Peak moment on the 13th day of the Olympics
USAT’s Sam Cardona Norberg breaks down the epic night the Team USA women’s team had on the ice during Day 13 of the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
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MILAN — Figure skating concluded at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a dazzling show of glitz, flips, twirls and talent at the Figure Skating Exhibition Gala. The sport’s medal winners and top stars gathered to have fun on the ice and put on a show in front of a packed audience at the Milan Ice Skating Arena.
This includes all of Team USA, who will be skating together as gold medal winners. Personally, Amber Glenn started the Madonna program, Ilia Marin completed four back flips, Madison Chock and Evan Bates gracefully skated on the white sheet, and Alisa Liu’s joy overflowed again. Oh, and one of the gold medal winners became Kung Fu Panda. what? !
According to the Milan-Cortina show summary, the skaters’ performances were combined with “contemporary and interactive content through the use of projections, LED screens and lighting design.”
A replay of the exhibition gala will be available on NBC and Peacock. See below for live updates from USA TODAY Sports.
Introducing Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the game
Figure skating exhibition gala photos
Alisa Liu could barely keep her eyes open the day after winning the gold medal in singles figure skating at the Olympics.
Well, she was wide awake in celebration. And when she took to the ice in a blue dress, no one dared to take a nap.
Although she only had one triple, she showed grace and showmanship when she skated to the American side (along with Zara Larsson) by the Pink Panthers.
She was excited about her appearance at the gala. Although her performance wasn’t as moving as Ilia Marin’s, it gave the audience something to think about as we look ahead to 2030.
Will Liu return to the Olympic stage?
Will she be able to protect her money?
It’s probably too soon to know that she has taken her final spin on the ice in Milan.
What do you do after winning gold in men’s figure skating? Well, if you’re Mikhail Shaidlov of Kazakhstan, you put on a panda costume, take to the ice, only to get beaten up by Deadpool and Mortal Kombat fighters. Read more about the hilarious performance here.
Ilya Marin took to the ice to hear phone notifications ringing and cameras snapping.
Then, be silent.
Skating solo for the first time since falling from first to eighth in the men’s free skate, Marinin delivered an eclectic and unforgettable performance that brought the devil straight to the ice at the gala, but this time there was no fear.
Wearing a gray sweatshirt and black jeans, Malin skated to NF’s song as if he were being pulled along as the line, “I’m a puppet on strings, I don’t have a choice,” echoed through the arena.
“Is this what you wanted?” The song ended.
The crowd stood in support as Marinin continued to wave.
The husband-and-wife team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates brought intimacy to the ice as they skated to Melody Gardot’s “Once I Was Loved.”
They creatively used white sheets to restrain them so that the chocks would wrap and unwind as Bates gripped the other end of the prop.
Was this the Olympic swan song? That’s hard to tell considering Chock is 33 and Bates 36. But the American duo, silver medalists at the 2026 Winter Olympics, delivered a performance of delicate artistry as they departed Milan.
Ilya Marinin, who skated with the gold medal-winning team, repeated his signature moves, starting with a quad, then a backflip, and ending with a raspberry twist.
Lined up with “Free Bird”. While we’re at it, let’s do “Feel This Moment” with “We Will Rock You.”
Team USA’s seven skaters let their hair down and took to the ice to sing along in celebration to a high-energy music montage.
American Women Amber Glenn and Alisa Liu also danced to Beyoncé’s “Diva.”
Marinin persisted in his next act so that Estonian figure skater Nina Petrokina, who was skating to “Cell Block Tango” from the musical “Chicago,” could beat him with a finger gun.
Legendary actor and martial artist Jackie Chan held two stuffed pandas as he congratulated the athletes who performed at the exhibition gala.
“It’s a great honor to be here,” he said, wishing the crowd “health” and happiness and praying for “love and peace” in the world as the Lunar New Year approaches.
Amber Glenn Exhibition Gala Performance
Glenn appeared in a sparkly black outfit to skate to “That’s Life” at the Lady Gala. She let her hair down, skated with freedom and joy, and landed her jumps to the applause of the crowd. This may be Glenn’s last performance on the Olympic stage. At 26, she became the oldest U.S. female skater to qualify for the Olympic team since 1928.
What is an exhibition gala?
This is the grand finale show for fans to see figure skating’s biggest stars back on the ice. Organizers of this year’s Milan-Cortina say it is “a tribute to athletes and their stories – stories of passion, sacrifice and above all courage. The courage to embrace their own talents, never give up and turn their challenges into their life’s purpose.”
“But it’s also an encouragement to the fans who follow the competition to never stop fighting for their dreams, no matter what they are,” the show synopsis for the competition reads.
