Chock and Bates Trail French Duo After Ice Dance Rhythm Dance at Milano Cortina 2026

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States delivered a strong performance in the rhythm dance portion of the ice dance competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, but find themselves trailing France's Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry heading into Wednesday's free dance. The American duo, skating to a 1990s-themed program as required by the competition rules, showcased their technical precision and artistic expression but were unable to match the French pair's dominant showing. The rhythm dance results set up a compelling battle for gold in the free dance scheduled for February 11.

Chock and Bates entered the individual ice dance competition with considerable momentum after their spectacular performance in the team event earlier in the Games. The Michigan-trained duo scored a world-best 91.06 points in the rhythm dance portion of the team event, where they skated to a medley of Lenny Kravitz songs. Their pattern dance type step sequence earned top marks, with a technical elements score of 52.77 points contributing to their commanding performance that helped Team USA maintain a solid lead in the team competition.

The 2026 ice dance rhythm dance theme, "The Music, Dance Styles and Feeling of the 1990s," challenged all competitors to capture the essence of that decade while maintaining the technical requirements of Olympic-level ice dance. Chock and Bates have proven masters of interpreting musical themes throughout their career, having won multiple world championships and Olympic medals together. Their chemistry on the ice and innovative choreography have made them fan favorites and consistent medal contenders.

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron's first-place finish in the rhythm dance puts them in prime position to claim gold, but the competition remains wide open heading into the free dance. Ice dance competitions often see dramatic shifts between the rhythm dance and free dance portions, as the free dance allows for more artistic interpretation and carries equal weight in determining final placements. Chock and Bates will need a flawless free dance performance to overcome the deficit and capture their first individual Olympic gold medal.

The American pair's quest for individual gold continues a remarkable Olympic journey that has already seen them win team event gold at Milano Cortina 2026, adding to their medal collection from previous Games. Evan Bates, who trained at the University of Michigan, captured his second straight team Olympic gold with partner Chock when Team USA prevailed in the figure skating team event on February 8. Their consistency across multiple Olympic cycles demonstrates their longevity and sustained excellence in one of figure skating's most demanding disciplines.

The free dance on Wednesday, February 11, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET, will determine the final medals in ice dance at Milano Cortina 2026. Chock and Bates will skate with the knowledge that they need to deliver their best performance of the season to overcome the French duo and claim Olympic gold. With their proven track record in major competitions and their recent team event success, the Americans remain serious contenders to stand atop the podium when the ice dance competition concludes.