USA Wins Figure Skating Team Gold at 2026 Winter Olympics

The United States has secured the gold medal in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The victory came after a close competition where multiple nations vied for the top spot, with the final outcome decided in the concluding disciplines.

Competition Climax and National Triumph

The figure skating team event culminated with nail-biting performances, as the United States and Japan found themselves tied in total points heading into the final discipline, the men's free skate. The outcome of this event would determine which nation claimed the gold medal.

• The United States ultimately earned the gold medal.

• Japan secured the silver medal.

• The host nation, Italy, took home the bronze medal.

The competitive nature of the event is evident in the final standings, underscoring the high stakes and intense effort displayed by the competing athletes.

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Key Contributors to the U.S. Victory

The gold medal win for the United States was a collective achievement, with several athletes contributing significantly across various disciplines. The team's success was built upon strong performances in:

• Ice Dance: Madison Chock and Evan Bates were key figures.

• Pair Skating: Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea contributed points to the team total.

• Women's Single Skating: Alysa Glenn, who scored 138.62 points for a third-place finish, earning eight team points. Earlier, Amber Glenn had finished third in her discipline.

• Men's Single Skating: Ilia Malinin played a crucial role in the final stages of the competition. His performance, including a backflip, helped secure the win.

The combined scores from these events determined the team's overall standing.

Amber Glenn's Performance Amidst Close Scoring

Amber Glenn's performance in the women's single skating event saw her score 138.62, placing her third and earning eight team points. This performance was crucial, as it, along with other results, helped keep the competition close. At one point, her performance and another skater's result from Japan resulted in the United States and Japan being tied in total points heading into the final event.

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Ilia Malinin's Decisive Role

Ilia Malinin, an American ice skating phenom making his Olympic debut, was instrumental in the team's victory. His participation in the men's single skating discipline was pivotal. The event came down to the wire, with the men's free skate being the final deciding discipline. Malinin's performance was described as a nail-biter, and he contributed to the team's winning score.

Broader Olympic Context

The figure skating team event was part of a larger schedule at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Other events and athlete performances were also underway.

• Lindsey Vonn's Crash: In a separate event, skier Lindsey Vonn reportedly crashed seconds into her race, leading to a delay.

• Breezy Johnson's Medal: Skater Breezy Johnson also earned a gold medal in the women's downhill event, which was noted as the first medal for the U.S. in these Games. However, reports indicate her gold medal was already broken.

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The inclusion of these details provides a broader picture of the U.S. presence and performance at the Games.

Analysis of Event Dynamics

The figure skating team event's structure involves points being awarded across multiple disciplines, including ice dance, pair skating, women's singles, and men's singles. The final standings are a sum of these points.

• Scoring System: The summaries indicate a scoring system where individual performances contribute to a team total. For example, Kam and O’Shea earned 69.65 on their technical elements.

• Potential for Review: One report mentions a triple Salchow by an unnamed skater that might get a review, suggesting that official scores can be subject to scrutiny.

• Downgraded Finish: One account noted that a team's first-place finish was downgraded, leading to the U.S.'s second-place finish being bumped up to first. This implies that initial results can be altered.

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The competitive landscape involved direct matchups, such as the showdown between the U.S.'s Ilia Malinin and Japan's Shun Sato in the men's free skate.

Contradictory Information on Team USA's Ranking

There appears to be conflicting information regarding the United States' final ranking before the decisive final event.

• One report states that Japan took first place in the pair free skate while the United States finished fourth.

• It also mentions that Amber Glenn's third-place finish and another result pulled Japan even with the Americans, leading to a tie.

• Another source suggests that the U.S.'s second-place finish was bumped up to first after a lengthy investigation downgraded another team's result.

These discrepancies warrant further clarification to fully understand the sequence of events leading to the final medal allocation.

Conclusion and Implications

The United States' gold medal in the figure skating team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics represents a significant achievement. The victory highlights the depth of talent within the U.S. figure skating program and the effectiveness of team strategy. The close nature of the competition, particularly the tie with Japan heading into the final event, underscores the intense global competition in the sport.

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• The U.S. team demonstrated resilience and strength across all disciplines.

• The performances of athletes like Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Ellie Kam, and Danny O’Shea were pivotal.

• The event serves as a milestone for the participating American athletes, especially for those making their Olympic debuts, like Ilia Malinin.

Further details regarding any investigations or score adjustments that may have impacted the final standings would provide a more complete picture of the event's progression.

Sources

• The Guardian: Winter Olympics 2026: United States take gold in figure skating team event– live - Provided live updates and initial reporting on the event's conclusion.

• People: Ilia Malinin Secures Team USA Figure Skating Gold with a Backflip in 2026 Winter Olympics Team Event Nail-Biter - Focused on key athletes and the final moments of the competition.

• Bleacher Report: Olympic Figure Skating Results 2026, Ilia Malinin, USA Win Team Overall Gold - Offered insights into the standings and the deciding factors of the competition.

• Sporting News: USA Olympic figure skating results: Updated scores, winners for 2026 team, singles and pairs events | Sporting News - Provided context on the event schedule and results.

• NBC News: 2026 Winter Olympics live updates: Lindsey Vonn crashes seconds into race; Breezy Johnson, Team USA figure skating take gold - Included information on other U.S. medal wins and athlete performances at the Games.

• CNN: February 7, 2026 - Winter Olympics Day 1 updates | CNN - Mentioned the Olympic debut of figure skater Ilia Malinin.

• USA Today: Team USA wins gold in figure skating at Olympics: Live updates - Contributed to live reporting of the figure skating team event.

• Wikipedia: Figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics – Team event - Wikipedia - A reference for the event's structure and results.

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