KEY POINT
United States wins gold in the Olympic figure skating team event with 69 points, narrowly outpacing Japan’s 68 points.
Italy secures bronze, marking its first team event medal in Olympic figure skating history.
Team competition format emphasizes depth and consistency, with individual skater performances crucial to the final standings.
MILAN, Italy — Feb. 8, 2026 — The United States captured its second consecutive Olympic figure skating team event gold Sunday at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, narrowly defeating Japan in a tense finale at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The victory extended the US team’s streak in the event since its Olympic debut in 2014.
Team USA’s success came after a series of tightly contested performances across all four disciplines men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance.
The final standings were determined by cumulative points, with the US finishing just one point ahead of Japan. Italy, competing on home ice, earned its first Olympic team event medal with a bronze.
Sunday’s competition highlighted the intensity and unpredictability of the Olympic team event. Each country’s total score was determined by skaters’ placements in short programs and free skates across all four figure skating disciplines.
For Team USA, the victory depended on strong showings from both veteran athletes and rising stars, culminating in a decisive men’s free skate.
The Olympic team event debuted at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games to showcase countries’ depth across figure skating disciplines. The United States has been a dominant force since its introduction, winning the inaugural event and defending the gold in 2022 Beijing Games.
Japan has consistently been a top contender, claiming silver in 2022 and again in 2026. Italy’s podium finish represents a milestone in the nation’s figure skating history.
The final segment of the team event came down to 21 year old Ilia Malinin’s men’s free skate, which secured the US victory. Malinin executed technically demanding elements, including quad jump combinations, under intense pressure. “We knew every point would count,” Malinin said. “The team’s focus and support made the difference.”
Dr. Helena Kim, a sports performance analyst at the International Skating Academy, noted, “The mental challenge in team events is immense. Skaters must balance individual performance with national expectations. Malinin’s technical execution and composure under pressure were decisive.”
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama contributed significantly in earlier segments, keeping his team in contention until the final routine. “We gave everything we had,” Kagiyama said. “The competition was incredibly close, and it pushed us to perform at our best.”
Team Event Medalists
| Medal | Country | Points | Key Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | United States | 69 | Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, Madison Chock / Evan Bates, Ellie Kam / Daniel O’Shea |
| Silver | Japan | 68 | Yuma Kagiyama, Shun Sato, Kaori Sakamoto, Riku Miura / Ryuichi Kihara |
| Bronze | Italy | 60 | Daniel Grassl, Matteo Rizzo, Sara Conti / Niccolò Macii, Charlène Guignard / Marco Fabbri |
Madison Chock, US ice dancer, reflected on the team dynamic: “Skating as part of a team adds responsibility and pride. Every performance counts for your teammates.”
Sara Conti, Italian pairs skater, emphasized the significance of the home ice bronze: “This medal is a milestone for Italian figure skating. Competing with the crowd behind us made it even more special.”
With the individual events still ahead at Milano Cortina, skaters who performed well in the team competition are considered strong contenders for medals. Malinin’s performance signals him as a favorite in men’s singles, while Japan’s consistent depth across disciplines suggests continued podium potential. The close finish highlights the increasingly competitive global field in Olympic figure skating.
The 2026 Olympic figure skating team event underscored the sport’s blend of athletic precision, strategic depth, and team coordination.
Team USA’s narrow victory over Japan reinforces its dominance in the discipline, while Italy’s podium finish marks a significant achievement in its skating history.
The results reflect both individual brilliance and national depth, setting the stage for the upcoming individual competitions.
