{"id":457204,"date":"2026-02-08T23:28:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/457204\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T23:28:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:28:07","slug":"winter-olympics-2026-usa-take-gold-in-figure-skating-team-event-as-it-happened-winter-olympics-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/457204\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened | Winter Olympics 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">You can read a full report from Sunday\u2019s action here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69890ec48f08f21900ad5d82#block-69890ec48f08f21900ad5d82\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Final team standings<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">69 USA<br \/>68 Japan<br \/>60 Italy<br \/>56 Georgia<br \/>54 Canada<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Men\u2019s standings<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">200.03 Malinin (USA)<br \/>194.86 Sato (JPN)<br \/>179.62 Rizzo (ITA)<br \/>171.93 Gogolev (CAN)<br \/>154.79 Egadze (GEO)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">One thing that can\u2019t be overlooked \u2013 the ice dance duo of Chock and Bates swept their assignments.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6989048d8f081402f30cbd8c#block-6989048d8f081402f30cbd8c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>USA win figure skating team event<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">That was the equivalent of a 14-point favorite winning when the opponent misses a 64-yard field goal. So close.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Ellie Kam and Danny O\u2019Shea are the unlikely heroes, picking up an unexpected seven instead of six in the pairs skate. Amber Glenn fumbled a bit but held on for a gritty third-place finish. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ilia-malinin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ilia Malinin<\/a> landed a whole bunch of quads, even if one was a bit shaky.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Thanks for following along, wherever you are. Enjoy the rest of the Games after you catch your breath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And watch the USA in the mixed doubles curling semifinals. Korey and Cory seem to have overcome their mid-competition downturn.<\/p>\n<p>Ilia Malinin of USA performs in the team event. Photograph: Wu Hao\/EPA<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698903bd8f08c355f2fbebf4#block-698903bd8f08c355f2fbebf4\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a017.01 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sato\u2019s career best is 194.02. This will probably be around \u2026 198?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Nope \u2026 it\u2019s a career best, but not by much \u2013 194.86.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Japanese team is thrilled, but they\u2019re taking silver.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6989037c8f08c355f2fbebf3#block-6989037c8f08c355f2fbebf3\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Weir and Lipinski think Malinin will just barely hang on. But they\u2019re stunned that it\u2019s so close.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698903468f081402f30cbd84#block-698903468f081402f30cbd84\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Reviews have taken Sato down to 106.53. Maybe enough breathing room?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698903148f081402f30cbd83#block-698903148f081402f30cbd83\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">They keep upgrading Sato\u2019s marks!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As he finishes, it\u2019s 108.20. Barely two points behind Malinin. Oh my. And it was a nice program to watch.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698902cc8f08c355f2fbebf1#block-698902cc8f08c355f2fbebf1\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Weir frets that the judges are being \u201cvery generous.\u201d And again on a quad toeloop, and a triple axel\/double axel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The good news for the USA is that he has no more quads or combos planned.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698902508f081402f30cbd7f#block-698902508f081402f30cbd7f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sato rises to the occasion early. Huge quad lutz. Then a triple axel\/euler\/triple salchow. Then a quad toeloop\/triple toeloop.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This could get interesting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698902168f08f21900ad5d44#block-698902168f08f21900ad5d44\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Hold the presses \u2026 we have news on the figure skating musical front!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sato is ready to roll \u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-698901d08f081402f30cbd7e#block-698901d08f081402f30cbd7e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Malinin clowns for the camera as he skates back, playing peek-a-boo and laughing. He doesn\u2019t seem too bothered.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Tech score is down to 110.32.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Score is: 200.03.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sato\u2019s career best is 194.02.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6989012f8f08c355f2fbebeb#block-6989012f8f08c355f2fbebeb\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad lutz \u2013 has to put his hands down to land!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad toeloop\/Euler\/Triple flip \u2013 ADDED to what was planned<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad salchow\/Triple axel \u2013 nailed it<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Backflip \u2013 yeah, why not.