Controversy on Ice: The Questionable Judging of Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the Milan Games
Madison Chock and Evan Bates, the beloved ice dancing pair from the USA, have captured the hearts of fans worldwide since their debut at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. Their journey from teammates to friends to lovers culminated in their marriage in 2024. However, their quest for gold at the recent Milan games was marred by controversy and questionable judging.
Entering the competition as the favorites to win, Chock and Bates were narrowly defeated by the French duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. The French pair's formation was surrounded by controversy, as Fournier Beaudry's previous partner was suspended amid sexual abuse allegations, leading her to switch allegiances to the French team. The judging panel, particularly the French judge Jézabel Dabois, played a significant role in the outcome of the competition.
SkatingScores.com analyzed the scoring discrepancies in various events leading up to the Olympics, revealing a consistent pattern of overscoring for Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron by Dabois. In the final at Milan, Dabois scored the French pair significantly higher than the mean and underrated Chock and Bates, resulting in a substantial point difference favoring France. This scoring disparity was evident in previous competitions as well, raising questions about the fairness and integrity of the judging process.
At the 2026 European Championships and the 2025 Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Japan, Dabois continued to exhibit bias towards the French pair, inflating their scores while undercutting their competitors. This trend of favoritism towards Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron persisted across multiple events, casting doubt on the objectivity of the judging criteria in ice dancing.
The controversial scoring by Jézabel Dabois has raised concerns about the transparency and consistency of judging in figure skating competitions. While the sport is inherently subjective, the significant discrepancies in scoring by one judge have sparked calls for an investigation into potential bias and manipulation. The Olympic Games, where France narrowly edged out the USA for gold, underscore the need for a thorough review of the judging process to ensure fairness and integrity in future competitions.