(NEXSTAR) - The parents of Olympic skaters Madison Chock and Evan Bates expressed pride and relief following the couple's performance. Chock and Bates, who are married and the reigning world champions, are currently competing for a spot on the Olympic podium. Mothers Nancy Bates and Barbara Chock discussed the years of dedication and strict routines required for the athletes to reach the highest level of competition. The couple currently trains in Montreal and has spent the last several years focused on their preparation, often foregoing family vacations to maintain their competitive edge. Nancy and Barbara described the intense and contrasting emotions they experience while watching their children compete. Nancy noted that while Barbara often remains calm during events, she frequently feels anxious. "Well, she's calm... she'll pat me on the leg and go, 'they're fine, they'll be fine'," Nancy said. "I'm just a wreck and she's just cool." Barbara explained that the overwhelming feeling following a performance is one of relief. "I was just so happy for them," Barbara said. "And then it just, you feel such relief." She added that the athletes are currently in a good place and "love what they do." The parents highlighted the extreme discipline required for elite skating, noting that the couple has not taken a family vacation in nearly three years. Their daily lives are defined by a strict routine that includes early bedtimes and limited visits to family homes in Palm Springs or Michigan. Nancy said the skaters often go to bed early and ask family not to call after 8:00 p.m. because they are focused on the "product on the ice." The couple travels and trains with their two dogs, Henry and Stella. Barbara noted that custom pins featuring the dogs, produced by the pet food company Nulo, have recently gained attention online. "Stella's is really cute because her tongue's hanging out because she has no teeth," Barbara said. Henry has previously been featured on the boards during national competitions. The friendship between the two mothers began around 2007 or 2008 during a costume fitting in Ann Arbor. At the time, Chock—whom her mother refers to as Maddie—was skating with a different partner. Barbara recalled that Nancy suggested the two go to lunch, where they first discussed the idea of their children skating together. "Who knew, right?" Barbara said of the suggestion. The relationship between the skaters eventually turned personal. Barbara recalled that Bates took Maddie out for her 16th birthday, picking her up in Nancy's red pickup truck. She noted that her daughter still keeps the Victoria's Secret hoodie he bought for her on that first date. Nancy said the two families remain close, often sharing information they hear from their respective children to stay updated on their lives. "When we want to know something, she hears it from Evan and then calls me and I listen to Maddie and then I call her," Nancy said. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published.