(Photo: Fabrizio Carabelli / PA Images via Getty)
MILAN, Italy — February 11, 2026 — In a performance defined by elegance and a decade of shared history, Ann Arbor’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates captured the silver medal in a pulse-pounding Ice Dance final tonight. Taking the ice at the Mediolanum Forum, the married duo performed their free dance to a hauntingly modern arrangement of “Paint It Black.” Their synchronization earned them a score of 134.67, placing them a razor-thin 0.94 points behind the French gold-medal team. “We poured every ounce of our ten years together into those four minutes,” Bates remarked, clutching the silver medal. While the narrow margin sparked debate among fans, the podium finish is a crowning achievement for the Michigan-based veterans. Did You Know? Ice Dance differs from “Pair Skating” because it prohibits overhead lifts and many jumps. It is often described as “ballroom dancing on ice,” where the focus is on intricate footwork and rhythm. Bates, a graduate of the University of Michigan, has now competed in five Olympic Games, making him one of the longest-tenured skaters in U.S. history.