2026 Olympics Team Event - Strategy, Predictions & Discussion

[ChillSkate]

Unfortunately, Jackie Wong is reporting there was a problem with the surface of the podium used for the team event. Blades were damaged, so the medal-winning skaters need to scramble to get their blades sharpened before their next practice -- and for the dancers, before tomorrow's competition.

That's ridiculous. There really should be a requirement that there is at least 1 day in between the last day of the Team Event and the first day of individual competition. Even though Ice Dancers didn't compete today, they were still obviously heavily engaged in today's event from both a time and energy perspective.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I may be mis-remembering, but didn’t Arutunian sharpen and care for Nathan Chen’s blades? If so, he is going to have 21 new best friends…

 

[Private Citizen]

Jackie didn't know at the time he recorded the podcast. He said he noticed one of the Italian male skaters (I don't remember which) running his hand across the surface of the podium at some point. I guess he later was told there was an issue.

The Japanese skaters were all touching and feeling the surface while they were standing there and the U.S. was being called. I thought it was really weird that they were doing this, but it seemed like they knew there was a problem. The US team all jumped on this surface. Hopefully that didn’t make it worse. Ai yay yay.

 

[MacMadame]

I may be mis-remembering, but didn’t Arutunian sharpen and care for Nathan Chen’s blades? If so, he is going to have 21 new best friends…

There is probably an official skate sharpener on the team as well. And the IOC should have one on-site too.

 

[Rukia]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure USFS brings a skate tech with them. But my coach would touch up our blades sometimes with a hand file, so maybe it's something easy they can fix quickly lol. I'd hate to compete on freshly sharpened blades.

 

[Andrea82]

And here's a clip from the Team USA's IG with Breezy talking about it at the press conference -

Team USA on Instagram: "@breezyjohnsonski’s Olympic gold medal did not pass the jump test 😂 #WinterOlympics"

79K likes, 580 comments - teamusa on February 8, 2026: "@breezyjohnsonski’s Olympic gold medal did not pass the jump test 😂 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

It sounds like the metal bar across the top of the ribbon opening is too thin and they're snapping whenever the athletes jump or bounce around in celebration.

Indeed. A German biathlete lost it while dancing celebrating

DSV Biathlon on Instagram: "Are they not meant to be celebrated? 😉 #SkiDeutschland #biathlon #olympics #milanocortina2026"

36K likes, 311 comments - dsv_biathlon on February 8, 2026: "Are they not meant to be celebrated? 😉 #SkiDeutschland #biathlon #olympics #milanocortina2026".

www.instagram.com

 

[Jammers]

That's ridiculous. There really should be a requirement that there is at least 1 day in between the last day of the Team Event and the first day of individual competition. Even though Ice Dancers didn't compete today, they were still obviously heavily engaged in today's event from both a time and energy perspective.

I say a two day minimum before the individual events begin. And the Men should never skate so soon after the TE since they have the most taxing programs. Why are we not going back to how it used to be Pairs first then Men, Ice Dance and finally the Ladies and no overlapping like they are doing for some weird reason for the Men and Ice Dance. Or how about move Ice Dance to the 10th and 12th and move the Men to the 11th and give them one more day to recover. Why are they giving them 2 days off after the SP just move the SP up to the 11th and they get a extra day too.

 

[mtnskater]

All I know is every time I get my blades sharpened it takes a few skating sessions to get completely comfortable with them again. Yikes about the podium negatively affecting the skaters blades!! Unacceptable!!

 

[Sylvia]

"Update [from Jackie]: Chock/Bates were here for another hr as Mark Ladwig [skate tech. guy for USFS] worked on getting the nicks out of the blades (prob using a stone to hone the edges)
They did NOT want to get them resharpened - new sharpenings take time to get used to
Will see if I can talk to G/F or their team later" https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020881077884146029

 

[Rukia]

"Update [from Jackie]: Chock/Bates were here for another hr as Mark Ladwig [skate tech. guy for USFS] worked on getting the nicks out of the blades (prob using a stone to hone the edges)
They did NOT want to get them resharpened - new sharpenings take time to get used to
Will see if I can talk to G/F or their team later" https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020881077884146029

Yeah this is pretty much what I expected. It has worked well for me in the past when I didn't want a full sharpening, and it can be touched up again after the rd if needed.

