Olympic Ice Duo Performs to AI-Generated Tune - AI News Today Recency

# Olympic Ice Duo Performs to AI-Generated Tune

In a groundbreaking and controversial moment at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Czech ice dancing siblings Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek took to the ice with a routine featuring AI-generated music, sparking debates on innovation, ethics, and plagiarism in figure skating.[2] Performing to a 1990s-themed rhythm dance that blended a cover of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" with artificially created tracks, the duo finished in 16th place, far from the medals but stealing headlines for their bold choice amid a prior scandal.[1][2]

AI Music Shakes Up Olympic Figure Skating Rhythms

The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics rhythm dance competition at the Milano Ice Skating Arena highlighted the evolving role of technology in sports, with Mrazkova and Mrazek opting for AI-generated tunes styled after the 1990s theme.[2] While most teams, like France's Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron who went viral with a Madonna routine, stuck to classic tracks, the Czech pair's decision was cleared by the International Skating Union (ISU), which permits AI music to sidestep copyright issues.[2] Broadcast on NBC, USA Network, Peacock, and NBCOlympics.com, the event on February 9 drew global attention as commentators revealed the AI element mid-performance, leaving viewers stunned.[1][2]

This wasn't the duo's first brush with music controversy; they previously faced backlash for plagiarizing lyrics from New Radicals in an original song, forcing a last-minute switch that incorporated the AI segment in the second half of their program.[2] Despite the innovation, their placement behind leaders like Cizeron/Fournier Beaudry underscores the high stakes in ice dance, where artistry meets technical precision.[1]

Plagiarism Scandal Forces AI Pivot for Czech Ice Dancers

Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek, a brother-sister team representing Czechia, built their routine around "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC but pivoted to AI-composed music after their initial track was exposed for bar-for-bar theft from 1990s hits.[2] The ISU's approval of AI as a copyright-safe alternative made it an "easy" choice, though critics argue it lacks the authenticity of human-created art that defines Olympic figure skating.[2]

Sitting in 16th after the rhythm dance, the pair has no realistic medal path even with a perfect free dance, a outcome some attribute to their "shady" history.[2] Meanwhile, the competition shifts focus to events like Ilia Malinin's men's short program, dubbed the "Quad God," keeping the 2026 Winter Olympics buzz alive.[1]

1990s Theme Fuels Viral Moments and Tech Debates

The rhythm dance's 1990s theme amplified the spectacle, with viral social media clips of routines like Fournier Beaudry/Cizeron's Madonna performance contrasting Mrazkova/Mrazek's tech-forward approach.[2] AI music's debut raises questions about its future in ice dancing: does it democratize creativity or dilute tradition? As Olympic figure skating evolves, such experiments could redefine routines, especially with ISU rules evolving to embrace digital tools.[2]

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek? Katerina Mrazova and Daniel Mrazek are Czech ice dancers and siblings who competed in the rhythm dance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, finishing 16th with an AI-generated music routine.[2]

What music did the Olympic ice duo use? They performed to a version of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" in the first half, switching to AI-generated music styled in the 1990s theme for the second half after a plagiarism issue with their original song.[2]

Is AI-generated music allowed in Olympic figure skating? Yes, the International Skating Union permits AI-created music "in the style of the 1990s" to avoid copyright restrictions, as used by Mrazkova and Mrazek.[2]

Why did Mrazkova and Mrazek face a plagiarism scandal? Their original song for the Olympics plagiarized lyrics from New Radicals bar-for-bar, forcing them to change it and incorporate AI music.[2]

Where was the rhythm dance competition held? The event took place on February 9 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena during the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.[1]

How did the duo place in the rhythm dance? Katerina Mrazova and Daniel Mrazek placed 16th, behind leaders like France's Cizeron/Fournier Beaudry, with no medal contention remaining.[1][2]