Figure Skating Judge Questioned After Close Olympic Ice Dance

There is concern about figure skating scores at the Olympics. A French judge gave very different scores to the top two ice dance teams. Many people are asking for the scores to be checked.
By Newsroom | Figure Skating, Olympics |

A French judge has become the focal point of a significant controversy at the Winter Olympics, with accusations of score manipulation surfacing after a highly contested ice dance event. The French pair, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, secured the gold medal by a narrow margin over the United States' Madison Chock and Evan Bates, a result that has ignited a debate about judging impartiality.

The dramatic conclusion to the ice dance competition has prompted widespread concern among fans and athletes alike. The close scores, coupled with the judge's scoring patterns, have led to a petition calling for an investigation into the judging process. The integrity of the sport's scoring system is now being questioned.

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Details of the Event and Accusations

The ice dance free dance competition saw Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France awarded the gold medal with a total score of 225.82. This put them just 1.43 points ahead of the American duo, Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who finished with 224.49 and took home the silver medal.

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Accusations of rigging have centered on Jezabel Dabouis, a French judge on the panel. Critics point to her scores in both the rhythm dance and the free dance segments.

Olympics scandal erupts as judge is accused of 'rigging' event to deny Team USA and give her team the gold instead - 2

  • Free Dance Scoring Disparity: In the free dance, Dabouis awarded the French pair 137.45 points, which was the second-highest total given by any judge. However, she awarded Chock and Bates a significantly lower score of 129.74. This was the only score below 130 points for the American pair from any judge on the panel. The gap between her scores for France and the United States in this segment was noted as being notably larger than other judges.

  • Rhythm Dance Scoring: A similar disparity was observed in the rhythm dance. Dabouis awarded France 93.34 points, which was nearly six points higher than her score for the United States (87.6), a mark described as the second-lowest by any judge in that segment.

  • Majority Opinion: Reports indicate that five out of nine judges actually ranked the American duo higher in the free dance, while four placed France first.

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These scoring differences have led to strong reactions, with some fans drawing parallels to past judging controversies, such as "Skategate." A petition has been launched on Change.org urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Skating Union (ISU) to investigate the judging.

The French Pair's Victory and Background

Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron's emotional victory was a significant achievement. Their partnership was formed less than a year prior to the competition. They are also accomplished skaters with multiple World and Four Continents Figure Skating Championships titles. However, their personal lives have also been noted as having faced scandals, though the specific nature of these is not detailed in the provided summaries.

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Team USA's Performance and Reaction

Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered what they believed was a "gold medal performance." Despite their strong showing and their own decorated careers, including previous Olympic gold medals in the team event, they were unable to secure the individual gold. Bates has expressed a desire for more transparent judging in the future. The team has called for a thorough investigation into the fairness of the judging.

The Role of the Judge

Jezabel Dabouis's scoring patterns have come under intense scrutiny. The statistical divergence in her scores for the French and American pairs has been highlighted as an "outlier." Some analysts suggest that her specific scoring choices may have directly influenced the final outcome, creating a "massive scoring swing." Reports mention a pattern of similar behavior in past events attributed to her scoring.

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Olympics scandal erupts as judge is accused of 'rigging' event to deny Team USA and give her team the gold instead - 4

This figure skating controversy is part of a wider landscape of events at the Winter Olympics that have generated public discussion. While this specific incident focuses on judging, other reports touch on different matters:

  • Coach Sent Home: A ski jumping coach was sent home due to an "alcohol-related issue."

  • Biathlon Team Issues: Internal team dynamics in Norwegian biathlon have been highlighted, involving personal conduct and team selection.

  • US-Born Athlete's Performance: An athlete who switched nationality to compete for China did not win gold in her event.

  • Wardrobe Malfunction: Canadian figure skaters experienced a near-disaster due to a wardrobe issue during their performance.

  • Athlete Injury: A prominent US skier shared an update after undergoing surgery for a leg injury that ended her Olympic hopes.

These diverse events, while distinct, contribute to the overall narrative of the Winter Olympic Games and the intense spotlight on athlete performance and competition integrity.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened in the Olympic ice dance event?
France won gold by a small amount over the USA. Some people think the scores were not fair.
Q: Why are people upset about the scores?
One French judge gave much higher scores to the French team than the American team. Other judges gave different scores.
Q: What do people want to happen?
Some fans have started a petition asking for the judges' scores to be investigated to make sure everything was fair.
Q: Did the American team think they won?
The American skaters felt they skated well enough to win gold. They want the judging to be more open in the future.