Canadian Figure Skaters Get Gold, Judge Banned

I was at the SOF three-gun match one year, and a top shooter won a contest by seconds in front of a big audience in the bleachers. He refused the win, saying that one of his rounds ricocheted off his next to last falling plate, striking the last plate and downing it. Nobody else saw this. He asked for a reshoot, got it, and won cleanly. The prize was lots of prestige and a fair sum of money. Real class, real sportsmanship.

I wish the Russians had offered to give up their gold, since the judging was tainted. Then there would be balance, justice, and real sportsmanship. If it turns out they were involved in the rigged judging...!

The two-medal solution is pretty poor and not just, or fair.

Let's get rid of the "judgement sports" like skating, dancing, twirling ribbons.

I agree. The bronze medal winner should get the silver and the fourth place finisher should get the bronze medal. So now you have two gold medal winners, a silver medal winner and a bronze medal winner.

Why should that happen? The situation here is being declared a tie for First Place, and the standard behavior is that when a tie occurs both (or all) tied contestants (or teams) win the higher medal and the medal immediately below (if any) is not awarded.

To put it another way, a contestant (or team) will receive a gold metal if there is no contestant (or team) better than them, a silver if there is only one contestant (or team) better than them, a bronze if there are only two, and nothing if there are three or more.

To give some examples, suppose an event is timed to the tenth of a second and the top for contestants' times are as given; they would receive the medals indicated.

50.2 50.2 52.0 53.7 -- Award Gold, Gold, Bronze, nothing
50.2 50.3 50.3 53.2 -- Award Gold, Silver, Silver, nothing
50.2 50.3 52.0 52.0 -- Award Gold, Silver, Bronze, Bronze
50.2 50.2 52.0 52.0 -- Award Gold, Gold, Bronze, Bronze
50.2 52.0 52.0 52.0 -- Award Gold, Silver, Silver, Silver
50.2 50.2 50.2 50.3 -- Award Gold, Gold, Gold, nothing

Does that make things clear?

In hindsight, they should have refused to mount the podium to accept the silver medal.

I hate people like this, I rather have the russian skaters that low class crybabies. IMHO the Canadians did the right thing in accepting the silver and letting the controversy brew elsewhere.

I just got this today. Many things have transpired. In the end, I believe this has a happy ending for all parties, excluding, of course the judges.

In my heart I still believe the Russian team skated equal, if not above Sale and Pelletier. A good example of what I describe is this: last night, during ice dancing, a young Russian couple took to the ice and absolutely executed every move to a "T" (just like Sale and Pelletier). They were the crowd favorite, as seen by their cheering and ovation (just like Sale and Pelletier). And most compelling, the crowd booed when they saw their (low) scores. As it turned out, many other teams had more intricate and complex routines. They won ahead of this Russian team.

I feel terrible about the judging situation. It definitely leaves a black eye on the French and Russians. I'll give you that. I think the system should be revamped.

In the end, I believe the committee was correct in solving this quickly and awarding Gold to the Canadians.

I look forward the ladies' event beginning tonight. Let us hope the scandals are left in the past! Good day!

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