Madison Chock and Evan Bates face their biggest Olympic challenge yet. The three-time world champions trail France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron by less than one point heading into Wednesday’s free dance in Milan. Can the Americans mount a comeback in figure skating’s most thrilling ice dance final?
🔥 Quick Facts
- Chock-Bates Score: 89.72 points in Monday’s rhythm dance, trailing by 0.46 points
- French Leaders: Fournier Beaudry-Cizeron scored 90.18 on their Madonna ‘Vogue’ performance
- Third Place: Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier sit on the podium with 86.18 points
- Free Dance Time: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 starting at 1:30 PM ET from Milano Ice Skating Arena
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Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a powerful Lenny Kravitz rock-and-roll rhythm dance, earning 89.72 points and proving why they remain Olympic gold favorites. The score represented their season’s best at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, yet fell just 0.46 points short of the lead.
Skating last on Monday night, the American duo showed exceptional technical execution and emotional performance quality. Bates spoke candidly after their skate, saying the feeling of accomplishment matters most. Chock remained confident, flashing a grin and declaring confidently afterward, “The game is always on. We’ve got this locked in.”
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Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron seized an early lead with their Madonna ‘Vogue’ routine, scoring 90.18 points and showcasing technically sharp twizzles and lifts. The newly-formed French team skated sixth in the starting order, delivering superior execution compared to their team event performance just days earlier.
Cizeron, a returning Olympic champion from Beijing, appears fully settled in his partnership with Beaudry. The pair’s polish and precision left Beaudry momentarily stunned when their score was announced. Despite controversy surrounding both skaters entering the Games, they’ve created a focused bubble with their coaching team, concentrating purely on their performances.
Rhythm Dance Final Standings and Analysis
| Team | Country | Score |
| Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron | France | 90.18 |
| Chock/Bates | USA | 89.72 |
| Gilles/Poirier | Canada | 86.18 |
| Fear/Gibson | Britain | 85.47 |
“The game is always on. You should know us by now. We’re not changing anything. We’ve got this locked in, locked in where we know ourselves, know our routine. And yeah, we’ve got this.”
— Madison Chock, Figure Skater
Free Dance Wednesday Promises Epic Showdown
The free dance format heavily favors Chock and Bates, who possess arguably the world’s strongest free skate. The Americans have spent four years pursuing individual Olympic gold after finishing fourth at Beijing, and their free dance is consistently world-leading. A minor step sequence penalty in the rhythm dance proved costly, costing them crucial points.
Defending champion Guillaume Cizeron and his former Olympic partner Gabriella Papadakis recently made headlines when her memoir accused him of being controlling and emotionally manipulative. Cizeron vehemently denied the allegations, calling them a “smear campaign.” Despite entering Milan facing scrutiny, Beaudry and Cizeron have focused entirely on their partnership and performances.
Will America’s Champions Reclaim Olympic Gold Wednesday Night?
Chock and Bates have dominated ice dancing over the past four years, winning three consecutive world titles and remaining nearly unbeatable with just four losses in their entire reign. Wednesday’s free dance becomes a championship moment, where one technical sequence or emotional delivery could determine Olympic medals. The Americans enter Milan as the favorites, needing only to match their world-class preparation against a surging French team intent on their debut partnership glory.
The battle for ice dance gold unfolds February 11 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Will the three-time world champions find their way back to the top, or will Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron complete their remarkable rise with Olympic victory?
Sources
- NBC Olympics – Official Olympic coverage of rhythm dance results and interviews
- ESPN – Associated Press reporting on ice dance standings and competitor analysis
- USA Today – Ohio-based coverage of Chock and Bates performance and strategic breakdown
Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world’s biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.