That description is fitting, given that the players’ personal stories, struggles and mental health were center stage, along with their talent. Ilya Marinin spoke of his “invisible conflict” after falling during the men’s free skate and finishing eighth. Amber Glenn similarly expressed her support for the LGBTQ community and spoke about the criticism she faced for fighting through a disappointing short program. And Alisa Liu won an Olympic gold medal after quitting competing completely two years ago.
Complete list of skaters, start times and exhibition gala music
The program is divided into four parts, with a break after the first two parts. Start times and music for all Team USA skaters are below:
- Amber Glenn: 8:32 p.m. Lady Gaga’s “That’s Life”
- Team USA: 9:17 p.m., Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” Beyoncé’s “Diva,” Pitbull’s “Feel This Moment,” Lenny Kravitz’s “American Woman,” Moonlight’s “Free Bird”
- Madison Chock & Evan Bates: 9:48 p.m. Melody Gardot’s “Once I Was Loved”
- Ilia Marin: “FEAR” by NF, 10:02 p.m.
- Alyssa Liu: 10:23 p.m., “Stateside” by The Pink Panthers (with Zara Larsson)
See the full schedule of skaters with start times and music.
Main elements of the show
According to the synopsis, the show consists of the following main elements:
- The opening number features Italian figure skating legend Carolina Kostner as the main character. She performs duets using 3D projections in works that combine elegance, creativity and modernity.
- Performance of a single athlete participating in this Winter Olympics. The athletes will be divided into four groups, each presenting a themed segment inspired by the opening act.
- Comprehensive performance by the hosting team (Italian team) and the winning team (American team).
- A traditional grand finale sees all athletes return to the ice for group choreography and final salutations.
Who is Carolina Kostner?
Kostner is a legend in Italian figure skating. She achieved many firsts for Italy and is also the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist. She was also the 2012 world champion and won medals at five other world championships. She is a five-time European champion and has won a total of 11 medals, making her the most decorated skater in the competition’s history. She is a nine-time Italian national champion and 2003 world junior bronze medalist.
Four acts of figure skating exhibition gala
Each skater was assigned to one of four acts in the competition. Following tradition, the gold medal winners enter the final stage. The names of each act are:
- Act 1: a dreamlike journey
- Act 2: Everything is new. Everything lights up.
- Special performance: hosting team
- break
- Special performance: winning team
- Act 3: this is the challenge
- Act 4: become one
According to the program synopsis, the performance is a story and “a metaphor for the relationship between athletes and their talents, the two protagonists of the performance.”
Italian skater Carolina Kostner will represent the athletes in the opening number. The talent is expressed through light projection, “creating an abstract character that interacts with the athlete.”
Then there are four one-minute segments. Between each segment, the colors change, the shape, texture and rhythm of the talent projection evolve, and the original music and lighting changes. Before the final segment, Kostner’s costume will also change.
Here is a description of each segment provided by the organizers of Milano Cortina:
- Segment 1 – Dream Journey: A girl steps onto the ice for the first time. She explores the ice like a blank page, falling and discovering, until a mysterious line (a visual expression of genius) appears before her. It’s the beginning of a quiet game full of curiosity, movement, and growing connections. This stage represents the beginning of the athlete’s journey – the discovery of the world and its elements.
- Segment 2 – Everything is new. Everything lights up: Skaters and lines chase each other and begin playing and dancing together. From this encounter, a deep harmony is born. Talent takes on a more tangible form, as if it has always existed and is now being recognized for the first time. This stage represents the moment when an athlete begins to gain confidence in discipline, experiment, and have fun.
- Segment 3 – This is the challenge. When that passion turns into a profession, it’s more than just a game. It comes down to hard work, sacrifice, and discipline. Talent becomes oppressive. But through struggle comes strength. They no longer just dance together, they grow together. This stage represents the moment when things get serious. Because athletes have everything they need to compete at the highest level, sacrifices, challenges, and hard work occur, and the effort can sometimes feel overwhelming.
- Segment 4 – Become One: The fight disappears when we stop fighting our talents and instead embrace them and follow our destiny. Every gesture becomes natural, every movement comes from within. And when the talent finds its place and merges with the skater, it ceases to have a life of its own, becoming a shining light trail behind her, as she shines with a new light. The final stage represents the moment when the athlete was able to find a balance with his talent. They surrender to their talents, become one with them, and bring out the best in them.
USA TODAY at the Milan Cortina convention
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The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have begun, with 16 sports being held in 25 different venues. Games will be broadcast exclusively on NBC’s series of networks, and many events will be broadcast live on the streaming service Peacock. You can sign up for Peacock here.
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