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Spins are good, too. And it was entertaining.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Technical score stands at 111.59 for now. You\u2019d have to think that\u2019ll be enough, even if it\u2019s not his best.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6989009a8f08f21900ad5d3b#block-6989009a8f08f21900ad5d3b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad flip \u2013 landed, far ahead of the base value (15.71 to 11)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad axel \u2013 decided on the triple instead. Way ahead of base value.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad lutz \u2013 landed<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Quad loop \u2013 another triple instead, but Johnny Weir isn\u2019t alarmed, saying he doesn\u2019t need the quad there to win this stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Three more jumping runs \u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fffa8f081402f30cbd75#block-6988fffa8f081402f30cbd75\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s a 171.93 for Gogolev. Not sure how that happened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here comes Ilia. World record holder with a 238.24.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ffc08f081402f30cbd74#block-6988ffc08f081402f30cbd74\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Say this for figure skating fans \u2013 they appreciate good skating and good entertainment wherever they find it. They clap along with Gogolev\u2019s music toward the end of a quite impressive program. Pending review, his technical scores are ahead of Rizzo\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Malinin is warming up. Millions of people in the USA start to hold their breath.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ff188f08c355f2fbebe2#block-6988ff188f08c355f2fbebe2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Canada\u2019s Stephen Gogolev, who\u2019s 21 but looks younger, can\u2019t affect the standings in any way. The bronze is settled, and silver and gold will be determined by the head-to-head Malinin-Sato matchup. But he\u2019ll never get a better practice opportunity than this. He has to put a hand down to barely avoid a fall after a quad, but it\u2019s a hiccup in an otherwise solid start.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fe268f081402f30cbd68#block-6988fe268f081402f30cbd68\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Bronze for Italy<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Rizzo pumps up the crowd several times before doing the figure skating equivalent of the Lambeau Leap, jumping into the barrier to get hugs before departing the ice in the more conventional way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">His technical scores alone are 92.52. Egadze hit 78.33.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Waiting to see it made official. Score is \u2026 179.62. It\u2019s not in the Malinin-osphere, nor would it trouble either of the top Japanese skaters, but it\u2019s far and away his season\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And Italy have seen off the challenge from Georgia, which must look elsewhere for its first winter medal.<\/p>\n<p>Matteo Rizzo of Team Italy celebrates with his team. Photograph: Elsa\/Getty Images<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fd558f08c355f2fbebd5#block-6988fd558f08c355f2fbebd5\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a017.03 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Rizzo only tries one quad. But he\u2019s not trying to best Malinin\u2019s technical score. He\u2019s trying to beat Egadze. This is going to do it, very easily. It\u2019s not as dazzling as some other men, but it\u2019s clean. And despite the music not being the most upbeat, it\u2019s kind of inspiring to watch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He finishes by going over and putting his hands on the judges\u2019 table. I think he actually flirted a bit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As soon as he finishes, he drops to the ice and cries tears of joy. He just delivered a bronze medal for Italy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fc678f081402f30cbd5e#block-6988fc678f081402f30cbd5e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s a 154.79 for Egadze.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Matteo Rizzo will take the ice now in an effort to seal the bronze medal for Italy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He\u2019ll be skating to \u2026 oh, no \u2026 Hans Zimmer\u2019s music from Interstellar. I had to play a video of this to music classes four times in one day, and I was depressed for a week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Did you know Hans Zimmer was in the first video ever on MTV?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fbf38f08f21900ad5d23#block-6988fbf38f08f21900ad5d23\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Egadze opens with a quad lutz and doesn\u2019t land cleanly. It\u2019s knocked down to a double and marked down on top of that. He rebounds with a quad toeloop and a quad-triple combo, but his triple axel is shaky. Georgia has to finish two places ahead of Italy here to force a tie and incur the complicated tiebreaking process that I don\u2019t have time to read, let alone explain. Looks like it won\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But he\u2019s still going, and he threw in a triple flip\/double axel\/double axel sequence. Not too bad.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fa668f08f21900ad5d1e#block-6988fa668f08f21900ad5d1e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Men&#8217;s skate underway<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Yay! We\u2019re back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">First up, the battle for bronze. Georgia leads with Nika Egadze. Remember \u2013 Georgia have NEVER won a Winter Olympic medal in ANYTHING.