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| The husband-wife team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates win silver at the 2026 Olympics. |
Although figure skaters Madison Chock and her husband Evan Bates delivered a performance of a lifetime winning a silver medal in ice dancing, a judging controversy has marred the final outcome.
On Feb. 11, Chinese/Hawaiian Chock and her husband, Evan Bates, captured the silver medal in ice dance, but the victory felt "bittersweet" following a judging scandal.
Despite delivering what legendary skater Scott Hamilton called "one of their all-time greatest performances," the three-time reigning World Champions finished just 1.43 points behind France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.
While five of the nine judges actually scored Chock and Bates first in the free dance, French judge Jézabel Dabois sparked a "scandale" by scoring her compatriots nearly eight points higher than the American duo. Dabois was the only judge to give Chock and Bates a score under 130, a move that critics and fans on social media have labeled as "possibly rigged."
While five of the nine judges actually scored Chock and Bates first in the free dance, French judge Jézabel Dabois sparked a "scandale" by scoring her compatriots nearly eight points higher than the American duo. Dabois was the only judge to give Chock and Bates a score under 130, a move that critics and fans on social media have labeled as "possibly rigged."
Clearly disappointed at the results, Chock told CBS News that it's "important for the skaters that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance 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."
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She and husband Evan Bates won silver medals after Dabouis gave the American team a 129.74, the lowest score they received from any of the nine judges. If the French judge scores were not counted, the American pair would have won gold with five of the remaining eight judges having them as the top team.
The disparity of scores of the American team and the French team coming from Dabouis were judge to great to overcome the other judges' closer scores.
Data from previous competitions, including the December Grand Prix Final, suggested a pattern of Dabouis favoring French skaters even when they committed major errors or falls.
Data from previous competitions, including the December Grand Prix Final, suggested a pattern of Dabouis favoring French skaters even when they committed major errors or falls.
Twizzles and bobbles
The controversy centered on technical errors by the French team, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, that critics felt were not adequately penalized, particularly when compared to the "near-flawless" performances of silver medalists Chock and Bates.
The primary technical disputes involved two specific elements where the French team appeared to struggle while the Americans excelled.
In both the Rhythm and Free Dances, the French pair exhibited visible synchronization issues and "bobbles". Despite these errors, they received high Grades of Execution (GOE) and personal best scores.
A major point of contention was the Level 4 difficulty rating awarded to the French for this element, while Chock and Bates received a Level 3. Commentators noted the Americans' supposed error (coming down on the wrong blade edge) was "pretty impossible to tell," leading to a lower-than-expected score. The final gold-silver gap was only 1.43 points.
Bates emphasized that they did not believe the surprisingly low score was warranted, noting that he thought he and his wife skated "even better" than they had at their team event, at which they scored a 91.06.
The International Skating Union (ISU) defended the results on February 13, 2026, stating that "mechanisms are used to mitigate variations" and expressing full confidence in the panel.
Prior to 2026, the most infamous judging scandal was the 2002 "Skategate" incident in Salt Lake City, where a French judge admitted to pressure to vote for the Russian pair over the Canadian pair, leading to a massive overhaul of the scoring system.
The International Skating Union (ISU) defended the results on February 13, 2026, stating that "mechanisms are used to mitigate variations" and expressing full confidence in the panel.
Prior to 2026, the most infamous judging scandal was the 2002 "Skategate" incident in Salt Lake City, where a French judge admitted to pressure to vote for the Russian pair over the Canadian pair, leading to a massive overhaul of the scoring system.
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| Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the medal ceremony. |
Is this the end?
The silver medal is the first medal for Chock and Bates in the individual rhythm skating event in the three Olympics In which they competed. Altogether, they have two gold medals they won in the Team event in 2022 and this year in addition to the silver this year.
At 33 and 36, Chock and Bates are undecided about their competitive future.
As of Feb. 12, the couple has not officially announced their retirement. When asked if the Olympics was their "last dance," Bates responded, "I’m not sure," while Chock noted they were focused on processing the "waves of emotions" from their 15-year journey.
At 33 and 36, Chock and Bates are undecided about their competitive future.
As of Feb. 12, the couple has not officially announced their retirement. When asked if the Olympics was their "last dance," Bates responded, "I’m not sure," while Chock noted they were focused on processing the "waves of emotions" from their 15-year journey.
US Skate is reportedly going to file a request for a review of the judging but that might not change the final results.
"It's been the most special journey. I mean, we've been blubbering our way through all these interviews, just reflecting on what an incredible 15-year journey it's been and how intertwined our lives are with the sport," Bates a day after the results were announced. "And we fell in love on the ice and met each other through the sport, and all of our friends and support system are here because of the sport, and we're so grateful for everybody who's helped us get here."
"It's been the most special journey. I mean, we've been blubbering our way through all these interviews, just reflecting on what an incredible 15-year journey it's been and how intertwined our lives are with the sport," Bates a day after the results were announced. "And we fell in love on the ice and met each other through the sport, and all of our friends and support system are here because of the sport, and we're so grateful for everybody who's helped us get here."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
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