 

[Sylvia]

"Team Japan has filed a formal complaint about the podiums (i.e., the material of the podium surface)": https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020915782478164463

 

[just tuned in]

"Team Japan has filed a formal complaint about the podiums (i.e., the material of the podium surface)": https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020915782478164463

I wonder what recourse they are seeking.

 

[Taso]

I wonder what recourse they are seeking.

At least pay for the blade repair expenses

 

[Jammers]

"Team Japan has filed a formal complaint about the podiums (i.e., the material of the podium surface)": https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020915782478164463

Good for them this should not go away it could impact these skaters especially the ones of have to compete again almost immediately.

 

[skatfan]

"Team Japan has filed a formal complaint about the podiums (i.e., the material of the podium surface)": https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020915782478164463

Good for them. What an amateur hour situation!

 

[Allskate]

I wonder what recourse they are seeking.

A change in material before the next podium? But, man, this really stinks for all the skaters who were on the podium last night, especially the dance teams.

 

[Vagabond]

I sure hope that the Organizing Committee replaces the podium surfaces prontissimo. In addition to four more medal ceremonies for Figure Skating, the venue will see several for Short Track, which has relay events.

 

[Wyliefan]

Good for Japan. Italy and the U.S. ought to join in. That was inexcusable.

 

[Private Citizen]

"Team Japan has filed a formal complaint about the podiums (i.e., the material of the podium surface)": https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020915782478164463

I wish they had politely refused to get on the podium. They all knew something was wrong. I couldn’t figure out why they were all touching it and looking at it while talking to each other. For a brief moment, I thought it was rude for them to be engaging in this while the US was being announced, but then I thought Team Japan, no, this is something else and really unusual.

 

[tangerine dream]

They've got 2 days before the next medal ceremony. That should be plenty of time to lay some carpeting on it. If they don't change it, the skaters will have to bring their skate guards out and put them on before stepping on it.

 

[Allskate]

It looks like Alysa's medal is now in one piece. She, Amber, Danny, and Ellie were on the Today Show. Amber says they were at the arena for hours afterwards. I hope C&B got a little rest.

TODAY on Instagram: "it’s a ✨golden ✨ morning for Team USA. 🫶 🇺🇸"

801 likes, 2 comments - todayshow on February 9, 2026: "it’s a ✨golden ✨ morning for Team USA. 🫶 🇺🇸".

www.instagram.com

https://www.today.com/video/us-figure-skaters-talk-winning-gold-at-2026-winter-olympics-257377349724

 

[Garden Kitty]

"Update [from Jackie]: Chock/Bates were here for another hr as Mark Ladwig [skate tech. guy for USFS] worked on getting the nicks out of the blades (prob using a stone to hone the edges)
They did NOT want to get them resharpened - new sharpenings take time to get used to
Will see if I can talk to G/F or their team later" https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020881077884146029

Yay for Mark!

 

[ice coverage]

"Update [from Jackie]: Chock/Bates were here for another hr as Mark Ladwig [skate tech. guy for USFS] worked on getting the nicks out of the blades (prob using a stone to hone the edges)
They did NOT want to get them resharpened - new sharpenings take time to get used to
Will see if I can talk to G/F or their team later" https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020881077884146029

Further update from Jackie Wong:

*Edit to say: It was Patrice Lauzon who worked on Chock/Bates' skates, Mark Ladwig was there as an observer

https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2020930171776446613

(No disrespect to Ladwig.)

 

[Sylvia]

Just saw this: https://x.com/jaybusbee/status/2020963276985700856

Statement from the Milano-Cortina Organizing Committee to @YahooSports on the Olympic podium which damaged some skaters' blades last night:

"During the Figure Skating Team Event medal ceremony, the anti-slip surface of the podium caused some damage to the athletes’ skates. Milano Cortina 2026 is taking steps to replace the surface to prevent a reoccurrence.

"To minimise the impact of the damage to athletes’ preparations and in agreement with ISU, Milano Cortina 2026 has made a skate-sharpening service available and offered an additional training session to the impacted National Olympic Committees. We also understand that some NOCs have offered their services to the impacted athletes from other countries in a true example of the Olympic spirit.

"Milano Cortina 2026 apologises for the inconvenience caused and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the best possible conditions for all athletes."

 

[mtnskater]

Offering skate sharpening and extra training time would not help the affected ice dancers today. I gotta wonder how much this affected C&B and G&F. At the very least it was a distraction and concern they did not need.