MILAN — Madison Chock and Evan Bates dazzled the audience and judges alike with a remarkable rhythm dance performance, scoring a world-best 91.06 points during the opening day of the team competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics. As reigning champions, the American duo was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from an audience that included Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Chock and Bates, who drew inspiration from Lenny Kravitz for their dance, managed to secure the maximum 10 points for their team, making a significant early impression in the competition. The three-time world champions are strong contenders for individual Olympic gold as the Games progress, although they face fierce competition from the French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who earlier set a world-best score of 89.98 points.
The pair expressed their focus on performing their best rather than dwelling on competition rankings. “We’re not focused on that,” Chock emphasized. “We’re just doing what we do.” Their outstanding routine certainly showcased their skills and dedication to the sport.
The team event appears to be shaping up as a contest between the United States and Japan for the gold medal. Following Chock and Bates’ impressive start, the U.S. team is in a favorable position, especially after Japan’s Utana Yoshia and Masaya Morita finished eighth.
Shortly after Chock and Bates’ performance, the U.S. was represented by Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea in pairs, alongside world champion Alysa Liu, who also performed her short program as anticipation built for the opening ceremony.
Reflecting on their performance, Bates shared, “We definitely skated great and we’re very happy, as you saw when we finished. I think we both felt the excitement of just getting these Olympics underway.” He added that being a part of the U.S. representation was a tremendous honor, particularly as he and Chock are the only returning gold medalists from the Beijing Games.
With a strong start, the American figure skating team is poised to make its mark in Milan, bringing hope and excitement for fans as they aim for continued success in this prestigious competition.