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988fa278f08f21900ad5d1d#block-6988fa278f08f21900ad5d1d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">We\u2019ll have some time before the men\u2019s free skate, so this is a great time to send in your emails if you like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I\u2019m also duty-bound by the citizens of Vienna (Va.) to point out that Malinin is from my town. In fact, Marshall High School just got a shoutout on the broadcast. (I\u2019m tied to the other school in Vienna, but still \u2026)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f4768f08f21900ad5d02#block-6988f4768f08f21900ad5d02\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Standings with one stage to go<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">How big was that extra point that the US pair of Ellie Kam and Danny O\u2019Shea picked up? Without that, even if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ilia-malinin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ilia Malinin<\/a> gets 10 points, Japan would be in position to tie by picking up nine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Women\u2019s scores<br \/>148.62 Sakamoto (JPN)<br \/>140.17 Gubanova (GEO)<br \/>138.62 Glenn (USA)<br \/>126.94 Gutmann (ITA)<br \/>125.00 Schizas (CAN)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Team standings<br \/>59 USA<br \/>59 Japan<br \/>52 Italy<br \/>50 Georgia<br \/>47 Canada<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So lest we forget the bronze medal \u2013 Canada\u2019s out, but there\u2019s a chance that Georgia could pick up its first medal in any Winter Olympic sport. Maybe when someone invents ice judo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Amber Glenn is being interviewed and is quite gracious, offering a matter-of-fact analysis in which she thinks she might have had too much adrenaline earlier in the day and then faded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cCan Ilia bring it home?\u201d she\u2019s asked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAre you kidding? Of course he can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If nothing else, the USA have clinched their second medal of the Games. They can\u2019t get less than silver.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f3068f08c355f2fbebb8#block-6988f3068f08c355f2fbebb8\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Lipinski, Weir and Gannon are convinced Sakamoto has first place here. I\u2019m not so sure. Her technical scores are indeed behind Gubanova\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But they know a bit more than I do about component scores. It\u2019s a 148.62. Meh. Fine.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f2ba8f081402f30cbd32#block-6988f2ba8f081402f30cbd32\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Why is it that figure skating competitions can land the rights to the original Edith Piaf songs but not pop\/rock stars of the last 50 years?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Oh \u2013 Sakamoto lands everything else, though her technical score actually might not be ahead of Gubanova\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">If they let me judge artistic impression, Gubanova would win. But they won\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f21a8f08f21900ad5cfd#block-6988f21a8f08f21900ad5cfd\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sakamoto\u2019s first two jumps are smooth. A triple-double combo is flawless \u2026 but they\u2019ll review anyway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Yeah, this isn\u2019t going to be close. Truth be told, this isn\u2019t as entertaining as the other programs, but it\u2019s immaculate.<\/p>\n<p>Kaori Sakamoto of Japan competes during the figure skating women&#8217;s team event. Photograph: Bernat Armangu\u00e9\/AP<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f15d8f081402f30cbd29#block-6988f15d8f081402f30cbd29\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.59 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So Japan\u2019s Kaori Sakamoto can force a tie in this team event with one stage left. Her season best is 150.13. This should be easy for her.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f1238f081402f30cbd25#block-6988f1238f081402f30cbd25\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Reviews have knocked her down to 70.88. Seems really unlikely that she\u2019ll finish ahead of Gubanova.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Here\u2019s the score: 138.62, 6.03 off her season best. And it\u2019s behind Gubanova. Her face is a study in despair.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f0a68f08f21900ad5cea#block-6988f0a68f08f21900ad5cea\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Apparently not, but it\u2019s close. She\u2019s at 72.37, pending other reviews. Gubanova was at 73.24. She shakes her head as she finishes, clearly unhappy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAmber, you worked through it,\u201d her coach says as she steps off the ice. \u201cI\u2019m so proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988f0478f08c355f2fbeba2#block-6988f0478f08c355f2fbeba2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">She lands the triple axel! Sort of. The landing was shaky and gets a review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And oh no. She steps out of a triple-triple combination. She battles back with a triple lutz-double toeloop (under review, of course) and a triple salchow (not!).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Can she add a combo here? Triple loop, double axel, double axel, nailed it! That\u2019ll ease some worries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Then it\u2019s a triple-double combo. Under review, but not bad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Can she best Gubanova\u2019s technical mark?