American Ice Dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates Weigh Appeal After Controversial Scoring at Milan Winter Games
American ice dancing pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates are considering an appeal following a controversial judging decision that saw them take silver in the ice dancing final at the Milan Winter Games, losing to a French duo.
“I suppose we would consider it,” Chock told Access Hollywood.
“Skating is such a subjective sport, but it’s important for fairness that judges’ decisions are reviewed—not just for this competition, but for every event—to ensure a level playing field for all athletes,” she added.
Madison Chock and Evan Bates Face Uphill Battle After Controversial Scoring at Milan Winter Games
American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates appear unlikely to overturn their silver medal finish in the ice dancing final at the Milan Winter Games, despite widespread criticism over a questionable scoring decision by French judge Jezabel Dabouis. Dabouis gave the French winning pair, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, a significantly higher score, while other judges’ scores were much closer between the two pairs.
The International Skating Union (ISU) has so far declined to investigate the matter. “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 ISU said, according to ESPN. The organization added that it has “full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness.”
Timing may also pose a challenge. The Court of Arbitration for Sport stated before the Olympics that appeals ideally should be resolved “within hours” of the event.
Without the French judge’s lopsided scoring, Chock and Bates would have claimed the gold medal instead of Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron.
French Duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron Win Gold as Chock Calls for Transparent Judging
France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron claimed the gold medal in the ice dancing final at the Milan Winter Games.
Following the competition, Madison Chock urged greater transparency in judging, telling CBS News, “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.”
Chock added, “Because there’s a lot on the line for the skaters when they’re out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field.”
Chock and Bates Stay Positive Despite Silver Medal Finish at Milan Winter Games
The American ice dancing duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates finished in second place at the Milan Winter Games, taking home the silver medal.
Despite the controversial scoring, the pair is focusing on the positive. “We felt like we delivered our absolute best performance that we could have. It was our Olympic moment,” Bates told USA Today. “It felt like a winning skate to us, and that’s what we’re going to hold on to.”
