Are Chock and Bates married? Yes—Olympic ice dancers just won gold as husband and wife

Madison Chock and Evan Bates just made history at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The married ice dance duo won gold on February 8 in the team event, becoming two-time Olympic champions together as husband and wife for the first time.

From Ice Partners to Husband and Wife

Madison Chock and Evan Bates met as teenagers in Michigan’s figure skating community. When Chock was 12 years old, she moved to the area where Bates was training. They went on their first date to Bahama Breeze restaurant for Chock’s 16th birthday, though that early romance didn’t last at the time. The story became much more complicated when they became skating partners in 2011 after both needed new competitive teammates.

Years passed before romantic feelings emerged. In 2016, after five years of skating together and a decade of friendship, Bates confessed his love. According to Bates, he told Chock how he really felt, and everything changed. The couple kept their relationship private for one year before making it public in 2017.

A Proposal in Thailand, a Wedding in Hawaii

In June 2022, four months after the Beijing Olympics, Evan Bates proposed during a vacation in Phuket, Thailand. The ring was a vintage Cartier diamond from 1920 with an Art Deco design. Bates strategically chose June 11 (6/11) because they had been dating for six years and skating together for 11 years.

Two years later on June 20, 2024, the couple married in a tropical Hawaiian seaside wedding. Chock’s parents were born and raised in Hawaii, making the location deeply personal. Fellow Olympic figure skaters including Adam Rippon, Alexa Knierim, and Meryl Davis celebrated with the newlyweds. The ceremony featured lei exchanges and Hawaiian traditions, symbolizing unity and partnership.

Olympic Gold as a Married Team

Event	Year	Status
Team Event Gold	2022 Beijing	Won as partners
Team Event Gold	2026 Milan Cortina	Won as husband and wife
World Championships	2024-2026	Three-time reigning champions
Rhythm Dance (individual)	Feb 9, 2026	Second place to French rivals

Evan Bates, a University of Michigan alumnus, helped Team USA capture the team event gold medal at the Milan Ice Skating Arena on Sunday, February 8. He and Chock performed season-best scores in both the rhythm dance and free dance. This marks Bates’ second consecutive Olympic team gold and his fourth Olympic appearance, making him the first American ice dancer to compete in five Olympics.

“Skating was always the main focus, but as we’ve gotten older, I think the relationship has become the main focus. Skating obviously is still the main focus, but skating is kind of like our means of strengthening ourselves and our relationship and going through all the experiences of life together, and so the appreciation for the partnership has grown.”

– Evan Bates, Olympic ice dancer and newly married champion

The Secret to Their Success: 20 Years of Trust

Chock and Bates credit their deep friendship and trust for their competitive dominance. According to Bates, they have known each other for 20 years, been a couple for 10 years, and are now husband and wife for just over one year. The foundation of trust and friendship strengthens both their skating and their marriage. Bates explained that challenges on the ice actually brought them closer, creating the romantic pull that sparked their relationship.

Their shared passion for ice dance enriches their marriage rather than complicating it. Chock and Bates view their partnership as their own corner of the universe. They push each other, inspire each other, and share ideas constantly. The couple emphasize that their job doesn’t feel like their job because they love what they do together.

What’s Next for the Married Dance Champions?

With team gold already secured, Chock and Bates are now preparing for individual ice dance competition, where they are heavy favorites after winning the 2024 and 2025 world championships. They finished second in the rhythm dance on February 9, narrowly behind French rivals Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry. The free dance remains ahead, where they hope to claim their first individual Olympic gold together as a married couple.

Both skaters acknowledge that their marriage has shifted their perspective on competition. What matters most now isn’t just winning, but the partnership itself. Whether they claim individual gold or not, Chock and Bates have already achieved something remarkable. They made Olympic history by winning a team gold medal as husband and wife, proving that the deepest kind of partnership makes champions.

Sources

• People Magazine – Comprehensive reporting on Madison Chock and Evan Bates’ relationship, engagement, and wedding from 2022-2026.
• NBC Olympics – Official Olympic figure skating coverage and athlete interviews from the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
• USA Today – Olympic ice dance updates and breaking news coverage of Chock and Bates’ team gold medal victory.