Evan Bates has one of the longest lists of accolades in the history of U.S. figure skating. He's a five-time Olympian, three-time Olympic medalist, three-time world champion, and seven-time national champion. Nearly all of this has been achieved with skating partner Madison Chock in their 15 seasons skating together. The pair married in the summer of 2024. 

However, Chock and Bates' fourth Olympics together have been bittersweet. They were instrumental in helping Team USA win a team event gold at the top of the Milan Cortina Games. But the duo has made no secret that they were holding off retirement in the hopes of an individual Olympic gold, after a 4th place finish in Beijing in 2022

At first, that goal seemed all but assured — they had an undefeated pre-Olympic season, and came out ahead in both segments of the team event outings. Yet despite a season's best score in the free skate, Chock and Bates received the Olympic silver medal when new French team Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron edged ahead of them by just one-and-a-half points.

"We have so much to be proud of," Chock said after earning the 2nd-place finish. "We've had the most incredible career, 15 years on the ice together, first Olympics as a married couple and we delivered four of our best performances this week. I'm really proud of how we've handled ourselves and what we've accomplished here."

That accomplishment is only a part of why Bates was selected by the athletes on Team USA to be flagbearer along with Hilary Knight, women's hockey gold medalist. Chock and Bates have long been described by the other skaters as the "mom and dad" of the team, and they've been vocal in their support of the younger athletes. In an emotional moment while practicing for Saturday's figure skating Exhibition Gala, Chock broke the news to Bates that he had been chosen to carry the flag for the United States.

“It’s my great honor to share this experience with you," Chock said to the other Team USA skaters on the ice with them before turning to her husband. "And now, I want to present Evan with something. You have been selected as the closing flagbearer,” she said as their teammates piled in for a group hug.

Speaking on the Today Show later, Bates confirmed how much the honor meant to him. "It's so humbling: 232 athletes, every one with their own story, and so many who are worthy of this honor," he said. "It's hard to describe what it feels like. And to walk out with Hilary, who I've done five Olympics together with — we even shared a skate sharpener in Montreal together, so we've got some history — and now, we're going to be bonded forever."

The Exhibition Gala will begin at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and the Closing Ceremony will take place Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET and can be watched live on NBC or streamed on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.