U.S. Figure Skating athletes are making their physical health a top priority as they compete for gold medals.
Ilia Malinin, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, and Amber Glenn chose to rest and recover instead of participating in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, U.S. Figure Skating told People magazine.
Oh my gosh, Evan said they’re going to have their own little celebration, like a mini-Olympics just for them! Can you believe it?! He told USA Today they’re even taking team photos to commemorate everything. It’s just… perfect! I’m already imagining them all together, celebrating their amazing achievement. I need those photos immediately!
Evan, age 36, won the rhythm dance qualifying round earlier today, beating out Madison, 33. They’ll skate again on February 7th in the afternoon as part of the team competition’s free dance segment, just a day after the Opening Ceremony.
Ilia, age 21, will compete in the menās short program on February 7th. Amber, 26, is expected to perform in the team eventās free skate on February 8th.
Even though the athletes couldn’t be with their team at the ceremony, they still celebrated in a way that would have made Evan happy.
The couple shared photos on Instagram of themselves and their teammates wearing new Ralph Lauren outfits at the Olympic Village.
Madison shared photos from the Olympic Village, calling them “Figure Skating family photos” and tagging them with #OpeningCeremony.
The Opening Ceremony in Milan and Cortina dāAmpezzo was full of excitement as ice skaters performed and events got underway.
Pop icon Mariah Carey, wearing a stunning $15 million necklace by LEVUMA High Jewellery, and acclaimed Italian singer Andrea Bocelli ā known for performing at the weddings of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian ā were highlights of the event. Meanwhile, Sabrina Impacciatore, famous for her role in The White Lotus, celebrated her Italian heritage with a special opening performance.
Several other celebrities, including Michelle Yeoh from Wicked, Jeff Goldblum, Maggie Rogers, Marisa Tomei, and Katherine LaNasa, traveled to Italy to support Team USA. Olympic gold medalist Shaun White also joined NBC commentators Terry Gannon and Mary Carilloāwho filled in for Savannah Guthrie while she dealt with a family emergencyāto host the event.
For more highlights from the 2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony, keep readingā¦
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 begins at the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6.Ā
The Olympic torch arrives in Italy following a journey of 7,500 miles.
Torchbearers Deborah Compagnoni and Alberto Tomba light the Olympic cauldron.
The Games begin as the cauldron is lit.
The lively event concludes with fireworks above the stadium.
The actress speaks out with a message on peace inspired by Nelson Mandela.
Charlize Theron took the stage and shared a powerful message: true peace isn’t simply the lack of fighting. It’s about building a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter their background or identity.
Dancers entertain the crowd with a performance in an abstract web.Ā
The Swiss stars shine bright in red outfits to match their flag.
A look inside the opening skit at San Siro Stadium.
The flags of participating countries are shown.
Italian rapper Ghali switches things up.Ā
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The famed Italian singer performs in his signature style.Ā
PresidentĀ Sergio MattarellaĀ delivers his opening remarks.Ā
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The president of the IOC takes the stage to address the crowd.Ā
The White Lotus actress Sabrina Impacciatore performs after all the athlete’s arrivals
Sabrina’s dance is full of on-stage flairĀ
The dancers don winter gear to nod toward the sports represented at Olympics 2026.Ā
The dancers join together for one last pose on stage.Ā
With every country represented, the athlete procession comes to an end.Ā
Born in the USA. The patriotic team waves their flags as they head into the arena.Ā
The US Vice President and his wife support Team USA.Ā
Team USA greets the crowd inside the arena.Ā
Women from Team USA group together for a quick pic.Ā
Great craic. The Irish athletes head into the arena.Ā
A sunny moment. Team North Macedonia waves their flag.Ā
Go’dav! The Denmark athletes make their mark.Ā
Going with a theme. Team Lebanon takes colors from their flag to curate their outfits.Ā
Bonjour! The French athletes sport white and wave their flag to enter the games.
Ciao! The Olympics 2026 hosts make their grand entrance.Ā
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2026-02-07 02:17