The recent controversy surrounding the ice dance event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan has reignited longstanding concerns about judging integrity in figure skating. On February 11, 2026, the French pair of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron narrowly claimed the gold medal with a combined score of 225.82, edging out the American duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who finished with 224.39—a margin of just 1.43 points. Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier secured bronze at 217.74. What was intended as a celebration of athletic excellence quickly devolved into widespread accusations of bias, particularly directed at French judge Jézabel Dabouis, whose scores significantly favored her compatriots and contributed decisively to the outcome.
Chock and Bates, a married couple and four-time Olympians, entered the competition as strong favorites following their consistent performances, including three world championship titles. Their free dance routine, performed to a toreador-themed program, was widely regarded as technically precise and artistically compelling. Bates described it as “our gold medal performance” and “the best that we could skate,” while Chock emphasized their pride in executing flawlessly under pressure. Despite this, the final standings placed them in silver position, prompting immediate scrutiny of the judging panel.
The focal point of the controversy lies in Dabouis’s evaluations. In the free dance segment, she awarded Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron 137.45 points—the second-highest on the panel—while assigning Chock and Bates only 129.74, the lowest score from any judge and more than 5 points below the average of the remaining eight judges. This created an eight-point differential in France’s favor from Dabouis alone, far exceeding margins from other panelists. In the rhythm dance portion, Dabouis again scored France highest at 93.34, placing them 0.46 points ahead overall, while giving the Americans 87.6—the second-lowest mark. Notably, the American judge was absent from the rhythm dance panel, further amplifying perceptions of imbalance.
Social media erupted with outrage, with fans labeling the result a “robbery” and demanding an investigation. Comments highlighted the anomaly: five of nine judges preferred Chock and Bates in the free dance, yet Dabouis’s outlier swung the aggregate. The International Skating Union (ISU) issued a statement defending the process but provided no immediate probe details. Chock and Bates, while gracious in defeat, indicated openness to appealing the scores, noting that such discrepancies do a “disservice” to the sport. They expressed disappointment but maintained focus on their achievement.
The French pair’s victory carries additional layers of complexity. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron formed their partnership only in March 2025 after Fournier Beaudry switched allegiances from Canada following her previous partner’s suspension amid sexual assault allegations (later overturned on technical grounds). Cizeron, formerly partnered with Gabriella Papadakis, faces separate allegations in her forthcoming memoir of controlling behavior; he has denied these claims as false and initiated legal proceedings. These personal histories have fueled speculation, though no direct link to judging has been established.
This incident evokes memories of the 2002 Salt Lake City scandal, where French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne admitted to pressure in favoring a Russian pairs team, leading to dual gold medals and ISU reforms, including anonymous scoring. Critics argue that despite changes, national bias persists, as evidenced by Dabouis’s consistent high marks for Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron in prior events, including the Grand Prix Final.
The broader implications extend beyond one competition. Figure skating relies on subjective elements—components like interpretation and execution—that invite debate, yet such stark deviations erode public trust. Calls for enhanced transparency, such as AI-assisted scoring or stricter nationality-based restrictions on panels, have gained traction. Former Olympian Jeremy Bloom has advocated for technological solutions to mitigate human error or favoritism.
For Chock and Bates, the silver medal represents a remarkable career highlight, yet the shadow of controversy tempers their accomplishment. The French duo’s emotional celebration on the podium contrasted sharply with the ensuing backlash, underscoring the sport’s fragility when judging decisions overshadow performances. As investigations remain pending and discussions continue, the Milan ice dance final serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between athletic merit and officiating accountability in Olympic competition.
The sport’s governing bodies face pressure to address these concerns swiftly to preserve credibility ahead of future events. Until resolved, the episode highlights the enduring challenge of ensuring impartiality in a discipline where fractions of a point determine legacies.
