Samuelson began skating at age 5 after watching another girl while she was on vacation in Switzerland. She has two younger sisters. Bates' sister runs marathons and his brother is a dodgeball player. His father was the captain of Princeton's cross country team. Standing in second place after the Original Dance, Samuelson/Bates withdrew from the 2007 World Junior Championships during the Free Dance after she fell and he accidentally stepped on her hand, severing the tendon in her middle finger. The injury required hand surgery. The couple switched coaches following the 2009/10 season.