America’s top ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates were robbed of Olympic gold by a biased French judge’s outsized score, fueling a massive public petition drive for justice.
Story Highlights
- U.S. skaters Chock and Bates lost by just 0.43 points to France after five of nine judges favored them.
- French judge Jezabel Dabouis gave her countrymen 7+ points more than others, sparking cheating accusations.
- Public outrage echoes 2002 Salt Lake scandal, with athletes like MyKayla Skinner demanding accountability.
- Chock and Bates eye appeal as petitions gather signatures for gold medal award.
Judging Controversy Erupts in Milan Cortina
During the February 12, 2026, free dance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Madison Chock and Evan Bates trailed France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron by 0.46 points entering the event. Five of nine judges scored the U.S. duo higher in the free dance, yet the French team won gold with 225.82 total points, including a 135.64 free dance mark. French judge Jezabel Dabouis delivered the outlier score, rating her team over 137 points while others stayed under 130. This narrow 0.43-point final margin ignited immediate backlash.
Chock and Bates Demand Transparency
Madison Chock spoke to CBS News post-event, calling for greater judging transparency and better vetting processes. She emphasized the need for fairness after the duo gave their all. Evan Bates thanked supporters for voicing concerns. In an Access Hollywood interview, Chock indicated they would consider an appeal, stressing routine judge reviews. The U.S. pair, already team gold medalists, built a narrative as perennial contenders denied individual glory, mirroring their 2022 Beijing silver.
History of Skating Scandals Repeats
The incident revives memories of the 2002 Salt Lake City pairs scandal, where French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne confessed pressure to favor Russia, resulting in dual golds for Canada and Russia. Despite International Skating Union reforms like anonymous judging and smaller panels, wide score variances persist, deemed “normal” by the ISU. Supporters including gymnast MyKayla Skinner labeled it “cheating,” while Jennifer Sey demanded judge fines and reforms. Katie Uhlaender affirmed the U.S. duo’s worthiness for gold.
The ISU defended its process, stating mechanisms mitigate variations and expressing full confidence in the scores. Social media erupted over unpenalized French errors like messy moves and the French judge’s inflated components. No formal petition signatures appear in initial reports, but widespread advocacy from athletes and fans signals mounting pressure akin to petition momentum for medal reconsideration.
Petition to Give U.S. Skaters Gold Medal Gathers Signatures Amid Judging Scandalhttps://t.co/vxJ1VarJAc
— PJ Media Updates (@PJMediaUpdates) February 13, 2026
Calls for Reform Gain Traction
Public support surges for Chock and Bates, with influencers drawing parallels to gymnastics judging distrust from 2016 Rio. The bittersweet silver boosts U.S. team morale via their team gold but leaves the skating community feeling robbed. Short-term scrutiny heightens on the ISU ahead of any appeal. Long-term, this could spur stricter vetting, score transparency, or tech like ProTrack, eroding trust in subjective Olympic events otherwise.
Fan outrage amplifies via social media, pressuring sponsors and the IOC. Politically, it stirs U.S.-France Olympic tensions amid calls for accountability across skating and gymnastics. As President Trump’s administration champions American strength abroad, patriots rally behind these Olympians, demanding the gold they earned through skill and dedication.
Sources:
CBS Sports: 2026 Winter Olympics ice dancing controversy
Fox News: American Olympic medalist speaks out against judges
