U.S. Figure Skating opted not to contest the French judge’s assessment, which significantly contributed to Team USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates losing the ice dance gold medal to France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.
“There has been much thoughtful, and at times impassioned, discussion concerning the ice dance event in Milan,” USFS CEO Matt Farrell stated in a communiqué to USA Today Sports on Sunday. “Collaborating with Madi and Evan post-Games, we will engage in deliberate and purposeful conversations regarding the most effective means to support them and the sport’s progression.
“Presently, our aim is to unite with them in fostering the triumph of U.S. Figure Skating in Milan.”
During Wednesday’s free dance, one adjudicator, Jezabel Dabouis, awarded a higher score to Beaudry and Cizeron by a differential of nearly eight points over Chock and Bates. The gap was so substantial that, had her score been excluded from the tally, Chock and Bates would have secured the top honor.
The U.S. was granted a 24-hour window to lodge a challenge; however, the prospect of victory appeared slim as the International Skating Union declared it upheld the adjudications.
“It is customary for a variation in marks to be awarded by diverse adjudicators within any panel, and numerous procedures are employed to lessen such discrepancies,” the ISU stated Friday, further affirming its “complete assurance in the scores given and its steadfast devotion to impartiality.”
Dabouis had also given a significant lead in favor of the French duo in the Olympic rhythm dance, where they again triumphed over the American team.
“Whenever the public is perplexed by outcomes, it undoubtedly undermines our discipline,” Chock remarked on Thursday. “I believe it is challenging to keep spectators engaged when it is difficult to comprehend the events unfolding on the rink.
“Individuals ought to grasp the basis of their enthusiasm and be able to have faith in the athletic pursuit they endorse.”
Bates articulated: “We recall the emotions we experienced at the rink’s core after we performed. We felt as though we executed our peak performance possible. It was our pivotal Olympic instance. To us, it seemed like a victorious routine, and that is the memory we shall cherish.”
Details sourced from The Associated Press contributed to this article.