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Madison Chock and Evan Bates continue their figure skating journey after the 2026 Winter Olympics, where they won team event gold and their first Olympic ice dance medal. The couple is experiencing a surge in figure skating enthusiasm as they move forward.
Madison Chock, Evan Bates on life, figure skating after Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics ended more than two months ago, but Madison Chock and Evan Bates havenāt stopped.
Fresh off winning team event gold and their first ice dance Olympic medal, the decorated American figure skating couple have kept things moving. While the four-year cycle has wrapped up, there hasnāt been much time to process it all.
However, there is one thing noticeably different than a few months ago: the figure skating hype is palpable.
The Olympics is where stars are made, where a new American icon emerges every four years to captivate the country. It just so happens in 2026, there were plenty of stars coming from the ice.
Joining Chock and Bates is āQuad Godā Ilia Malinin after his heroics clinched team gold and the stunning performance in the menās competition, as well as the āBlade Angelsā in Amber Glenn and Isabeau Levito led by Olympic champion Alysa Liu, who grasped audiences of all demographics with her gold-medal winning free skate and .
Madison Chock and Evan Bates won a team event gold medal and their first Olympic ice dance medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After the Olympics, Madison Chock and Evan Bates have continued to pursue their figure skating careers and have noticed a heightened interest in the sport.
The 2026 Winter Olympics marked a pivotal moment for Chock and Bates as they achieved their first Olympic medal in ice dance and contributed to the team's gold medal.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates are focusing on their ongoing figure skating careers and adapting to the increased excitement surrounding the sport.

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All of it has led to a special time in the sport, with the momentum far from done.
āIt's been so exciting to see the excitement that people have for figure skating,ā Chock told USA TODAY Sports.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France won gold in figure skating ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The U.S. ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the silver medal with a total of 224.39 points after scoring a 134.67 in their free dance.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of United States perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Piper Gilles and partner Paul Poirier of Team Canada compete in the during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
USA's Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Allison Reed and partner Saulius Ambrulevicius of Team Lithuania compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Evgeniia Lopareva and partner Geoffrey Brissaud of Team France compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Canada's Zachary Lagha and Marjorie Lajoie compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 11, 2026.
Spain's Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 11, 2026.
USA's Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Finland's Juulia Turkkila and Finland's Matthias Versluis compete in the figure skating Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Diana Davis and partner Gleb Smolkin of Team Georgia compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Natalie Taschlerova and partner Filip Taschler of Team Czechia compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Marie-Jade Lauriault and partner Romain le Gac of Team Canada compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Phebe Bekker and partner James Hernandez of Team Great Britain compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Katerina Mrazkova and partner Daniel Mrazek of Team Czechia compete in the Ice Dance - Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Holly Harris and Jason Chan of Australia skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena onFeb. 11, 2026.
Sweden's Nikolaj Majorov (R) and Sweden's Milla Reitan compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
Sofia Val and partner Asaf Kazimov of Team Spain compete in the Ice Dance - Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France won gold in figure skating ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The U.S. ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the silver medal with a total of 224.39 points after scoring a 134.67 in their free dance.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
1 / 20
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France won gold in figure skating ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The U.S. ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the silver medal with a total of 224.39 points after scoring a 134.67 in their free dance.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of United States perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
3 / 20
Piper Gilles and partner Paul Poirier of Team Canada compete in the during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
4 / 20
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Britain perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy perform during the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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USA's Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
7 / 20
Allison Reed and partner Saulius Ambrulevicius of Team Lithuania compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Evgeniia Lopareva and partner Geoffrey Brissaud of Team France compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Canada's Zachary Lagha and Marjorie Lajoie compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 11, 2026.
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Spain's Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 11, 2026.
