French Ice Dancers Confidently Address Olympic Judging Controversy
The 2026 Winter Olympics ignited discussions about ice dance scoring, particularly surrounding the French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. They recently secured gold but found themselves at the center of a scoring controversy involving a French judge.
Scoring Controversy at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Beaudry and Cizeron edged out American pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates by a narrow margin. The pivotal moment was French judge Jézabel Dabouis awarding Beaudry and Cizeron a score nearly eight points higher than that of Chock and Bates. If Dabouis’ score were excluded, the American duo would have taken gold.
French Ice Dancers Speak Out
In a radio interview, the French ice dancers expressed confidence in their performance. Cizeron noted they believed they deserved an even higher score for executing a more challenging routine. However, he acknowledged some mistakes, suggesting they lost out on important points.
Reflections on Performance
Cizeron shared their goal of winning by five to seven points, highlighting that minor errors cost them. He described the competition as a “mental battle,” emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus during their routine.
- Cizeron mentioned, “We had a few mistakes that cost us three or four points.”
- Fournier Beaudry added humorously about a decision made during their performance: “He didn’t really make a mistake, he just decided to be creative in the moment.”
Background of the Skating Partnership
Beaudry and Cizeron’s partnership emerged under unique circumstances. Fournier Beaudry transitioned to the French team after her previous partner was suspended due to serious allegations. Meanwhile, Cizeron faced accusations from his former partner, who described him as controlling in her memoir, which he has denied.
Reactions from the Competitors
U.S. Figure Skating chose not to appeal the judge’s score after the International Skating Union reaffirmed it. The ISU stated they have mechanisms to manage score variations among judges, maintaining confidence in the fairness of their evaluations.
Chock and Bates expressed their feelings about the judging. Chock called for increased transparency in the scoring system, stating, “Any time the public is confused by results, it does a disservice to our sport.” She emphasized the need for clarity to retain fan engagement.
- Chock remarked on their performance: “We felt like we delivered our absolute best performance that we could have.”
- She stressed the importance of judges providing a fair assessment, saying, “We deserve to have the judges also giving us their all.”
Ultimately, both pairs showcased remarkable talent at the 2026 Winter Olympics, drawing attention to broader issues within the sport of figure skating. The conversations surrounding ice dance scoring and judging transparency are critical for the future of competitive figure skating.
