Ice Dancing Duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates Aim for Olympic Gold

The three-time world champions and seven-time national champions are competing in their fourth Olympics as partners.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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U.S. Olympians Madison Chock and Evan Bates are the dream ice dancing duo. The pair first met as teenagers while skating in Michigan and began their official partnership in 2011. They started dating in 2016 and went public with their relationship ahead of the 2018 Olympics. Bates proposed to Chock in 2022, and they got married in 2024. The couple says their romantic relationship has only helped grow their on-ice partnership as they aim for their first individual Olympic gold medal at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

Why it matters

Chock and Bates are one of the most successful ice dancing pairs in U.S. figure skating history, with three world championships and seven national titles. Their personal and professional partnership has captivated fans, and their quest for Olympic gold is a major storyline heading into the 2026 Winter Games.

The details

Chock and Bates first met as teenagers while skating in Michigan in the late 2000s. They began their official skating partnership in 2011 and started dating five years later. The pair is competing at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics together and have already won gold this season for the Team USA figure skating team event. They have also revisited their relationship and career story in the new Netflix documentary "Glitter and Gold." The 2026 games will be the pair's fourth Olympics as partners, and they are seeking their first individual Olympic gold medal.

  • Chock and Bates first met as teenagers in Michigan in the late 2000s.
  • They began their official skating partnership in June 2011.
  • Chock and Bates started dating in 2016.
  • They went public with their relationship ahead of the 2018 Olympics.
  • Bates proposed to Chock in June 2022, and they got married in 2024.

The players

Madison Chock

A U.S. Olympian and three-time world champion ice dancer who moved to Michigan from California at age 12 to pursue skating more seriously.

Evan Bates

A U.S. Olympian and Chock's ice dancing partner, who is also a three-time world champion and seven-time national champion.

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What they’re saying

“It's the ultimate prize for us in our sport. We've prepared as best as we could. We are so ready.”

— Evan Bates (TODAY)

“Knowing that we have made the ultimate commitment to be partners for the rest of our lives, we understand how grateful and lucky we are to do what we love with the person we love.”

— Evan Bates (TODAY)

What’s next

Chock and Bates will compete in the pair ice dancing event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, where they will seek their first individual Olympic gold medal.

The takeaway

Chock and Bates' personal and professional partnership has captivated figure skating fans, and their quest for Olympic gold is a major storyline heading into the 2026 Winter Games. Their success as a couple on and off the ice is a testament to the power of pursuing your passions with the person you love.