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ef718f08f21900ad5cd7#block-6988ef718f08f21900ad5cd7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The graphics tell us Glenn has the highest planned technical program: 68.97 points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This is nervy stuff \u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ef3e8f08c355f2fbeb97#block-6988ef3e8f08c355f2fbeb97\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Amber Glenn is warming up, and she pulls out of a triple axel attempt. Nerves are evident on her face. Her coach tells her to breathe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Guttman\u2019s score: 126.94, well off her season\u2019s best and barely ahead of Schizas from Canada.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988eee08f08f21900ad5ccd#block-6988eee08f08f21900ad5ccd\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But there are some objective mistakes here. A triple becomes a double. And more jumps under review. Italy might drop an unexpected point once these scores come in. Her technical score is nowhere near Gubanova\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ee1f8f081402f30cbd10#block-6988ee1f8f081402f30cbd10\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.13 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Gutmann\u2019s first combo is under review. And her second combo. And a triple loop. No home-ice advantage in figure skating?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Oooh, a cartwheel! You don\u2019t see THAT every day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Her spin is under review. I\u2019m personally offended at this point.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988edb38f081402f30cbd0d#block-6988edb38f081402f30cbd0d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s a season\u2019s best 140.17 for Gubanova.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Italy\u2019s Lara Naki Gutmann is skating to the Jaws theme, and I say we should just award her a gold medal for that.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ed648f081402f30cbd0a#block-6988ed648f081402f30cbd0a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Georgia\u2019s Anastasiia Gubanova plans to open with a triple-triple combination, and she\u2019s successful. Green on a triple lutz, green on a triple salchow \u2013 though the latter might get a review. Hey, I\u2019m right \u2013 the yellow bar comes up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Triple lutz\/double axel\/double toeloop \u2026 looks good but is also under review. Triple flip\/double toeloop is OK, maybe? Double axel is immediately under review. She seems to be tiring in the second half of this program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">I\u2019m deducting five points for the music. It\u2019s from Ghost: The Musical. At rehearsal tonight, I\u2019ll be playing a song by Ghost, the Swedish metal-ish band. I\u2019d prefer the latter. But tastes may vary.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988eba38f08c355f2fbeb87#block-6988eba38f08c355f2fbeb87\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Women&#8217;s event underway<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Canada\u2019s Madeline Schizas has a season high of 123.44. She falls on her first jump, a triple lutz. She gets a warm ovation when she lands the next one, a triple flip. Her next two jumps are fine, but she gets a review on her spin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Triple lutz again, this time followed by a double axel and another double axel. Johnny Weir notes that she was supposed to open with a big combination but fell on the first jump, so she has improvised to do the combo here. Since that fall on the first jump, she has been impressive, landing three consecutive combinations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">She smiles toward the end of her routine but seems less than happy after she finishes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s a 125-flat, just ahead of her season\u2019s best, but she still seems to be stewing over that missed jump.<\/p>\n<p>Madeline Schizas of Canada hits the ice. Photograph: Yara Nardi\/Reuters<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e9d28f081402f30cbcf5#block-6988e9d28f081402f30cbcf5\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a016.00 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The women\u2019s free skate is officially behind schedule. Some of us have to be somewhere at 1700 ET, folks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Amber Glenn landed a triple axel in warmups. That could be big if she does it when it counts.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e8128f081402f30cbcec#block-6988e8128f081402f30cbcec\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Back at figure skating (or while we wait) \u2013 Japanese skaters have won four of the six segments so far. The big difference is that the USA\u2019s Madison Chock and Evan Bates won both phases of ice dancing, while Japan conceded a lot of points there.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e7b68f08c355f2fbeb7a#block-6988e7b68f08c355f2fbeb7a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">That is, however, bad news for my fantasy curling team. Yes, I drafted Sweden in mixed doubles.