The International Skating Union recently defended a contentious judge’s scoring that left Madison Chock and Evan Bates just shy of winning Olympic gold.
In the free dance event, Jezabelle Dabouis was docked almost eight points against Laurence Fournier Baudry and Guillaume Cizeron, leading Chock and Bates to settle for a silver medal.
The ISU stated, “It is normal for there to be variation in the scores given by different judges,” emphasizing their confidence in the overall fairness of the scoring system.
Chock expressed the need for more transparency in the judging process. “It would really help viewers to see a clearer review and understand what’s happening,” she mentioned. She also stressed it’s vital for judges to be properly assessed to maintain fairness in the sport.
Later, Chock said she might consider an appeal with Bates. “Skating is subjective, but we need to ensure the judges’ work is recognized beyond just this competition for fairness across the board,” she added.
Both Chock and Bates left feeling satisfied with their performance, noting that they had done everything they could. Despite entering the free dance with a slight lead, they were ultimately overtaken by the French couple.
Many have pointed out that if Dabouis’ score had been removed from the equation, Chock and Bates would have clinched the gold.
With ongoing criticism about the scoring system’s complexity and subjectivity, a petition on Change.org has garnered over 14,000 signatures calling for an investigation into the recent scoring controversy.
