Michiganders Chock, Bates 2nd After Day 1 of Olympic Ice Dance

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France take rhythm dance lead

Feb. 9, 2026 at 5:47pm

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Olympic ice dance gold-medal favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates from Michigan finished second after the rhythm dance portion of the competition at the Milano Cortina Olympics, trailing French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Chock and Bates delivered a high-octane routine powered by rock and roll, but were edged out by Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron's sleek fashion-runway-meets-ice-dance take on Madonna's 'Vogue'. Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier placed third.

Why it matters

Chock and Bates, a Michigan-based ice dance team, are among the top contenders for the gold medal at the Olympics. Their strong second-place finish in the rhythm dance sets up an exciting showdown with the French duo in the free dance portion of the competition.

The details

Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron scored 90.18 points for their rhythm dance, their best-ever international score. Chock and Bates, who are triple world champions, scored 89.72 points for their rock and roll-inspired routine. Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier placed third with 86.18 points.

  • The rhythm dance competition took place on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • The free dance portion of the competition is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Madison Chock

An American ice dancer who moved to Novi, Michigan in her teens and is one of the top contenders for the Olympic gold medal.

Evan Bates

An American ice dancer from Ann Arbor, Michigan who is Chock's partner and also a top contender for the Olympic gold medal.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry

A French ice dancer who, along with her partner Guillaume Cizeron, took the lead in the rhythm dance portion of the competition.

Guillaume Cizeron

A French ice dancer who, along with his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry, took the lead in the rhythm dance portion of the competition.

Piper Gilles

A Canadian ice dancer who, along with her partner Paul Poirier, placed third in the rhythm dance portion of the competition.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The free dance portion of the competition is scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, 2026, where Chock and Bates will look to overtake the French duo and claim the gold medal.

The takeaway

This competition sets up an exciting showdown between the American and French ice dance teams, with Chock and Bates looking to claim their first Olympic gold medal and cement their status as one of the top ice dance teams in the world.