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e7368f08c355f2fbeb78#block-6988e7368f08c355f2fbeb78\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While we wait for the women to start, we\u2019ll peek at curling, where the US mixed doubles pair of Korey (Dropkin) and Cory (Thiesse) are on the verge of clinching a spot in the playoffs. Maybe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Oh \u2013 yes. That\u2019s it. An 8-7 win over Sweden puts the USA into the four-team playoffs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e6448f08f21900ad5ca1#block-6988e6448f08f21900ad5ca1\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Pairs results and standings (6\/8 stages complete)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">155.55 Miura\/Kihara (JPN) \u2013 personal best for what was already the best pair here<br \/>139.70 Metelkina\/Berulava (GEO)<br \/>136.61 Conti\/Macii (ITA)<br \/>135.36 Kam\/O\u2019Shea (USA)<br \/>134.42 Pereira\/Michaud (CAN)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Standings<br \/>51 USA<br \/>49 Japan<br \/>45 Italy<br \/>41 Georgia<br \/>41 Canada<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e2e78f081402f30cbcd7#block-6988e2e78f081402f30cbcd7\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Japanese pair gets underway, and they\u2019re not quite landing things smoothly at first. But a graceful throw gets a 7.27 for the moment, well ahead of the base value of 5.30.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Still, a death spiral (which sounds like a Norwegian metal band) is under review. This might not be so simple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The rest is impressive, though \u2013 a lift and a throw that far exceed their base values, then a final lift that is the most dazzling of the evening. (And yet it\u2019s under review.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Miura pumps her fist while being held aloft at the end. It\u2019s an 80.75 on technical scores for the moment, and that might come down into the 77-78 range, but that\u2019ll be plenty.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e1f48f08f21900ad5c90#block-6988e1f48f08f21900ad5c90\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The Georgians have finished, and it\u2019s a sizable advantage on the technical scores \u2013 nearly 10 points ahead of the Italian pair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So if we\u2019re going to think only in terms of how this affects the USA, consider this \u2013 what if Japan does not get 10 points in the pairs? What if Georgia snags the top spot instead? It won\u2019t lift Georgia onto the podium, but might be one more point toward keeping Japan off the top step.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Scores are in: 139.70. Actually not that much of an edge over Italy, especially given the advantage in technical scores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Final pair: Miura and Kihara from Japan. They have to win this in order for Japan to keep the pressure on the USA.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988e0b88f08f21900ad5c87#block-6988e0b88f08f21900ad5c87\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Metelkina and Berulava, the heart of Georgia\u2019s team, take to the ice. Berulava tosses her into the air like a drummer tossing a drumstick. Their side-by-side jumps are nearly perfect \u2013 maybe we could quibble over one skater\u2019s leg being slightly higher than the other\u2019s, but they\u2019re not messing around.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Another throw. Metelkina lands like she just took a small step while walking on solid ground. Nothing to it. We can surely forget any chances that they\u2019ll be in anything but first place with one pair to go.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988dfdd8f08c355f2fbeb5e#block-6988dfdd8f08c355f2fbeb5e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Johnny Weir reminds us that the Italian pair will have the edge on the artistic scores. It\u2019s not hard to see why, even if you know nothing about figure skating. They\u2019re mesmerizing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And there it is: 136.61, 1.25 points ahead of Kam and O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988df678f08f21900ad5c79#block-6988df678f08f21900ad5c79\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Conti and Macii start with a solid throw, but they\u2019re at sea on a jumping sequence, with Conti not completing one jump and each of them having some wobbly landings. They bounce back on their next jumps, and Conti firmly and gracefully lands a throw. Macii hoists Conti into the air \u2013 looked great from here, but the yellow \u201creview\u201d sign pops up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s a stunningly graceful program. And when Conti lands a triple salchow throw, it\u2019s hard to imagine the US score holding up for first place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But \u2026 their technical score is lower! Could it be? It\u2019s 69.18 (for now) to the Americans\u2019 69.65.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And it drops to 68.23!<\/p>\n<p>Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy perform. Photograph: Wu Hao\/EPA<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988de1f8f08c355f2fbeb52#block-6988de1f8f08c355f2fbeb52\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a015.06 EST<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The lowest free skate score this season for Italy\u2019s Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii is 130.92, but that was early on. In Grand Prix competition, their low was 134.89.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So they\u2019ll need to be on point to knock the USA off the top spot. Will skating at home be a boost, or will it bring extra pressure?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The last time Italy hosted the Winter Olympics, the ice dance duo of Barbara Fusar Poli and Maurizio Margaglio finished their free dance with a disastrous fall, leading to this viral moment in which Fusar Poli shot Margaglio <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/kY08tShyvAo?si=tr5oy8Az9CaCvM2L&amp;t=187\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a heartbreaking look<\/a> of despair and disappointment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988dcc38f08c355f2fbeb48#block-6988dcc38f08c355f2fbeb48\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Canadians\u2019 scores: 134.42! It\u2019s a season best by far, but it doesn\u2019t catch Kam and O\u2019Shea. Job done for the US pair, earning at least one more point than the minimum.