Annika Chao

Annika Chao
Personal information
Born (2009-10-11) 11 October 2009 (age 17)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Home townIrvine, California, U.S.
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Country United States
DisciplineWomen's singles
CoachGrant Hochstein
Chris Pottenger
Caroline Zhang
Russ Scott
Anthony Evans
Tiffany Chin
Skating clubGlacier Falls Figure Skating Club
Began skating2012

Annika Chao (born 11 October 2009) is an American figure skater. She placed second at the U.S. Junior National Championships (2026) and second in the junior category of the Cranberry Cup International (2025).

Chao currently competes domestically and internationally at the junior level, and she has competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit representing the United States. Her coach, Grant Hochstein, also choreographs her programs. She is noted for her balletic skating movements and her spin technique.

Personal life

Annika is the daughter of Jackie Chao, and has an older sister named Addison. She enjoys playing tennis, reading, and baking, and has a pet rabbit. Chao attends California Online Public School. She is from Portland, Oregon, but later moved to California.

Career

Early years

Chao began skating at age 3 after attending skating classes with her sister, who wanted to start skating. She grew up skating at the Lloyd Center Ice Rink before moving her training location to Anaheim, California due to the difficulty of finding ice time in the Portland area. Chao was formerly a member of the Portland Ice Skating Club. Her former coaches include Diane Rawlinson and Rafael Arutyunyan.

2023–24 season: Junior international debut

Chao made her Junior Grand Prix debut at the 2023 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Thailand. She placed third after the short program and fifth overall. In October, she placed second at the Kings Cup International. At the Kings Cup, she achieved her international personal best score in the free skate, a 120.8. She qualified for the U.S. Championships after placing second at the Pacific Coast Sectional Singles Final, and placed 5th in the junior category of the 2024 U.S. Championships.

2024–25 season

Chao competed at the 2024 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Latvia and placed 8th overall. She placed 5th at the 2025 U.S. Championships and second at the 3rd Maria Olszewska Memorial.

2025–26 season

Chao placed second at the 2025 Cranberry Cup International. She went to the 2025 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Italy, and placed 5th. She scored 59.37 in the short program at that competition, achieving an international personal best score for that segment. At the 2025 Santa Claus Cup, she placed 1st overall. She went on to place 2nd at the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

2026–27 season

Chao attended the 2026 ISU Junior Grand Prix in China in August, where she placed 12th overall. In an interview after the 2026 U.S. Championships, Chao stated that she plans to begin competing at senior domestically in the following (2027–28) season.

Programs

Competition programs by season 
Season Short program Free skate program
2023-24
  • Performed by Alice Merton
  • Choreo. by Adam Blake & Phillip Mills
  • Performed by Adele
  • Choreo. by Adam Blake & Phillip Mills
2024-25
"Dog Days Are Over"
"I Surrender"
2025-26
 
"Waiting on a Wish"
2026-27
 
"The Nutcracker Op 71, Pas de deux"
"Romeo & Juliet"

Competitive highlights

Competition placements at junior level 
Season 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27
U.S. Championships 5th 5th 2nd
JGP China 12th
JGP Italy 5th
JGP Latvia 8th
JGP Thailand 5th
CS Cranberry Cup 2nd
King's Cup International 2nd
Olszewska Memorial 2nd
Santa Claus Cup 1st

References

  1. ↑ Schwindt, Troy; Walker, Elvin (19 August 2026). "Repeat Champions Crowned in Junior Pairs, Ice Dance". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Annika Chao - National Team: Figure Skating". U.S. Figure Skating. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Annika CHAO - International Skating Union 2026-27". isu-skating.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Karabaic, Lillian. "5 Pacific Northwest skaters take the ice at US Figure Skating Championships as 2026 Olympic race heats up". OPB. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Skating Magazine Archive". skatingmagazine.usfigureskating.org. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Smith, Rylie. "Recap: 2023 Junior Grand Prix Bangkok – Figure Skaters Online". Archived from the original on 9 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "ISU JGP Bangkok 2023 Junior Women Final Results". Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "2023 Kings Cup Junior Women Result". Archived from the original on 7 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "2024 Junior Grand Prix Season Kicks Off in Latvia". U.S. Figure Skating. 27 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Annika CHAO - International Skating Union 2025-26". isu-skating.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "2025 International Cranberry Cup - Junior Women". ijs.usfigureskating.org. Archived from the original on 23 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "ISU JGP Varese 2025 Junior Women Final Results". Archived from the original on 20 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "ISU JGP Xi'An 2026 Junior Women Final Results". www.isuresults.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Annika CHAO - International Skating Union 2023-24". Archived from the original on 7 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Annika CHAO - International Skating Union 2024-25". isu-skating.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.