Team USA Wins Gold in Figure Skating

The United States successfully defended its Olympic title in the team figure skating competition held on Sunday, finishing with 69 points. They narrowly edged out Japan, which had 68 points, making history as the first country to win consecutive gold medals in this event.

This victory took place in Milan and marked Team USA’s second consecutive Olympic team gold. However, the circumstances surrounding their win were rather unconventional.

The Americans initially celebrated on the podium, but it’s worth noting that their last Olympic gold was awarded in a rather surprising manner. During the 2022 Beijing Games, a Russian athlete was disqualified for doping, which led to the Americans being upgraded from silver to gold in 2024—a full two years after the fact. This past decision overshadowed the joy of the moment.

By securing their position in Italy, Team USA showcased a decisive win, putting aside the years of legal battles related to that previous Games.

Italy took home the bronze medal in the competition.

On social media, it was reported that Team USA has secured two gold medals so far, including one for women’s downhill skiing, while Italy leads the overall medal tally with nine.

The triumphant moment in Milan was a sharp contrast compared to the delays experienced during the Beijing Games, where the gold medal ceremony was postponed for nearly two years due to issues surrounding doping.

In the final, Team USA and Japan were tied at 59 points, which set the stage for the men’s free skate showdown. Under immense pressure, 21-year-old Ilya Marinin, dubbed the “God of the Quads,” had to perform well after an earlier mishap in his short program prevented him from showcasing his usual skills. His ambitious routine included five quadruple jumps, and despite some stumbles, he received an impressive score of 200.03 points.

Interestingly, Marinin also made history by executing a backflip, which had not been seen in Olympic competition since it was banned in 2024. His performance received loud cheers from the audience, though he experienced some technical difficulties, ultimately scoring 98.00 in this segment.

Japan’s Shun Sato also gave an outstanding performance, but his score of 194.86 wasn’t quite enough to surpass Marinin.

While Marinin’s strong final performance certainly helped, the gold medal win was the culmination of consistent hard work over the course of three days.

• Ice dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates dominated the ice dance events, achieving the highest score of the season with their flamenco free dance.

• Women’s singles: Amber Glenn landed a notable triple axel, securing third place and contributing crucial points to the team’s overall score.

Glenn made history herself by being the first American woman since Michelle Kwan to win three consecutive U.S. championships, further solidifying Team USA’s standing in the competition.

• Pairs: Despite a fall earlier in the week, Ellie Kamm and Danny O’Shea managed to rank fourth in the free skate.

The United States has maintained its record, being the only nation to obtain a medal in every Olympic team figure skating event since its introduction in the 2014 Sochi Games.