Team USA’s star ice dance duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a powerful performance to win the silver medal in the Ice Dance event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This marks their first individual Olympic medal, adding to their impressive career that already includes team gold medals in 2022 and 2026.
The experienced American pair produced a near-flawless routine in the Free Dance, but fell short of gold by a narrow margin of just 1.43 points, making it one of the closest finishes of the competition.
A Gold Battle Decided by the Smallest Margin
Chock and Bates entered the Free Dance in strong position after finishing second in the Rhythm Dance. Their dramatic flamenco-themed routine set to “Paint It Black” impressed judges with strong technical execution, smooth lifts, sharp twizzles, and high-level choreography.
Despite the clean performance and multiple Level 4 elements, the French pair edged ahead with slightly higher scores in the final segment.
Many fans and analysts believed the American performance was gold-worthy, highlighting how ice dance judging often comes down to fine artistic and technical differences.
Ice Dance Medal Results – Milan-Cortina 2026
| Medal | Pair | Country | Rhythm Dance | Free Dance | Total Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Guillaume Cizeron | France | 90.18 | 135.64 | 225.82 |
| Silver | Madison Chock / Evan Bates | USA | 89.72 | 134.67 | 224.43 |
| Bronze | Piper Gilles / Paul Poirier | Canada | 86.18 | 131.56 | 217.74 |
Performance Highlights
The French champions performed their Free Dance to “The Whale” soundtrack, earning the highest segment score of the event. This victory gave Guillaume Cizeron his second Olympic gold, while it was the first Olympic medal for Laurence Fournier Beaudry.
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier delivered an emotional routine to “Vincent”, securing their first Olympic medal, with both skaters visibly emotional at the finish.
A Historic Achievement for Team USA
For Chock and Bates, the silver medal holds special significance. The pair has been skating together for 15 years, are married, and competed in their fourth Olympic Games.
With this result, they now hold three Olympic medals:
- Team Gold – 2022
- Team Gold – 2026
- Individual Silver – 2026
They also became the first U.S. ice dancers to win team gold and individual silver at the same Olympics.
After the event, the duo expressed pride in their performance, saying they gave their best and would not change anything.
Event Details
The Ice Dance Free Dance took place on February 11, 2026, at the Milan Ice Skating Arena. Chock and Bates were only 0.46 points behind after the Rhythm Dance, setting up a tight final battle.
Reports noted that the American routine was technically clean, while the French program had minor issues, but still received higher component scores — a reminder of the subjective nature of ice dance judging.
This medal could mark the final Olympic appearance for the veteran American pair. Even without gold, their consistency, longevity, and influence have made them one of the most successful ice dance teams in U.S. history.
The result also sparked strong reactions from fans, many calling the performance worthy of the top podium spot, while praising the duo for their grace and sportsmanship.
The Milan-Cortina event highlighted how close the competition has become at the top level. With scores separated by small margins, artistry, musical interpretation, and execution precision continue to play a decisive role in Olympic ice dance.
