Defending Champ US Takes Lead Into Final Day of Team Figure Skating at the Milano Cortina Olympics

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States wave to the crowd before the figure skating ice dance team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. atacha Pisarenko/AP Photo

MILAN—Ilia Malinin’s quest for Olympic figure skating gold might not be so easy after all.

Same goes for his American team.