U.S. Figure Skating chaotically attempts to throw first pitch at Mets game

No one can deny that the members of the United States figure skating team are elite athletes. Throwing a pitch, however, might not be part of their skillset.

Several members of the 2026 Team USA figure skating team, including members of the gold medal-winning team from Milan, appeared at Citi Field on Thursday. The group then threw out the ceremonial first pitch — or pitches — ahead of the New York Mets’ game against the Washington Nationals, in a series of chaotic, entertaining attempts.

First up was pairs skater Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, with Kam lobbing the ball from atop O’Shea’s shoulders, where it went well wide of Andrew Torgashev. Then the “Quad God,” Ilia Malinin, threw a ball slightly more on frame to Torgashev — who dropped it.

Ice dancer Emilea Zingas was lifted by partner Vadym Kolesnik in preparation to receive a pitch from Amber Glenn. Glenn did a graceful jump before throwing a pretty terrible pitch that went high over Zingas’ glove.

The only successful pitch from the whole group went from Evan Bates, part of the silver medal-winning ice dancing duo, to skater Jason Brown. Bates lobbed an overhand pitch that landed in Brown’s glove, which the pair quickly celebrated.

Here’s a full video of the moment, which has a whole lot to unpack.

The skating team was in town for the Stars on Ice tour, a cross-country tour that showcases Team USA’s skaters in the months after the Olympics. Stars on Ice is set to perform at Prudential Center in New Jersey on Friday, hence their presence in the tri-state area.

(New York went on to lose 5-4 to the Nationals — though considering that the Mets have only won three of their last 20 games, it feels difficult to blame Team USA’s appearance.)

The Mets weren’t the only team to have a celebrity first pitch on Thursday: The Pittsburgh Pirates brought out Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog. Notably, Phil’s pitch (which the help of his human handler) was much cleaner.

Stars on Ice will continue its tour of the Eastern Seaboard this weekend before heading into the Midwest. It is unclear whether the skaters will attempt any more first pitches on those upcoming stops — or if those attempts will go better than Thursday’s.