the Skating Club of Boston.

Her hobbies – from traveling and discovering new cafes to making jewelry, cooking, and baking – reflect a personality that thrives on creation, exploration, and community. These interests are not mere diversions but extensions of her humanity: curiosity, joy for life, and the ability to savor small pleasures amidst the demands of elite sport.

Legacy and the Next Chapter

Emily Chan’s story is not yet finished. At 28, she achieved her Olympic debut – a testament to longevity in a sport that often sees athletes peak early. The 2026 Winter Olympics may serve as both culmination and springboard: a high point that catalyzes further ambition, creativity, and contribution to skating.

Her legacy extends beyond placements. It is found in:

Young skaters she mentors, who see in her not just skill but heart and tenacity.
Her academic pursuits, which signal a life beyond competition rooted in helping others.
Her adaptability and resilience, transforming setbacks into motivation.
Her embodiment of an athlete who values artistry and athleticism equally – a model for future pairs skaters.