USA Wins Second Consecutive Olympic Team Figure Skating Gold at Milano-Cortina 2026
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, figure skating once again delivered a thrilling finale and on February 8, 2026, the United States emerged victorious in the Olympic team figure skating event, defending their title from the previous Games with a breathtaking performance that came down to the final skater.
Team USA captured gold with 69 points, edging out Japan, which finished on 68, in a competition that showcased both technical excellence and emotional intensity. The host nation Italy claimed the bronze medal with 60 points, marking a memorable home performance in front of passionate fans at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
From the outset, the team event was a tight contest. The competition spans multiple disciplines, ice dance, pairs, women’s singles, and men’s singles, with each segment contributing to the overall score. Team USA began strong with an exceptional free dance from Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who earned maximum points with a stirring routine that balanced artistry and power, helping establish an early lead.
Throughout Sunday’s final skating segment, Japan stayed right on Team USA’s heels. The Japanese squad delivered standout performances in pairs and women’s free skating, led by world-class skaters Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihara and Kaori Sakamoto, whose precision and consistency kept the pressure high on the Americans.
In the women’s singles free skate, held just minutes before the men’s event, American Amber Glenn faced her Olympic debut with courage, placing a respectable third and adding critical points to Team USA’s total. While she admitted feeling disappointed with some elements, her contribution kept the U.S. in contention heading into the decisive final segment.
With both teams tied after the earlier events, the competition hinged on the performance of Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old “Quad God” known for his ability to execute high-difficulty jumps. Malinin did not perform his signature quadruple Axel but delivered a technically impressive free skate, including a quad Salchow and multiple quadruple jumps, to score 200.03 points. His performance under pressure secured the maximum 10 points and sealed the gold for Team USA.
Japan’s Shun Sato responded with a strong, nearly flawless performance, posting a personal-best 194.86 points, but came up just short of overtaking the Americans. The thrilling head-to-head rivalry underlined the razor-thin margins at the elite level of Olympic competition.
Italy’s Matteo Rizzo delivered one of the performances of his career, scoring high enough to help secure the bronze for the host nation, a moment celebrated passionately by the home crowd.
This victory marks the first time Team USA has successfully defended its Olympic figure skating team title, following the retroactive gold awarded from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. It underscores the depth and resilience of American figure skating, which continues to thrive across disciplines and generations.
As the Winter Games progress, the figure skating spotlight shifts toward individual events, but Team USA’s dramatic success has already set the tone for a memorable Olympic chapter.
Team USA captured gold with 69 points, edging out Japan, which finished on 68, in a competition that showcased both technical excellence and emotional intensity. The host nation Italy claimed the bronze medal with 60 points, marking a memorable home performance in front of passionate fans at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
From the outset, the team event was a tight contest. The competition spans multiple disciplines, ice dance, pairs, women’s singles, and men’s singles, with each segment contributing to the overall score. Team USA began strong with an exceptional free dance from Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who earned maximum points with a stirring routine that balanced artistry and power, helping establish an early lead.
Throughout Sunday’s final skating segment, Japan stayed right on Team USA’s heels. The Japanese squad delivered standout performances in pairs and women’s free skating, led by world-class skaters Riku Miura, Ryuichi Kihara and Kaori Sakamoto, whose precision and consistency kept the pressure high on the Americans.
In the women’s singles free skate, held just minutes before the men’s event, American Amber Glenn faced her Olympic debut with courage, placing a respectable third and adding critical points to Team USA’s total. While she admitted feeling disappointed with some elements, her contribution kept the U.S. in contention heading into the decisive final segment.
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With both teams tied after the earlier events, the competition hinged on the performance of Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old “Quad God” known for his ability to execute high-difficulty jumps. Malinin did not perform his signature quadruple Axel but delivered a technically impressive free skate, including a quad Salchow and multiple quadruple jumps, to score 200.03 points. His performance under pressure secured the maximum 10 points and sealed the gold for Team USA.
Japan’s Shun Sato responded with a strong, nearly flawless performance, posting a personal-best 194.86 points, but came up just short of overtaking the Americans. The thrilling head-to-head rivalry underlined the razor-thin margins at the elite level of Olympic competition.
Italy’s Matteo Rizzo delivered one of the performances of his career, scoring high enough to help secure the bronze for the host nation, a moment celebrated passionately by the home crowd.
This victory marks the first time Team USA has successfully defended its Olympic figure skating team title, following the retroactive gold awarded from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. It underscores the depth and resilience of American figure skating, which continues to thrive across disciplines and generations.
As the Winter Games progress, the figure skating spotlight shifts toward individual events, but Team USA’s dramatic success has already set the tone for a memorable Olympic chapter.
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