Chesterfield teen to skate for Team USA in international competitions
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County teenager will roller skate for Team USA in two upcoming international competitions, including one this October in Beijing, China.
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Chesterfield officials shared a profile on 17-year-old Madison Gray of the Midlothian area. The Midlothian High School graduate and current Longwood University freshman is a competitive roller skater who "rolls" with the Chester Skating Team, which is based at Chester Skateland.
She recently qualified to skate for Team USA in two international competitions. This includes the World Figure Cup in Buenos Aires in late September, as well as the Artistic World Championships in Beijing, China in October.
This is a great accomplishment on its own -- but Gray had to surmount a significant injury to make it this far.
Artistic skater Madison Gray at Chester Skateland Thurs. Sept. 11, 2025. (Photo: Chesterfield County Government)
According to the county, while training in Sept. 2024, Gray fell and hit her head. This left her severely concussed. She battled the symptoms for several months.
By July, she recovered enough to be able to participate in the USA Roller Sports Nationals in Reno, Nevada. She made runner-up in the Junior Women's Division in both figures and solo free dance. It's this strong performance that qualified Gray for Team USA.
“To be standing here today, knowing I’m going to be competing at the world championships, is mind-blowing,” Gray said in an interview with Chesterfield. “I’ve come a long way in just the last year. I’ve had some bumps in the road, but I bounce back stronger every time.”
Artistic skater Madison Gray at Chester Skateland Thurs. Sept. 11, 2025. (Photo: Chesterfield County Government)
Artistic skater Madison Gray at Chester Skateland Thurs. Sept. 11, 2025. (Photo: Chesterfield County Government)
Gray told the county that her ultimate goal is to go to medical school and become an emergency room physician. While balancing her academic dreams with skating isn't easy, both of her passions are important to her.
"I like school a lot – making the decision to do both was something I considered carefully," she said. "I’m going to do everything I can to do two things I love and be able to achieve at both of them."
If you'd like to read more about Gray's story, you can visit Chesterfield's website. You can also follow her journey by checking out her Facebook page.
