> At a Glance
> – Ice dancers Madison Chock, 33, and Evan Bates, 36, head into the 2026 Winter Olympics as three-time defending world champions
> – The couple, married in July 2024, say their relationship has become the main focus with skating as a shared journey
> – This could be their last Games after missing individual podium by one spot in Beijing
> – Why it matters: Their shift from medals-first to partnership-first could define their legacy on and off the ice
Married ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates are chasing one last Olympic glory, but the hardware is no longer what drives them.
Partnership Evolves Beyond Medals
Bates says their perspective has matured since they first teamed up in 2011.
> “Skating was always the main focus, but as we’ve gotten older, I think the relationship has become the main focus,”
> Evan Bates tells News Of Los Angeles.
They now view skating as the tool that strengthens their bond rather than the end goal.
From Ice to Romance
The duo skated together for five years before romance sparked in 2017.
- They had been friends for a decade
- Feelings surfaced during performance struggles
- Judges noticed improved chemistry once they began dating
> “We really leaned on each other in those times,”
> Bates recalls.
Off-Ice Talents
The couple interrupt each other to praise hidden skills:
- Bates plays guitar
- Chock designs costumes-10 to 12 Olympic outfits for competitors this year plus their own
Final Shot at History
With figure skating favoring youth and four-year Olympic cycles, the 2026 Games likely mark their last individual podium chance. They already own team event gold from Beijing.
Their daily approach remains granular:
> “Every day we have little micro goals,”
> Chock says, citing speed, fitness and performance tweaks.
Key Takeaways
- Relationship-first mindset replaced medal-first drive
- Enter 2026 Olympics as three-time world champions
- 2026 probably their final Winter Games
- Daily micro-goals fuel their final push
As the spotlight brightens next month, Chock and Bates skate for each other as much as for gold.
