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Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ path to an Olympics 2026 gold medal was supposed to be a smooth skate.
At least, that’s the reputation the Team USA skating duo had established for themselves ahead of the Milano Cortina games. However, their shoo-in shot for the top of the winner’s podium was slightly interrupted Feb. 9, when the couple—who have won three consecutive world titles—scored behind French rivals Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron in the rhythm dance.
For the opening segment dance, Chock and Bates skated to a Lenny Kravitz medley and scored an impressive, but surprisingly low 89.72, while their French counterparts earned a slightly better 90.18 for their skate to Madonna’s “Vogue.”
And while the United States pair entered the games as favorites, and had previously scored much better for the same routine, Chock said in a post-event interview, per NBC, “We were really happy with how we skated tonight.”
Meanwhile, Bates—with whom Chock tied the knot in 2024—argued they performed “even better” than in their team event, which landed them a score of 91.06.
“I think the emotion at the end of the program, the hug, the smiles, the bows—that is for me, the greatest memory of the Olympic Games,” Bates continued. “It's the feeling of accomplishment, knowing you did your best on the ice, and the rest isn't necessarily up to us.”
Despite the couple’s good sportsmanship, former Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, a commentator for the 2026 games, was “surprised” upon hearing their score.
As he put it, “Didn’t see that one coming.”
The ice dancers will complete their final dance, the free skate, on Feb. 11 to determine who will glide to the gold.
Xinhua/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, Beaudry and Cizeron’s hat being thrown into the ring is doubly surprising, considering the duo have only been competing together professionally for a few years. Beaudry—who previously competed for Team Canada—and Nikolaj Sørensen ended their longtime skating partnership in 2024, although they are still romantically involved, following sexual assault allegations made against him. (Sørensen has denied the allegations, but was suspended by Canada’s Office of Sport Integrity until it was overturned in June 2025. The case remains ongoing.)
Meanwhile, Cizeron came out of retirement for the 2026 games after winning gold in the Olympics 2022 with former partner Gabriella Papadakis. In January, Papadakis alleged in her memoir So As Not To Disappear that Cizeron was a “controlling,” “demanding,” and “critical” partner.
Shortly before the book was published, Cizeron denied Papadakis’ allegations in a statement, calling into question his former partner’s intention with publishing it less than a month before Milano Cortina’s Opening Ceremony.
Jumeau Alexis/ABACA/Shutterstock
“For more than 20 years, I have shown deep respect for Gabriella Papadakis, whom I have always regarded as a true partner," he said in a statement, per ESPN. "Despite a gradual erosion of our bond over the years, our relationship—based on equal collaboration both athletically and personally—has been marked by moments of success and mutual support.”
As far as Cizeron and Beaudry’s partnership goes, retired U.S. skater Adam Rippon claimed in Netflix’s Glitter and Gold documentary that it had “sinister energy.” As he put it, “I don't know if it's necessarily a story a lot of people are gonna root for at first.”
For more big moments from Olympics 2026, keep reading…
WANG Zhao/AFP via Getty Images
Scream and Shout
Japan's Kaori Sakamoto is surprised by her score in the women's singles free skating team event.
JASPER JACOBS/BELGA MAG/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
All the Emotions
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam wipes tears from her eyes after learning she set an Olympic record in the women’s 1,000-meter race.
Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Big Air
China's Eileen Gu competes in the women's freestyle slopestyle—which earned her a silver medal.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
With Him Always
U.S. skater Maxim Naumov holds a photo of his late parents close after competing in the men's single skating short program.
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Twists and Turns
A composite image shows off the many tricks seen in the women's freestyle slopestyle.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Pierogi Power
Polish figure skater Ekaterina Kurakova holds up a plushie of a pierogi—widely considered to be Poland's national food—as she celebrates with her teammates during the women's single skating short program.
Tom Weller/Getty Images
It's a Bird, It's a Plane
No, it's Team Austria's ski jumper Julia Muehlbacher.
Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images
Double Trouble
Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp of Austria zoom by during the luge women's doubles.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Say Cheese!
The winners of the figure skating team event snap a selfie with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition while on the podium.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ice to See You
Alysa Liu of United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women's single skating short program event.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
So Close
Team Great Britain's Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It's Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia's Jakub Hrones during the men's snowboard big air qualifiers.
Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images
Photo Finish
Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a training session.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match.
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