A judge from France at the Winter Olympics has faced allegations of manipulating the figure skating competition to ensure her country’s victory. French skaters Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron clinched the gold medal with a total score of 225.82, narrowly surpassing Team USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates by just 1.43 points.
Controversy arose when the scores of French judge Jezabel Dabouis surfaced online, casting doubt on the fairness of the results. Chock and Bates, who had previously won three consecutive world championships in ice dance, were expected to excel in the event held in Milan.
Following the rhythm dance segment, Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron secured the top spot, leaving the Americans in second place. Notably, discrepancies in the judges’ scoring were evident, with five judges favoring the French duo over Chock and Bates.
Despite five judges ranking Chock and Bates highest in the free dance, Dabouis notably awarded a significantly higher score to Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron. The International Skating Union addressed the backlash, asserting confidence in the judging process and reaffirming commitment to fairness.
In response to the controversy, Chock and Bates expressed a range of emotions but emphasized their pride in their performances and sportsmanship throughout the competition. Bates acknowledged the subjective nature of the sport and the unpredictability of outcomes.
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