French skaters hit back after ‘rigging’ storm at Winter Olympics
A tense finish in the ice dance competition at the Winter Olympics has triggered fresh debate about judging transparency, after France edged the United States by just 1.43 points.
According to GiveMeSport, the fallout began almost immediately after the final scores were confirmed, with online criticism focusing on one member of the judging panel.
Narrow victory sparks controversy
Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron claimed gold with 225.82 points, finishing marginally ahead of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who secured silver for Team USA.
Because the margin was so slim, attention quickly turned to French judge Jezabel Dabouis. Some critics alleged that her scoring favoured her compatriots and influenced the final standings.
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While there is no evidence of rule breaking, the accusations gained traction on social media, intensifying scrutiny around the judging system.
French champions respond to criticism
Speaking on the Super Moscato Show on RMC, Guillaume Cizeron rejected suggestions of impropriety and insisted the pair had actually aimed for a more comfortable win.
“We had the goal of winning by five to seven points, but we made a few mistakes that cost us three or four points,” he said, according to Mail Sport.
Laurence Fournier Beaudry struck a lighter tone, saying, “He didn’t really make a mistake, he just decided to be creative in the moment.”
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Cizeron also highlighted the psychological demands of elite competition.
“It’s a mental battle to keep going and link the elements together, to get back into it and go for the points. You have to cut off those negative thoughts that come in very quickly, and that’s where twenty years of experience come into play.”
Petition urges review of judging process
The controversy led to a petition on Change.org that gathered thousands of signatures, calling on the International Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union to examine how scores are awarded.
In response, the International Skating Union defended the integrity of the panel.
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“It is normal for there to be a range of scores given by different judges in any panel and a number of mechanisms are used to mitigate these variations,” the organisation said in a statement.
The governing body added that it has full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness.
Team USA calls for greater transparency
Madison Chock addressed the debate in an interview with CBS News, urging clearer communication around how judging decisions are reached.
“It would definitely be helpful if it’s more understandable for the viewers, to just see more transparent judging and understand what’s really going on,” she said, according to CBS News.
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She also stressed the importance of oversight.
“I think it’s also important for the skaters that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance.”
Although officials have not announced a formal investigation, the episode has reignited longstanding questions about transparency in figure skating judging at the highest level.
Sources: GiveMeSport
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