VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. ICE DANCERS AND OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS MADISON CHOCK AND EVAN BATES SPEAKING TO MEDIA / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHOCK AND BATES COMPETING IN ICE DANCE SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. U.S. ICE DANCERS EVAN BATES AND MADISON CHOCK SPEAKING TO MEDIA 2. GOLD MEDAL AND SILVER MEDAL 3. VARIOUS OF BATES AND CHOCK TALKING TO MEDIA 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ICE DANCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, EVAN BATES, SAYING: “We haven't studied it in depth, but we did speak to our coach, and we did talk to each other, and we know how we felt on center ice after we skated. We felt like we delivered our absolute best performance that we could have. It was our Olympic moment. It felt like a winning skate to us, and that's what we're going to hold on to.” 5. BATES AND CHOCK LISTENING TO REPORTER’S QUESTION 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ICE DANCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, MADISON CHOCK, SAYING: “Just knowing that we did everything in our power to accomplish our goals and put our very best out onto the ice is a feeling of satisfaction that we can take home with us, regardless of the result. At the end of the day, a medal is a medal, but the Olympic dream is alive, and it's not something that is tangible. It's something that lives within us, and really is the driving force for our motivation and intrinsic goals, and I think that's what's special about the Olympics, and that's a real win for us.” 7. CHOCK LOOKING ON 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ICE DANCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, MADISON CHOCK, SAYING: “Anytime the public is confused by results, it does a disservice to our sport. I think it's hard to retain fans when it's difficult to understand what is happening on the ice. So, I think there needs to be a lot more clarity for the skaters, for the coaches, and for the audience in order to just have a solid fan base moving forward. People need to understand what they're cheering for and be able to feel confident in the sport that they're supporting.” 9. BATES AND CHOCK TALKING TO MEDIA 10. GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ICE DANCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, MADISON CHOCK, SAYING: “I think we did what we had to do. We controlled what we could control, and sometimes you do your very best and it's not always what you hope for in the result, but we feel confident in the knowledge that we did our job and we wouldn't change anything about what we've done or how we went about doing it, and yeah.” MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 11, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 12. STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF BATES AND CHOCK COMPETING IN ICE DANCE MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 12, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ICE DANCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, EVAN BATES, SAYING: BATES: "I think the support we've received from the fan base has been incredible. It really, really means a lot to us." REPORTER ASKING: "Do you support that petition?" BATES: "We haven't actually seen it. We've just heard about it. But it means a lot that people are voicing their opinions on our behalf. I think the way that we skated and the way that we've approached chasing these goals hopefully has resonated with people at home, and even in our response, I think hopefully that too can reflect the Olympic spirit.” MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 11, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all) (MUTE) 14. STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF BATES AND CHOCK COMPETING IN ICE DANCE 15. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BATES AND CHOCK CLAPPING HANDS WITH GOLD MEDALLISTS LAURENCE FOURNIER BEAUDRY AND GUILLAUME CIZERON WAVING ON PODIUM 16. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ICE DANCE MEDALLISTS HOLDING FLAGS 17. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BATES AND CHOCK HOLDING AMERICAN FLAG STORY: American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates remain proud despite having to settle for silver behind France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron on Wednesday (February 11). Chock and Bates entered the decisive free dance in a virtual tie for the lead and drew loud applause at the Milano Ice Skating Arena with a matador-and-bull themed routine, then wiped away tears as the final scores put them second. The pair had vowed to win Olympic ice dance gold after missing the podium at the Beijing Games four years ago, but it was not to be. Chock and Bates finished with 224.39 points. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron won gold with 225.82, while Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier took bronze with 217.74. The pair add their silver medal to two team gold medals including the one they played a key role in capturing for the U.S. at the Milano Cortina Games. It was unclear whether Chock and Bates, who have been partners for 15 years and are married, would retire or return for another Olympic cycle. (Production: Irene Wang)
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