Can I be your husband for the rest of my life?” The music had barely faded when Evan Bates did something no one — not the judges, not the crowd, not even his partner — saw coming. Just moments after finishing second, with emotions still raw and adrenaline in the air, he dropped to one knee right there on Olympic ice, turning a medal moment into something far more intimate. Beside him, Madison Chock stood frozen — not from exhaustion, but from shock. Years of partnership, pressure, and shared sacrifice suddenly crystallized into a single question, asked in front of the world. What was supposed to be the end of a competition became the beginning of a new chapter. Fans watching at home said they forgot about scores entirely. This wasn’t just figure skating anymore — it was a love story unfolding in real time, on the sport’s biggest stage.
Partners for life’ husband and wife figure skating couple targeting another Olympic gold medal at Milan Cortina 2026
This might be the iconic couple’s and three-time World Champions’ final season on the ice
THE 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating competition has been put on notice as the sport’s hottest couple are back for more gold.
Madison Chock, 33, and Evan Bates, 36, have been figure skating partners since 2011.
Bates took over from the retiring Greg Zuerlein after Zuerlein and Chock spent five seasons together as partners.
Chock and Bates saw their on-ice chemistry manifest into something more off of it in 2017 as they began dating.
After getting engaged in 2022, the dancing partners on ice became husband and wife in June 2024 in Hawaii.
In what is now their 15th season together and maybe their final on the rink, they enter the Milan Cortina Games in red hot form.
The three-time world champions just won their third consecutive world Grand Prix Final title.
They are arguably the favorites to win another Olympic gold medal but the ice dance field is deep and stacked with talent.
Chock and Bates spoke to TMJ4 News to share how marriage has sparked them to become even better with age.
Bates first explained, “As we’ve competed as husband and wife, we feel an even deeper connection.
“It’s knowing we’ve made a commitment to each other. We’re going to be partners for the rest of our life, even when our skating career is over.”
Chock added, “I’m grateful for the longevity that we’ve had, the fact that we’re able to pursue our passions together.”
On the ultimate goal, Bates concluded, “It’s just been a dream since childhood to be an Olympian and to win a gold medal is the ultimate.”
The iconic figure skating couple didn’t achieve their first Olympic gold in the 2022 Beijing Games by the conventional route.
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for illegal substances and her efforts in ROC’s team gold were disqualified.
Valieva, only 15 at the time, was the star of the show for Russia and they were downgraded to bronze while Team USA took gold.
Chock and Bates didn’t get their gold medal ratified until 2024 after the Court of Arbitration finalised their ruling.
In a happy coincidence, the ceremony happened two weeks after their wedding.
