Olympic Team Event bronze medalist Adam Rippon and two-time Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani have withdrawn from the event.
Third alternate Max Aaron will replace Rippon in the men’s event. Both Jason Brown and Ross Miner, the first and second alternates, respectively, declined invitations to the event. Aaron won the bronze medal at Cup of China in the fall, and recently placed fifth at the Four Continents Championships. This will mark Aaron’s fourth appearance at the World Championships.
First alternates Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker will replace the Shibutanis in the ice dance event. The duo won the Four Continents Championships in February and placed fourth at the 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
In total, sixteen athletes will represent the United States in Milan later this month.