Czech Ice Dancers Use AI Music at Olympics: A ‘Depressing Symbol’
- The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are already delivering moments that spark conversation, and not always for the athletic feats themselves.
- As Daniel Mrázek executed a complex lift, an NBC commentator casually noted that the music was “AI generated.” The admission, as baffling as the athletic display itself, highlighted...
- This season’s Olympic theme for the rhythm dance is “The Music, Dance Styles, and Feeling of the 1990s.” While many pairs opted for authentic ‘90s tracks – Lilah...
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan are already delivering moments that spark conversation, and not always for the athletic feats themselves. Czech ice dancers Kateřina Mrázková and Daniel Mrázek, making their Olympic debut on Monday, , found themselves at the center of a debate surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in their performance – specifically, in the music accompanying their rhythm dance.
As Daniel Mrázek executed a complex lift, an NBC commentator casually noted that the music was “AI generated.” The admission, as baffling as the athletic display itself, highlighted a growing trend and a potential gray area within the highly regulated world of competitive ice skating. The duo’s choice doesn’t technically violate any rules, but it’s raised questions about artistic integrity and the future of music in the sport.
This season’s Olympic theme for the rhythm dance is “The Music, Dance Styles, and Feeling of the 1990s.” While many pairs opted for authentic ‘90s tracks – Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson of Great Britain paid homage to the Spice Girls, and American favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates skated to a Lenny Kravitz medley – Mrázková and Mrázek took a different approach, blending a portion of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” with a track generated by AI. It’s a combination that, to put it mildly, feels… unusual.
And this isn’t a one-time experiment for the Czech siblings. According to the International Skating Union, their music selection for the rhythm dance has been “One Two by AI (of 90s style Bon Jovi)” and “Thunderstruck by AC/DC.” The AI-generated portion of their routine initially drew criticism for its uncanny resemblance to another ‘90s hit: New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give.” The AI lyrics, it turned out, weren’t just *inspired* by the song, but contained direct lifts – including the opening lines “One Two” and phrases like “Wake up, kids/We got the dreamer’s disease” and “First we run, and then we laugh ’til we cry.”
Facing backlash, the duo altered the music before the Olympics, swapping out the New Radicals-inspired lyrics for AI-generated lines that, journalist Shana Bartels pointed out, bear a striking similarity to Bon Jovi’s “Raise Your Hands.” The AI “vocalist” even mimics Bon Jovi’s style. The irony, however, is that “Raise Your Hands” wasn’t released until 2000, placing it outside the specified ‘90s timeframe. This led to a somewhat disjointed routine, transitioning from the AI-Bon Jovi imitation to the genuine article with AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
The situation underscores the capabilities – and limitations – of large language models (LLMs). These AI systems are trained on vast datasets of music, often through legally questionable means, and generate output based on statistical probability. When prompted to create a song “in the style of Bon Jovi,” the AI naturally draws heavily from Bon Jovi’s existing catalog, resulting in unintentional plagiarism. As one commentator noted, it’s a useful function for coding, but less so for original musical composition.
The incident arrives at a moment when the music industry is cautiously exploring the potential of AI. , it was reported that Telisha Jones, a poet from Mississippi, secured a $3 million record deal after using Suno to create music under the persona Xania Monet. This suggests a growing willingness within the industry to embrace AI-generated artistry, even as concerns about copyright and artistic authenticity persist.
The Czech ice dancers’ use of AI music, while not a violation of Olympic rules, serves as a potent symbol of our increasingly “cooked” reality. It’s a reminder that even in a sport celebrated for its human artistry and athleticism, the lines between genuine creativity and algorithmic imitation are becoming increasingly blurred. While the debate continues, one thing is certain: Mrázková and Mrázek’s Olympic debut has sparked a conversation that extends far beyond the ice rink.
the question isn’t whether AI has a place in sports entertainment, but how it’s used. The duo’s willingness to experiment, even if it resulted in controversy, highlights a desire to push boundaries and explore new creative avenues. Whether that experimentation ultimately enhances or detracts from the artistic experience remains to be seen.