Team USA Claims Figure Skating Team Event Gold as Malinin and Chock-Bates Deliver Clutch Performances

Team USA clinched the gold medal in the figure skating team event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 8, edging out Japan in a thrilling competition that came down to the final performances. The American squad's victory was powered by quadruple jump specialist Ilia Malinin and three-time world ice dance champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who delivered clutch performances when it mattered most at the Forum di Milano.

Malinin, dubbed the "Quad God" for his ability to execute multiple quadruple jumps including the quadruple axel, provided crucial points for Team USA with his technical prowess. The 20-year-old landed several high-difficulty jumps in his free skate performance, earning maximum points for the American team in the men's division. His performance was essential in maintaining the United States' narrow lead over a surging Japanese team that had been closing the gap throughout the competition.

Chock and Bates, competing in what may be their final Olympic Games, delivered a masterclass in the ice dance free dance segment. The duo, who have dominated international ice dance with three consecutive world championship titles, skated to a world-best score that solidified Team USA's position atop the leaderboard. Their chemistry and technical precision were on full display as they executed intricate choreography with seamless synchronization, drawing roars of approval from the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Japan mounted a serious challenge for gold, with reigning world pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara delivering a stunning 82.84-point routine in the pairs short program that had put Japan in contention. Kaori Sakamoto also contributed strong performances in the women's events, fulfilling what she called a "teammate's vow" to keep Japan competitive. The Japanese team's silver medal performance demonstrated the nation's rising prominence in figure skating across all disciplines.

The team event, which ran from February 6-8, featured competitions in men's singles, women's singles, pairs, and ice dance, with each country fielding entries in all four categories. Points were awarded based on placement in each segment, creating a cumulative scoring system that rewarded depth across disciplines. For Team USA, the gold medal provided an early morale boost and demonstrated the strength of American figure skating heading into the individual competitions later in the Olympics. The victory marks the United States' second consecutive team event gold, having also won at the 2022 Beijing Olympics after a lengthy adjudication process.