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988dbe88f081402f30cbca4#block-6988dbe88f081402f30cbca4\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Pereira and Michaud nails their first couple of elements. All green to start. (\u201cGreen\u201d meaning they\u2019re getting what was expected or better on a particular element.) But Pereira has to take several extra steps to stay upright on a throw triple loop.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">They march onward, though, and Pereira lands the next throw beautifully. The Canadians are giving up fourth place in this segment without a fight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In fact, forget fourth here \u2013 the other pairs are going to have to be on top of their games here to beat all these upstart North Americans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Kam and O\u2019Shea got 69.65 on their technical elements. Pereira and Michaud finish with \u2026 are you kidding? 69.73!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But at least one element is under review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In fact, as I type, it has dropped to 69.54.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988da508f08f21900ad5c56#block-6988da508f08f21900ad5c56\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Kam and O\u2019Shea score 135.36, a season high. Also a personal best.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">For comparison \u2013 Canada\u2019s Pereira and Michaud have a season high of 123.22.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Get ready to hear some Hans Zimmer \u2026<\/p>\n<p>Danny O\u2019Shea lifts partner Ellie Kam. Photograph: Yara Nardi\/Reuters<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988d9908f081402f30cbc93#block-6988d9908f081402f30cbc93\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A fierce look of determination on Ellie Kam\u2019s face as the non-Eurythmics version of Sweet Dreams starts. The first throw is solid, though it looks like something (maybe a piece of glitter?) flew off. Their first synchronized jump has a bobble from Kam.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Kam successfully lands on the throws, if only just.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As the music pulsates (a sturdy remake of Everybody Wants to Rule the World), O\u2019Shea\u2019s lifts are breathtaking. Pairs skaters have to be stronger than a lot of athletes in other disciplines. The crowd loves it, and O\u2019Shea is smiling as if he knows he\u2019s putting on the skate of his long career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, NBC\u2019s stellar commentator duo, are beside themselves.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">This should be good \u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988d8388f081402f30cbc8f#block-6988d8388f081402f30cbc8f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Kam\/O&#8217;Shea open pairs free skate<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Gotta love their musical selections \u2013 Sweet Dreams, Eleanor Rigby and Everybody Wants to Rule the World.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Some of their elements include Triple Twist Lift, Triple Toeloop, Triple Salchow+Double Axel+Double Axel, Throw Triple Lutz and Throw Triple Loop.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988d6b58f08f21900ad5c3c#block-6988d6b58f08f21900ad5c3c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The difference in the technical elements \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Sato\u2019s planned program includes these jumps\/combinations:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Malinin?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Skaters can change their minds during the course of the program. But packing in seven quads to Sato\u2019s three is quite the statement of intent.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988d51b8f081402f30cbc80#block-6988d51b8f081402f30cbc80\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Start lists and analysis<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Pairs<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The USA will open with Ellie Kam and Danny O\u2019Shea. Then it\u2019s Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud (Canada), Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii (Italy), Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia) and finally Riku Miuru and Ryuichi Kihara (Japan).<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">All five of these pairs competed in the short program, where the order was Japan, Georgia, Italy, Canada and the USA. But Kam and O\u2019Shea (66.59) weren\u2019t far behind Pereira and Michaud (68.24), so if they can improve just slightly, they can gain another valuable point. Miuru and Kihara have gone silver, gold, silver, gold in the last world championships. The Georgia pair took fourth last year and also won the world junior championship. Conti and Macii have been on the podium two of the last three years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Best-case scenario for the USA would likely entail picking up seven points (fourth place) to Japan\u2019s 10.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Women<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Starters are Madeline Schizas (Canada), Anastasiia Gubanova (Georgia), Lara Naki Gutmann (Italy), Amber Glenn (USA) and Kaori Sakamoto (Japan). The one change from the short program is for the USA, where Glenn replaces Alysa Liu. Sakamoto took first in the short program, followed by Liu, Gutmann, Jia Shin (South Korea), Gubanova and Schizas. Sakamoto won three straight world championships but dropped to second this year behind Liu. Glenn won last year\u2019s Grand Prix final.