Madison Chock had uplifting news for husband and skating partner, Evan Bates, after a controversial finish in the ice dance competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Team USA announced that Bates and U.S. women’s hockey star Hilary Knight will carry the American flag during the Closing Ceremony in Verona, Italy. The honor came days after Chock and Bates narrowly missed gold in ice dance, finishing just 1.43 points behind France.
Chock delivered the news to Bates in front of their teammates, with TODAY cameras present for the moment.
Madison Chock Tells Evan Bates He Was Named Team USA Flag Bearer at the Closing Ceremony
Bates, who won gold in the team event and silver in ice dance, said he felt humbled by the selection.
“It’s so humbling — 232 U.S. athletes, everyone with their own story, and so many who are worthy of this honor, but it’s hard to describe what it feels like,” Bates said.
He added, “And to walk out with Hilary, who we’ve done five Olympics together with, even shared a skate sharpener in Montreal together, so we’ve got some history, and now we’re going to be bonded forever.”
Chock addressed the team before revealing the surprise.
“I’m so, so honored to be part of this team. You guys are all so wonderful. And I think I can speak for Evan and myself when I say we are all so proud of everything you guys have accomplished and the people that you are and the people that you’ve become to be here today,” Chock said.
“So it’s my great honor to share this experience with you and now that we’ve had such a wonderful week, I want to present Evan with something. You have been selected as the closing flag bearer.”
The announcement drew loud cheers from teammates. Bates and Chock embraced as chants of “USA” echoed around them. He was presented with a white Team USA coat before sharing a group hug.
Ice Dance Silver Sparks Judging Questions
The flag bearer news followed a closely contested ice dance final that left fans debating the scoring.
Chock and Bates entered the free dance 0.46 points behind France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron after the rhythm dance. The Americans posted a world-best 89.72 in the rhythm dance but were topped by the French pair’s 90.18.
Skating to “Paint It Black” from “Westworld,” Chock and Bates earned 134.67 in the free dance for a total of 224.39. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron, performing to music from “The Whale,” scored 135.64 in the free dance and 225.82 overall to take gold.
During their free dance, Cizeron made a visible mistake on a twizzle element. Despite that, the French pair edged the Americans by less than a point.
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier won bronze with 217.74.
Madison Chock & Ethan Bates Respond to Controversial Loss
Afterward, Chock addressed the judging system in an interview with CBS News.
“It would definitely be helpful if it’s more understandable for the viewers, to just see more transparent judging and understand … what’s really going on,” Chock said.
“I think it’s also important for the skaters, that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance,” she continued, “because there’s a lot on the line for the skaters when they’re out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field.”
Chock described the result as “bittersweet.”
“We have had the most incredible year — 15 years on the ice together; first Olympics as a married couple. And we delivered four of our best performances this week. I think we’re really proud of how we handled ourselves here and what we accomplished,” she said.
Bates told reporters their skate “felt like a winning skate to us and that’s what we’re going to hold on to,” according to The Associated Press.
The couple now looks ahead to the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague next month, where they enter as reigning world champions.
The Closing Ceremony will take place on February 22 at the Verona Arena, and air live at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.
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