At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, the U.S. pairs figure skating teams missed the medal podium again, extending their drought. The last medal in pairs was won in 1988. Since then, no American pair has reached the podium, marking 38 years without a medal in this event.
Overview of Team USA’s Performance
- Date: February 16, 2026
- Previous Medal: 1988 Winter Olympics, bronze by Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard
- Drought Length: 38 years, longest in U.S. Olympic figure skating history
During the competition, Spencer Akira Howe and Emily Chan, along with Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, sought to break this streak. Despite their early promise, neither team managed to secure a podium finish.
Short Program Results
Kam and O’Shea had performed well earlier, winning gold in a team event. They entered the short program with a season-best score. At one point, they were in seventh place, trailing the podium by less than three points. Howe and Chan were close behind, in ninth place, just five points off a medal.
Heavily reliant on their strong short program, Howe and Chan faced challenges early in their routine. Despite a fall by Chan, they finished with a season-best score of 130.25, leading to a total of 200.31 points.
Free Skate Performance
Kam and O’Shea struggled during their free skate, with both members experiencing falls early in their routine. They scored 122.71, bringing their total to 194.58 points. This score was disappointing compared to their previous performance in the team event.
Trends in U.S. Pairs Skating
Despite missing medals, both pairs showed a positive trend. Their finishes indicate that U.S. pairs figure skating is improving. In the 2022 Winter Olympics, Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier finished fifth, marking the first top-five finish for the U.S. since 2002.
Additionally, it was the first time two U.S. pairs finished in the top 10 since 1998. Following that, both teams reached the top 10 in consecutive Olympics, which hadn’t happened since 1998 and 2002.
Upcoming Competitions
Looking forward, the focus shifts to the women’s competition. Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu, and Isabeau Levito, collectively known as the “Blade Angels,” are viewed as strong contenders for medals, including gold. Team USA has high hopes, especially given their status as favorites in multiple disciplines.
The ongoing performances reflect an evolution in U.S. pairs skating. Kansas and O’Shea’s journey continues to inspire optimism as they work towards breaking the Olympic medal drought.