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So this is likely 1-2 for Japan and the USA. If the USA took fifth in pairs, then we\u2019ll have a tie going into the last phase \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Men<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">List is Nika Egadze (Georgia), Matteo Rizzo (Italy), Stephen Gogolev (Canada), Ilia Malinin (USA) and Shun Sato (Japan). The good news for the USA is that Malinin has dominated men\u2019s skating since the last Olympics, and he has overcome a slightly shaky short program in the past. In the free skate, he\u2019ll line up so many quad jumps that he can afford a few mistakes and still win. The other good news for the USA: Sato isn\u2019t Kagiyama. So this will be Malinin\u2019s \u2013 and the USA\u2019s \u2013 to lose.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988d0f88f08c355f2fbeada#block-6988d0f88f08c355f2fbeada\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Let\u2019s set the stage \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The team competition is pretty simple. Finish first in a particular program, and your team gets 10 points. Second place is 9 points. Third is 8. Halfway through, we cut down to the final five.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">So the current scores, after five of eight stages are \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">44 USA<br \/>39 Japan<br \/>37 Italy<br \/>35 Canada<br \/>32 Georgia <\/p>\n<p>So the USA are virtually assured of their second medal of the Olympics this evening. It\u2019s expected to be a second gold. But Ilia Malinin was expected to win the men\u2019s short program, and he was second to the brilliant Japanese skater Yuma Kagiyama yesterday after some small errors on his jumps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Malinin will skate again today in the men\u2019s free skate. Kagiyama will not.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And that could be pivotal. Japan could make up four points in pairs to pull within one point with two events left.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Competition starts with pairs in about 25 minutes (1330 ET). The women start at 1445 ET, then the men at 1555.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Get comfortable. Get popcorn. Get tissues. Enjoy.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988ce148f081402f30cbc30#block-6988ce148f081402f30cbc30\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s Bryan Graham on how an eventful women\u2019s downhill competition played out:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">There was always a version of this story that ended in a single, violent instant. Lindsey Vonn was 13th to push out of the start gate on Sunday in Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo knowing exactly what she was racing with: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2026\/feb\/03\/lindsey-vonn-injury-status-acl-downhill-milano-cortina-olympics\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a fully ruptured ACL<\/a> in her left knee, a heavy brace wrapped around the joint, and the accumulated wear of a career spent flirting with speed and consequence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">She barely made it out of the opening phase of the run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Not 13 seconds into her descent, under bright late-morning sunshine on the Olympia delle Tofane, the 41-year-old American <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2026\/feb\/08\/lindsey-vonn-airlifted-hospital-crash-olympic-downhill-skiing-milan-cortina\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">appeared to clip<\/a> her right pole on a gate. The contact was subtle, almost imperceptible at full speed, but catastrophic in effect. She lost her balance, lurched violently to the right, twisted awkwardly in the air and landed hard on her side before being pitched backward down the piste.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">You can read the full article here:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">You can also keep up to date with the latest events in other disciplines here:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">And check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ng-interactive\/2026\/feb\/04\/winter-olympics-full-schedule-milano-cortina-2026\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">schedule<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ng-interactive\/2026\/feb\/04\/winter-olympics-results-milano-cortina-2026\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">results<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/ng-interactive\/2026\/feb\/04\/winter-olympics-2026-latest-medal-table-milano-cortina\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">medal table<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Winter Olympics 2026: USA take gold in figure skating team event \u2013 as it happened&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/feb\/08\/winter-olympics-2026-figure-skating-team-event-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6988a9418f08f21900ad5a84#block-6988a9418f08f21900ad5a84\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature You can read a&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":457205,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,3,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":{"0":"post-457204","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-united-states","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-united-states-of-america","12":"tag-unitedstates","13":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","14":"tag-us","15":"tag-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=457204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/457204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/457205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=457204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=457204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=457204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}