OLYMPICS: Figure skating-Chock, Bates shrug off rhythm-dance deficit before free-dance showdown

Madison Chock and Evan Bates remain confident after finishing second in the Olympic ice dance rhythm dance, setting the stage for a thrilling free-dance showdown. Just a day after helping the U.S. team secure a second straight Olympic team gold, Chock and Bates returned to the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Monday with another energetic performance. Their routine kept them in close contention but fell just short of the early lead.

The American duo sits less than a point behind France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who posted 90.18 points to Chock and Bates’ 89.72. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier are in third with 86.18, keeping themselves within reach if the leaders stumble in Wednesday’s free dance.

Chock, 33, said the second-place finish does not change their approach. “It doesn’t change how we will approach the free dance. It’s business as usual, and we’re really happy with how we skated,” she told reporters. “We’re confident and ready to bring that feeling forward.”

Skating to a lively medley of Lenny Kravitz hits, Chock and Bates delivered a poised, confident routine. A technical review, however, downgraded their pattern step from Level 4 to Level 3, costing them the slight edge over the French team.

Bates, 36, acknowledged the value of a potential silver medal but emphasized that their ultimate goal is gold. “In some ways? Yes, it will be. But the goal is multifaceted,” he said.

After capturing team gold in Beijing 2022 and repeating that feat in Milan, the pair remains focused on the bigger prize in ice dance. With speculation about whether this will be their final Olympics, Chock hinted that the story may not be over. “Who knows, you might see us in four years?” she said.

The free dance on Wednesday will decide the Olympic ice dance medals, and Chock and Bates are ready to make their mark. -Reporting by Rory Carroll, Lori Ewing and Agnieszka Flak in Milan; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters