**Milan: U.S. Ice Dancing Power Couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates Claim Olympic Silver**
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, the U.S. ice dancing duo and real-life spouses, won their first individual Olympic medal on Wednesday, securing silver after two intense days of competition against their French rivals. This moment marked a significant redemption for the four-time Olympians who had narrowly missed the podium in Beijing four years ago before going on to win three consecutive national titles.
“It’s bittersweet,” Chock admitted tearfully after the event. “We really gave it our all, and I wouldn’t change anything about how we approached each performance or what we delivered.” She added, “We have a lot to be proud of and grateful for, with incredible careers supported by our families, coaches, and each other. Sometimes, that’s just how it shakes out.”
### Veteran Leaders of Team USA
Chock and Bates are among the most seasoned skaters on the U.S. team, and indeed at these Olympic Games. They played a key role in helping Team USA secure its second consecutive gold medal in the team event last weekend, delivering back-to-back season’s best scores in their programs.
However, the competition was fierce in the individual event, particularly from a newer and somewhat controversial French duo.
### Fierce Rivalry with French Champions
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, reigning European champions who only teamed up last year, narrowly led Chock and Bates by less than a point following Monday’s rhythm dance. This placed extra pressure on the American pair to perform flawlessly.
Chock remained confident, stating, “The game is always on, and you should know us by now—we’re not changing anything. We’ve got this locked in.”
On Wednesday, Chock and Bates delivered another season’s best with their flamenco-inspired “Paint It Black” program, with Chock brilliantly embodying the matador in a vibrant scarlet skirt. But the last duo of the night, Beaudry and Cizeron, performed strongly in matching teal outfits and surpassed the Americans by 1.43 points.
“It has a very particular taste, this medal,” Cizeron said humbly after. “It was a huge challenge. We went for it, and we couldn’t be happier.”
### Canadian Duo Takes Bronze
The bronze went to fan favorites Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Canada, three-time Olympians who dazzled in their Vincent Van Gogh-themed routine, both costume and music-wise. The skaters left the ice emotional but proud, wrapped in tears and hugs, knowing they had secured a well-deserved medal.
—
### Off-Ice Drama Surrounding the French Duo
The newly formed partnership between Cizeron and Beaudry has been clouded by controversy.
Cizeron previously skated with Gabriella Papadakis, a partnership considered one of the strongest in recent ice dance history. Together they won two Olympic medals, including a gold in Beijing, and five world titles before splitting in December 2024 with little public explanation.
In January, Papadakis published a tell-all book describing their two-decade partnership as deeply unequal. She accused Cizeron of controlling behavior and feeling “under his grip,” according to Associated Press translations. Cizeron has denied these accusations, calling them a “smear campaign” and engaged lawyers to address further claims.
Papadakis has also shared that she lost her Olympic commentary job with NBC as a result of speaking out. On Instagram, she urged followers to critically engage with the sport’s culture, stating, “As long as survivors are punished for speaking out, the sport cannot truly change or become safer.”
During Wednesday’s competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, the jumbotron displayed several women in the crowd with the title of Papadakis’ book written on their bare arms as a show of support.
—
Beaudry’s past is also under scrutiny. She previously skated for Denmark and Canada before teaming with Cizeron in March 2025. Beaudry’s former skating partner, whom she is still dating, faced suspension in 2024 over accusations of sexual assault against an American figure skater/coach in 2012—a claim he denies.
Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner banned Nikolaj Sorensen for at least six years over “sexual maltreatment,” although that ban was overturned in June 2025 due to jurisdictional issues. Sorensen has not returned to competition since.
Beaudry defended her boyfriend in the Netflix docuseries *Glitter & Gold: Ice Dancing*, which premiered just days before the Olympics. She stated, “When they decided to suspend him, it meant that his career was over, which also meant that my career was over. This was extremely difficult because it was not only about skating, it was about my integrity, it was about his integrity. I know my boyfriend 100 percent. I know him. And we [stood] strong together.”
However, the anonymous survivor told *USA Today* that such comments “create a dangerous environment for skaters who need to report abuse.” When asked to respond, Beaudry said, “We have no thoughts.”
—
### What’s Next for Chock and Bates?
Chock and Bates began skating together in 2011, started dating six years later, and married in 2024. Chock often designs their costumes and has even designed outfits for some of their rivals this year. The couple trains in Montreal and lives there with their two toy poodles, Henry and Stella, whom they brought to the Games in pin form for Olympic trading traditions.
This was their fourth Olympics together and Bates’ fifth overall, giving them a somewhat parental role on a team filled mostly with first-timers. Their younger teammates appreciate the mentorship they provide.
“I like to call them Mr. and Mrs. America,” 26-year-old Amber Glenn said. “They are absolutely incredible people and incredible athletes.” Glenn referred to them as “my Olympic champions” after Wednesday’s results.
Bates shared some humorous advice that he gave fellow teammate Danny O’Shea: to be cautious as the ribbons on their gold medals could come off if they jumped too much—advice O’Shea immediately ignored.
He also praised the younger generation of American skaters: “The depth is there and the talent is there. But more than anything, what I noticed about the younger generation is the spirit, the curiosity, the fearlessness. It’s the perfect balance of handling the nerves and just going out there with absolute joy and freedom.”
Young U.S. duo Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik, who placed fifth on Wednesday, are seen as following in Chock and Bates’ footsteps.
—
### Physical Toll and Future Plans
At the start of the Games, Bates, 36, acknowledged lingering back and neck issues, saying, “There’s mileage on the body. What we do isn’t easy, and it’s very physical. We’ve been really smart and intentional with our training this year, limiting the number of reps on things like lifts that could potentially cause a problem.”
When asked after the medal ceremony if their silver was motivation to continue competing, Chock responded sadly, shaking her head, while Bates said, “Not at the moment.”
Their future competitive plans remain uncertain, but their partnership off the ice is unwavering.
“The skating career is something short and finite, and the relationship is much, much longer,” Bates told NPR in October.
—
Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ Olympic silver medal is a testament to their resilience, skill, and love—both for the sport and each other—as they finish another remarkable chapter in their storied careers.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/11/nx-s1-5711198/madison-chock-evan-bates-ice-dance-olympics-france