In a nail-biting finale at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Team USA figure skating secured its second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the team event, narrowly edging out rival Team Japan. The victory was cemented by a spectacular free skate from the "Quad God" himself, Ilia Malinin, whose technical mastery under immense pressure delivered the deciding points. Scoring a massive 200.03, Malinin's performance included five quadruple jumps, ensuring the American flag rose highest at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Malinin Delivers in 'Do-or-Die' Showdown
Going into the final event of the team competition—the men's free skate—the United States and Japan were deadlocked in a tense tie at 59 points each. The gold medal came down to a head-to-head battle between America's rising superstar, Ilia Malinin, and Japan's Shun Sato. The stakes couldn't have been higher, with the weight of the entire team's hopes resting on Malinin's shoulders.
True to his nickname, the 21-year-old phenom delivered a breathtaking display of athleticism. Malinin opened his routine with a soaring quad flip, followed by a barrage of quadruple jumps that left the audience in awe. Although he opted to substitute his signature quadruple Axel for a safer triple Axel to ensure stability, his program was packed with difficulty, including a quad Salchow-triple Axel sequence that scored over 21 points alone. Capping off the routine with a crowd-pleasing backflip, Malinin proved he could command the Olympic stage.
Japan Takes Silver, Italy Bronze
Japan's Shun Sato delivered a career-best performance of his own, scoring 194.86, but it wasn't enough to topple the American. Japan finished with 68 points, taking the silver medal for the second consecutive Winter Games. The host nation, Italy, delighted the home crowd by clinching the bronze medal with 60 points, marking a historic achievement for the Italian federation on home ice.
Team USA's Path to Victory
While Malinin provided the golden finale, the victory was a true collective effort. The U.S. team showcased depth across all disciplines throughout the three-day competition. Veteran ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates were instrumental, sweeping both the rhythm dance and free dance segments to maximize points for the Americans.
Crucially, pairs skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea delivered a clutch performance in the pairs free skate earlier on Sunday. With the team standing precarious, the duo skated a personal-best program that kept the U.S. in contention when it mattered most. "It took every single point for us to do it today," said team captain Danny O'Shea. "The team event is something special because it really does bring everyone together to support each other."
Historic Milestone for US Figure Skating
This victory cements Team USA's dominance in the team event, making them the first nation to win back-to-back gold medals in the discipline since its introduction at the 2014 Sochi Games. For Malinin, along with teammates Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ellie Kam, and Danny O'Shea, this marks their first Olympic gold medal. Chock and Bates now add a second team gold to their illustrious resumes.
The narrow margin of victory—just one point—highlights the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and Japanese programs. With the team medals decided, the focus now shifts to the individual competitions, where Malinin enters as the heavy favorite for the men's singles gold. Fans are already speculating whether he will unleash the fabled quadruple Axel in his individual pursuit of glory later this week.