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USA's Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Finland's Juulia Turkkila and Finland's Matthias Versluis compete in the figure skating Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
13 / 20
Diana Davis and partner Gleb Smolkin of Team Georgia compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Natalie Taschlerova and partner Filip Taschler of Team Czechia compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Marie-Jade Lauriault and partner Romain le Gac of Team Canada compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
16 / 20
Phebe Bekker and partner James Hernandez of Team Great Britain compete in the Ice Dance Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Katerina Mrazkova and partner Daniel Mrazek of Team Czechia compete in the Ice Dance - Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Holly Harris and Jason Chan of Australia skate during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena onFeb. 11, 2026.
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Sweden's Nikolaj Majorov (R) and Sweden's Milla Reitan compete in the figure skating ice dance-free dance final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
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Sofia Val and partner Asaf Kazimov of Team Spain compete in the Ice Dance - Free Dance during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 11, 2026 in Milan.
USA TODAY Sports spoke with Chock and Bates as part of their partnership with Nulo, the pet food brand that was behind their iconic Olympic pins that featured their dogs, Stella and Henry, that became hot commodities in Milano Cortina.
You would think after all that time away from home and their fur babies, Chock and Bates would be able to relax and spend time with their ānucleus.ā Think again.
Bates noted they have been moving ānon-stopā since leaving the Winter Games, only getting some time at home with Stella and Henry before they went back on the road. Going on Broadway, Oscars after-parties and now the "Stars on Ice" tour, which is touring across the U.S. through May, capitalizing on the sport in the spotlight.
The couple have noted there have been new audiences that are coming out to see them, thanks to Liu and company showing āa different side of the sport that maybe more people can relate to in that way.ā
Of all the storylines that came out of figure skating at the Olympics, one of the most controversial was the ice dance results. Chock and Bates finished second behind the French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Despite a flawless performance on the ice, the American pair were denied gold, thanks to some puzzling judging, notably from a French judge.
Chock and Bates were emotional after they took silver in the event, with Chock saying a day later āit does a disservice to our sportā when āthe public is confused by results.ā
Now more than two months afterward, how does it feel?
āSometimes we reflect on the memories in Milan, and honestly, so many of them are so positive that I think that's the overwhelming feeling: still it was a great success,ā Bates said.
Like theyāve said several times since then, the couple feel like they skated the best they could inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena. Plus, winning two medals is still impressive.
Constantly moving since the games has helped navigate the feelings from the results, but it hasnāt tainted the experience they had in their fourth Olympics together. Chock noted regardless, āour life will go onā and it doesnāt define them.
āWhen you're busy, like we are, it kind of helps you to work through the maybe less positive emotions that we felt,ā Bates added. āI think when the dust settles and we look back, I think we're gonna have still just the best feeling about Milan and everything that we did.ā
What added to the emotions was this was the belief 2026 would be the last Olympic appearance for the duo, with Chock, 33, and Bates, 37, wanting to go out on top after winning so many competitions in their 15 seasons together.
They didnāt compete in the 2026 world championships, which is ordinary for Olympians coming off the short turnaround. It completed the 2025-26 season, but thereās curiosity if they will compete again, especially now with the International Skating Union announcing the 2026-27 slate, which begins in October.
At this time, Chock and Bates havenāt decided what their competitive future holds, just trying to enjoy life and see what else it has to offer.
āWe're really allowing ourselves to have some time and space before we settle into any one thing in particular,ā Chock said. āSkating has been such a huge part of our lives, and something that we want to really let it have its space. Let ourselves have some space and just kind of recalibrate and see what, what our next passion will be, and how we'll continue to stay involved in figure skating.ā
Right now, itās all about enjoying āStars on Iceā with their fellow Olympians. Bates said his back feels good, something that had been nagging at him in the lead up to the Winter Olympics. Even with consistent performances every week, he said heās been mostly pain free, a good indication for what their future could hold.
Whether itās competing again or not, Chock and Bates are still proud to see where figure skating has come.
āIt was really cool to just see how much people watched figure skating at the Olympics, how into it they were and how excited they were about it. It's really great for our sport, and it feels really good to be part of something that has impacted so many people in such a positive way,ā Chock said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's in the future for Madison Chock, Evan Bates after Olympics?