2026 Olympics Team Event: Free Dance

[Skating91]

After the Italians and even Georgians you really notice how slow Chock and Bates skating is especially Chock's. That ridiculous skirt hampers her movement.

Canadians lack any emotional connection with each other, but were good.

Italians were brilliant. I liked them best.

Georgians did themselves proud.

 

[4everchan]

I also think Canada had no choice but to field two different entrants in ID with SD/D out and P/M having to do both pairs segments along with just 1 entry having to do both SP and FS in men and women.

that's not true. They could have opted not to sub anyone.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

If FB/C can repeat their scores from the European Championships and C/B repeat their scores from the team event, then it’s going to be so close in the individual event - like Virtue/Moir and Papadakis/Cizeron close in 2018!

 

[sissy7]

Charlene and Marco: Charlene: proud of themselves, felt the crowd, enjoyed it, Marco: it was a long day, had faith in Daniel to qualify Italy for the final, they had their own bubble
Medal for Italy- more stressful to cheer for the teammates, they say it is not up to them anymore

 

[tulosai]

After the Italians and even Georgians you really notice how slow Chock and Bates skating is especially Chock's. That ridiculous skirt hampers her movement.

Canadians lack any emotional connection with each other, but were good.

Italians were brilliant. I liked them best.

Georgians did themselves proud.

Chock and Bates look slower on screen than they are in person. I see what everyone else does when I watch at home, they look slow, but I've been luck enough to see them in person and they aren't noticeably slower than other top teams in real life.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

Let's stop about fair shake

I get getting over things but let’s not try to sweep under the rug the gifts to the Americans and French in the RD and the Canadians being set up for 4th in the individual (although I do have heart for the Brits).

that's not true. They could have opted not to sub anyone.

Oh really? Well that’s a bit silly of team Canada then. They could be pushing Italy for a potential team bronze medal had G/P bested G/F.

 

[Skater Boy]

O Canada you are not liked by the judges, you are injured in pairs and then you do this. Send in a good but rather perfunctory dance team when Piper and Paul at worst would have been third probably second. Piper and Paul would have had a day or two rest til their RD. Not good. Unless they think they are just clinging on to finish the olypics and get it over with and retire. I know the writing is on the wall Piper and paul will not win bronze. But Piper and Paul may have lost two bronze medals - they would have probably been second in the dance here which means they would be tied for third with Italy in the team. I really hope for piper and paul who I think have been cheated recently with giving points to the Brits. But their decision not to do the FD may have jus tcost Canada a b ronze medal. It doesn't help Canada's top pairs team is out but they would have had a reasonable chance for bronze if Piper and Paul skated. Now they are two points down and it is hard to m ake up It means really Madi has to beat Laura and count on Gog to be two s pots higher than theItalian man but there isnt much room for the pairs. Lia and Trent need to beat Italy and that is not likely.

 

[4everchan]

It really is part of the Flamenco dance...the historical part, the accurate part.

I like flamenco and I have been to some live shows. I am well aware that clapping is part of it... but for ice dance, I want skaters to skate not clap their hands.

Also, if we are going to use the "historical" argument, I am rolling out of this painted black thread like a stone

 

[taikwan]

I am so happy to see Ilia there applauding with the team. Just my opinion here and based on nothing but the behind the scenes photos, I think Madison and Evan have fostered a real team, a real sports family in Milan and it has hugely benefited Ilia. He's interacting with everyone so much more, he seems to act like he feels he belongs. I think he felt isolated before - really didn't see him talking to other skaters, very introverted. Now he seems to have found a skating family that just perhaps he's feeling they like him for other reasons besides what he can bring to the team score.

