US Pairs Skaters Kam and O'Shea Stumble but Highlight Rising Talent

Despite a disappointing free skate, the American duo and their teammates show promise for the future of US pairs figure skating.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea of the United States struggled in the pairs figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, finishing ninth overall. Their teammates Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe placed seventh. While the American pairs contingent did not medal, their performances underscored the growing depth and potential of US pairs skating, which has historically struggled on the Olympic stage.

Why it matters

The US has long lagged behind other figure skating powers in the pairs discipline, having not won an Olympic medal since 1988. However, the emergence of teams like Kam/O'Shea and Chan/Howe, as well as the potential return of top US pair Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, suggest a bright future for American pairs skating on the global stage.

The details

Kam and O'Shea, making their Olympic debut, were unable to replicate the strong short program that had put them in seventh place heading into the free skate. Exhausted from competing four times at the Games, the American duo faltered in their final performance. Meanwhile, Chan and Howe delivered a solid free skate to finish seventh overall. The US was missing its top two pairs - Efimova/Mitrofanov and Katie McBeath/Daniil Parkman - due to citizenship issues, underscoring the depth challenges the American program has faced.

  • Ellie Kam turned 21 in December 2025.
  • Danny O'Shea celebrated his 35th birthday the week of the 2026 Olympics.

The players

Ellie Kam

An American pairs figure skater making her Olympic debut.

Danny O'Shea

An American pairs figure skater who recently turned 35 years old.

Emily Chan

An American pairs figure skater who finished seventh at the 2026 Olympics.

Spencer Akira Howe

An American pairs figure skater who competed alongside Emily Chan.

Alisa Efimova

The reigning US champion pairs skater who was unable to compete in Milan due to citizenship issues.

Misha Mitrofanov

Efimova's pairs partner, who also could not compete in the 2026 Olympics.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We definitely did leave it all out there, just not in the way that I had thought that it was going to go. But I'm still so proud of everything that we've done here. I feel like all the work that we put in at home has carried through to this competition.”

— Ellie Kam, American pairs figure skater (San Francisco Chronicle)

“I love skating, and skating on Olympic ice is literally a dream coming true. This whole time that we've been here has been an amazing experience. It's definitely one where we're feeling a little tired by the end of it. But we're very proud of the whole body of work that we put out across the time that we've been here.”

— Danny O'Shea, American pairs figure skater (San Francisco Chronicle)

“There are so many great teams in the U.S. that have surfaced. We hope to continue to be part of that group.”

— Spencer Howe, American pairs figure skater (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The US pairs teams will look to build on their Olympic experiences and continue developing their skills ahead of the 2030 Winter Games, where they hope to end the country's long medal drought in the discipline.

The takeaway

While the American pairs skaters fell short of the podium in Milan, their performances highlighted the growing depth and potential of US pairs figure skating, which has struggled historically at the Olympic level. With young talents like Kam and rising stars like Efimova/Mitrofanov, the future looks bright for the American pairs program to finally break through and win Olympic gold.