Chock, Bates take 'bittersweet' silver in Olympic ice dance - ESPN

MILAN — While France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron and Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Porrier remained on the ice to show off their new Olympic medals Wednesday night, American ice dancing stars Madison Chock and Evan Bates quietly skated off with their silver medals draped around their necks.

Edged out for gold by the French duo, Bates found his way to the exit while Chock was flanked by a number of her medal-less peers rinkside, who leaned over the rink's barrier and embraced her in a group hug as she appeared to cry.

The American pair had come to Italy in search of their first individual gold medal, and as the three-time reigning world champions, they were the heavy favorites to stand atop the podium. Having led the American team to its second straight Olympic gold medal over the weekend with two impressive programs, Chock and Bates had only the individual gold left to accomplish in a legendary career that had spanned four Olympic Games together.

They had been surprised by a second-place finish in the rhythm dance portion of the competition on Monday night but had told reporters they remained «locked in» and wouldn't be dismayed by the result or let it change their mentality or preparations.

Competing second-to-last Wednesday, Chock, 33, and Bates, 36, mesmerized the crowd with their matador-themed program set to a flamenco version of «Paint It Black» — she as the matador and he as the bull — and their perfectly synchronized choreography and dynamic elements. They took over the lead with their season-best score of 134.67 points, giving them an overall total of 224.39, and they sat in the chairs designated for the leaders and anxiously watched on, holding hands, as Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron took