French Judge Under Fire for Alleged Score Manipulation at Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics figure skating competition in Milan has been plunged into controversy following explosive allegations that a French judge deliberately manipulated scores to secure gold for her compatriots. The dramatic events unfolded on Wednesday when America's Madison Chock and Evan Bates were denied victory by the narrowest of margins, despite delivering what they described as a flawless gold-medal performance.
Controversial Victory Amid Scoring Discrepancies
French pair Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron claimed the gold medal with a total score of 225.82 points, just 1.43 points ahead of Team USA's 224.49. Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier secured bronze with 217.74 points. While Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron were seen sobbing with emotion after their victory, their triumph is now under intense scrutiny following the publication of scores from French judge Jezabel Dabouis.
In the free dance segment, Dabouis awarded the French pair 137.45 points - the second-highest total from any judge on the panel. Crucially, she was the only judge not to award Team USA more than 130 points, giving Chock and Bates just 129.74. This created a nearly eight-point differential between her scores for France and the United States, significantly larger than any other judge's margin.
Pattern of Questionable Scoring Emerges
The controversy extends beyond the free dance. During the rhythm dance section, Dabouis awarded France 93.34 points - nearly six points higher than her score of 87.6 for Team USA, which was the second-lowest mark from any judge. Interestingly, five of the nine judges gave Chock and Bates the highest score in the free dance, compared to four who ranked France first. Meanwhile, two judges from Great Britain and Germany placed France in third position during the rhythm dance.
Adding to the suspicious circumstances, the American judge was excluded from the scoring panel for the rhythm dance segment. On both occasions, Dabouis' scoring helped widen the gap between France and the United States, leading fans and observers to suggest deliberate manipulation of results.
Outrage and Calls for Investigation
Social media erupted with anger following the controversial outcome. 'There must be an investigation!' one user demanded, while another declared, 'This is a judging scandal.' A third comment captured the widespread sentiment: 'There aren't many times in sports where several times over it seems to be rigged... Chock and Bates got robbed.'
Following their silver medal disappointment, Chock and Bates were asked about the fairness of the judging. 'It was our gold medal performance,' Bates stated firmly. 'It was the best that we could skate.' Chock added: 'We put out our very best skates every time we took Olympic ice... they were flawless for us. We couldn't have skated any better, and we're super proud with how we took the ice, how we handled ourselves every time. The rest is out of our hands.'
Historical Precedent and Personal Controversies
This is not the first time French figure skating judges have found themselves at the center of scandal. In 2002 at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne allegedly succumbed to pressure from her federation to award gold to Russian pair Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, leaving Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier with silver. The International Skating Union suspended Le Gougne for three years and barred her from the 2006 Turin Olympics, with the scandal prompting sweeping judging reforms.
The current controversy is further complicated by the personal lives of the French champions. Fournier Beaudry has faced intense scrutiny over her relationship with boyfriend and former skating partner Nikolaj Sorensen, who was suspended in 2024 following allegations of a 2012 sexual assault. Though his suspension was eventually overturned on a technicality, the scandal effectively ended his competitive career.
Meanwhile, Cizeron arrived in Milan facing explosive claims from his former gold-medal-winning partner, Gabriella Papadakis. In her memoir, Papadakis described Cizeron as 'controlling, demanding and critical,' claiming she felt under his 'control' and was 'terrified' of being alone with him. Cizeron has labeled these allegations a 'smear campaign' and confirmed he is pursuing legal action.
Statistical Anomalies Raise Eyebrows
Adding to the controversy are statistical patterns that have emerged. Since Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron teamed up in March 2025, judge Jezabel Dabouis has officiated in six of their competitions. The French pair has won five of these events. The Daily Mail has contacted the International Olympic Committee for comment regarding the growing controversy.
As the Winter Olympics continue, this figure skating scandal threatens to overshadow athletic achievements and raises serious questions about judging integrity in international competition. With calls for investigation growing louder and historical precedents suggesting systemic issues, the International Skating Union faces mounting pressure to address these allegations transparently and decisively.