 

[RatedPG]

With this result, I’m certain:
1) gold for USA - But, poor Ilia has to skate to guarantee this result though
2) silver for Japan - they can only gain points here on out. They will fall short as I’m sure Shun cannot beat Ilia. I wish the substituted Ami here. But, I know that won’t happen
3) bronze for Italy - Canada is close. But, with a two points gap and pairs coming up, I think it is over

The real battle is going to be for 4th as Georgia can make up a lot of points in Pairs and then it will come down to the battle between the single skaters from Canada and Georgia

 

[SmileHappy34]

Nice skate. I did think chock and bates skate that better in another completion
Skate well done

 

[4everchan]

Chock and Bates look slower on screen than they are in person. I see what everyone else does when I watch at home, they look slow, but I've been luck enough to see them in person and they aren't noticeably slower than other top teams in real life.

I have seen them in 2024 Montreal worlds. They were not slow but certainly not fast. The faster teams I have seen from this group were the Italians and LaLa. Piper and Paul are also faster.

 

[museksk8r]

I would like to see Majorie and Zach skate their patterns larger and hold their extensions longer. Sometimes they have a tendency to rush and don’t hold their pictures as long as I would like. I also agree that their emotional connection with each other gets lost. I’m really happy they had the opportunity to skate the team event on Olympic ice and hopefully, it will make them feel more relaxed for the individual event.

 

[NanaPat]

I also think Canada had no choice but to field two different entrants in ID with SD/D out and P/M having to do both pairs segments along with just 1 entry having to do both SP and FS in men and women.

They didn't need to substitute at all.

With having only 1 entry in each of the singles, it gave them the opportunity to consider subbing in both pairs and dance. I think they decided to sub in both to save their older skaters for the individual events. Of course, there was a change of plans in pairs due to Stellato's injury.

Gogolev is the hero of the day, but I think Lea and Trennt also deserve a lot of credit for Canada making it into the top 5.

 

[SmileHappy34]

Regarding team. If japan wins pairs, women , men they win by 1 if u.s. finishes 2nd in men and women 5th in pairs.

Most people me including didnt think ilia would come in 2nd in team.
I personally thought Yuma would win individual event over Ilia .
I thought Yuma would try and save for individual event.

 

[taikwan]

I like flamenco and I have been to some live shows. I am well aware that clapping is part of it... but for ice dance, I want skaters to skate not clap their hands.

Also, if we are going to use the "historical" argument, I am rolling out of this painted black thread like a stone

I'm a former dancer too. Different strokes. You made a pun. A rolling stone. This calls for another viewing of Almost Famous

 

[TontoK]

There is a good chance,Piper and Paul would have beaten the Italians. Especially considering the low scores given to them here in PCS.

I think they almost certainly would have beaten the Italians.

Not you, my friend... but I'm seeing a lot of second-guessing and what-iffing about the decision not to skate Piper and Paul in this segment.

I find this very odd, because of course the Team Event medals are meaningless. I know this because I've been told this repeatedly by many non-Olympians.

 

[4everchan]

I'm a former dancer too. Different strokes.

I would have loved a real flamenco from them.

 

[Janice4th]

I like flamenco and I have been to some live shows. I am well aware that clapping is part of it... but for ice dance, I want skaters to skate not clap their hands.

Also, if we are going to use the "historical" argument, I am rolling out of this painted black thread like a stone

I’ll go with the idea that like a great painting, the ‘white space’ highlights the rest of the composition. In this case, it helps with the mood of their story.

 

[Andrea82]

Protocols

https://results.isu.org/results/season2526/owg2026/FSKXTEAM--------------FNL-0004DC--_JudgesDetailsperSkater.pdf

Judge 1 is Georgian (well, Russian). You could have guessed as she has Davis/Smolkin 2nd in PCS
Judge 2 is Canadian. Already guessable based on the PCS tying L/L and Guignard/Fabbri
Judge 3 is German and likes the Italians
Judge 4 is Korean
Judge 5 is British
Judge 6 is Czech
Judge 7 is Australian
Judge 8 is Chinese and likes Davis/Smalking
Judge 9 is Spanish