Team USA successfully defended its Olympic title in the figure skating team event at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, holding off Japan in a dramatic finish that came down to a single point. The Americans finished with 69 points, narrowly ahead of Japan’s 68, while host nation Italy captured bronze with 60 points in front of an energized home crowd.
The razor-thin victory capped a multi-discipline battle that wasn’t decided until the final skates of the competition, showcasing the depth and resilience of the American roster across men’s singles, women’s singles, and pairs.
With the gold medal on the line in the final segment — the men’s free skate — Ilia Malinin delivered when Team USA needed him most. The two-time reigning world champion scored 200.03 points, the top mark of the segment, sealing the team victory.
Living up to his “Quad God” reputation, Malinin attacked a difficult technical layout despite a few rare mistakes, maintaining composure under Olympic pressure to secure the decisive points for the United States.
Japan’s Shun Sato kept the competition tight with an outstanding skate to The Firebird, earning 194.86 points and reinforcing Japan’s position as the Americans’ strongest challenger throughout the event.
Italy’s Matteo Rizzo thrilled the home crowd by finishing third with a season-best 179.62, helping secure bronze for the host nation. Canada’s Stephen Gogolev placed fourth with 171.93, while Georgia’s European champion Nika Egadze finished fifth with 154.79.
Earlier in the women’s free skate, Amber Glenn delivered a crucial performance for Team USA, finishing third with 138.62 points and earning eight team points to keep the Americans level with Japan entering the final segment.
Despite stepping out of her triple Axel attempt, Glenn regrouped quickly and skated with confidence and control through the remainder of her program.
Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto, the three-time world champion, won the segment with 148.62 points, skating with her trademark speed and power to an Edith Piaf medley. Georgia’s Anastasiia Gubanova placed second with 140.17, continuing a standout season.
Italy’s Lara Naki Gutmann finished fourth in front of the home crowd, while Canada’s Madeline Schizas opened the segment with a season-best performance to place fifth.
In the pairs free skate, Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea delivered a steady, personal-best performance when Team USA needed it most. The American champions scored 135.36 points to finish fourth, providing valuable points in the tight team standings.
Japan’s world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won the segment with a season-best 155.55, skating to selections from Gladiator. Georgia’s Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava finished second with 139.70, while Italy’s Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii placed third with 136.61. Canada’s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud finished fifth.
A Championship Effort
The final standings reflected just how competitive the event remained from start to finish:
- 🥇 United States — 69 points
- 🥈 Japan — 68 points
- 🥉 Italy — 60 points
- Georgia — 56 points
- Canada — 54 points
The victory marks back-to-back Olympic team event gold medals for the United States, demonstrating the program’s continued strength across multiple disciplines. With Malinin’s clutch finale, Glenn’s steady performance, and key contributions from the pairs team, Team USA once again proved its ability to rise to the moment on the Olympic stage.
In Milan, the margin was just one point — but it was enough to keep the Americans on top of the figure skating world.
