Chock and Bates Lead Rhythm Dance: Live Olympics Figure Skating Updates
Team USA ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates have garnered attention as they balance their marriage and demanding skating careers. Competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the couple is aiming for gold in ice dance after already securing a gold medal in the team event. The rhythm dance, where they currently sit in second place, is crucial for their chances of winning in the upcoming free dance.
2026 Winter Olympics Ice Dance Competition
The Winter Olympics are showcasing intense competition in figure skating ice dance. On February 11, Chock and Bates will perform their free dance, which will determine medal winners. Following their rhythm dance on February 9, they ranked second with a total score of 89.72, closely trailing France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who topped the session with a score of 90.18.
Final Rhythm Dance Standings
| Position | Skaters | Total Score | Technical Score | Program Components Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laurence Fournier Beaudry/Guilauime Cizeron (France) | 90.18 | 51.94 | 38.24 |
| 2 | Madison Chock/Evan Bates (USA) | 89.72 | 51.54 | 38.18 |
| 3 | Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier (Canada) | 86.18 | 49.41 | 36.77 |
| 4 | Lilah Fear/Lewis Gibson (Great Britain) | 85.47 | 49.03 | 36.44 |
| 5 | Charlene Guignard/Marco Fabbri (Italy) | 84.28 | 47.83 | 36.45 |
| 6 | Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik (USA) | 83.53 | 48.27 | 35.26 |
This year’s Olympics have seen Chock and Bates loaded with responsibility, performing four times in six days. Originally skating together in 2011, the couple transitioned to partners in both skating and life, marrying in 2024. Despite heavy workloads, they are seasoned competitors, aiming for the elusive ice dance gold medal to complement their team event achievement.
The Challenges of Olympic Figure Skating
Ice dance requires different skills than traditional figure skating. The performances are evaluated based on rhythm, footwork, and choreography, devoid of the jumps and lifts found in pair skating. As the competition heats up, Chock and Bates must contend not only with their stress but also the challenges posed by previous performances and adverse conditions, notably skate issues encountered after a medal ceremony.
- Free Dance Date: February 11
- Rhythm Dance Date: February 9
- Next Competitors: Men’s singles start on February 10, pairs on February 15-16, women’s singles on February 17.
As the ice dance competition progresses, eyes will be on Chock and Bates as they strive to fulfill their goal of winning ice dance gold at the 2026 Olympics, solidifying their status as the most decorated ice dance pair in U.S. history.
