Married ice dancing couple Madison Chock and Evan Bates have been at the center of attention at the 2026 Winter Olympics, not only for their performances on the ice but also for a controversy surrounding their silver medal finish. The pair secured the silver medal in the free skate competition on Wednesday, February 11, but some observers believe they deserved the gold.
France’s Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry won the gold with a slightly higher technical score of 77.06 compared to Chock and Bates’ 76.75, according to figure skating research. However, some viewers expressed the belief that favoritism played a role and that Chock and Bates should have been awarded the top spot.
Now, days after the competition, Chock and Bates have announced their decision not to contest the results and accept the silver medal. On Sunday, February 15, U.S. Figure Skating announced that it would not appeal the scoring by the French judge.
“There has been a lot of thoughtful and at times emotional, discussion about the ice dance competition in Milan,” USFS CEO Matt Farrell said in a statement to USA Today Sports. “Working together with Madi and Evan after the Games, we will have thoughtful and intentional discussions about the best way to support them and the future of the sport.”
“For now,” Farrell added, “we plan to join them in supporting the success of U.S. Figure Skating in Milan.”
The controversy centered on the scoring by French judge Jezabel Dabouis, who awarded Beaudry and Cizeron a score more than seven points higher than Chock and Bates. Dabouis gave the American pair a score of 129.74, while awarding the French team 137.45 – the largest difference in scoring from any judge.
Following the silver medal win, the married couple shared a photo of themselves on social media, expressing gratitude and focusing on the positive aspects of their Olympic journey. “It’s truly an honor to skate on Olympic ice, and we’re so proud of how hard we worked to get here and deliver our very best,” they stated in the post. “Thank you to our families, friends, fellow skaters and all the fans back home and around the world for your support. We are so incredibly grateful for all of the love.”
Chock and Bates also appeared on the “Today Show” on February 12, reflecting on their performance and the significance of the moment. According to Today.com, the pair, who married in 2024, emphasized the progression of their careers and the importance of delivering their best at the Games. Bates stated that they knew the 2026 Milan Cortina Games were their moment, given their experience and the finite nature of an athlete’s career.
The American pair had entered the competition as favorites, having won three consecutive world championships. However, they had never finished higher than fourth in Olympic play prior to this year. They trailed the French team narrowly after the rhythm dance portion of the competition, and while five of nine judges awarded them a higher score than the French duo in the free dance, they ultimately fell just short of the gold.
Chock and Bates exchanged glances and paused before responding when asked by NBC News about the judging, with Chock stating, “We’ve certainly gone through a roller coaster of emotions, especially in the last 24 hours,” according to NBC News. “And I think what we will take away is how we felt right after our skates and how proud we were of what we accomplished and how we handled ourselves throughout the whole week. Putting out four great performances at the Olympic Games is no small feat, and we’ve got a lot to be proud of.”
