Hubbell, Donohue pull off upset at U.S. championships

With no time to return to the hotel after a morning practice on Jan. 7, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue found a quiet spot at a Whole Foods market near SAP Center to visualize and discuss their free dance for one of the final times. “Be present.” Do not notice the animated crowd. Just skate beautifully together.

So when the music stopped hours later, they could finally release all of the emotions from years of hard work — and then, they had an upset national championship to show for it.

A flower bouquet cradled in her left arm, beaming as she stood atop the podium, Hubbell glanced down for a quick look at the gold medal around her neck.

She might not have seen this surprising U.S. title coming a couple of days ago.

With an entertaining and seductive performance that could practically have melted the ice, Hubbell and partner Donohue pulled off an ice dancing spoiler to close the U.S. Figure Skating Championships on Jan. 7.

The team beat out twotime defending champion sibling tandem Maia and Alex Shibutani with a score of 197.12, edging the Shibutanis’ 196.93.

Long afterward, an emotional Hubbell patted her red cheeks as a sign of just how much this means.

She and Donohue, each 26, are headed to their first Olympics. Later Jan. 7, a federation committee put both duos and the team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates on the roster for South Korea.

“Before the free dance, Zach and I made an agreement that despite any marks, our win tonight would be to be present and not be distracted by the audience and all of their amazing support and just keep it in our control,” Hubbell said, fighting tears.