Olympic Gold STOLEN — French Judge Exposed

Olympic rings sculpture against blue sky.

Americans are fighting back against yet another Olympic judging scandal that robbed two hard-working athletes of their rightful gold medal, launching a grassroots petition that has gathered thousands of signatures demanding accountability and justice.

Story Snapshot

Madison Chock and Evan Bates lost gold by just 0.43 points after French judge scored French pair over 7 points higher than Americans
Grassroots petition demanding investigation into judging bias has collected thousands of signatures from outraged supporters
Five of nine judges scored Americans higher, yet French duo won gold amid mounting evidence of scoring irregularities
Athletes across multiple Olympic sports are speaking out against systemic corruption in judged competitions

French Judge’s Scoring Creates Seven-Point Disparity

Madison Chock and Evan Bates lost the 2026 Winter Olympics ice dance gold medal to French rivals Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron by a razor-thin margin of 0.43 points. The controversy centers on French judge Jezabel Dabouis, who scored the French pair more than seven points higher than the Americans—an unusually wide margin in ice dancing that raised immediate red flags. Five of the nine judges actually scored Chock and Bates higher than their French competitors, making the final outcome even more questionable and frustrating for those who value fair competition.

Grassroots Petition Demands Accountability and Investigation

Fed up Americans aren’t taking this injustice lying down. A petition demanding an investigation into the controversial judging has gathered thousands of signatures from supporters who recognize blatant bias when they see it. The groundswell of support reflects a broader frustration with subjective Olympic judging systems that seem susceptible to corruption and favoritism. Chock herself called for greater transparency in judging and more thorough vetting of judges, stating it would be helpful if judging were more understandable and transparent for viewers. The couple is considering filing a formal appeal, though the medal currently stands as awarded despite mounting evidence of irregularities.

Olympic Athletes Unite Against Judging Corruption

This controversy has sparked outrage beyond figure skating, with athletes from gymnastics, skeleton, and other judged sports speaking out against systemic corruption. Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner declared she is “sick of athletes not getting what they worked so hard for and judges cheating,” noting that Chock and Bates delivered gold-medal caliber performances. Former U.S. gymnastics champion Jennifer Sey called for more careful judge selection, vetting for corruption susceptibility, transparency in how scores are derived, and actual punishment for corrupt judges. Five-time skeleton Olympian Katie Uhlaender expressed pride in the American pair, stating they deserved to be on top of the podium.

ISU Defends Indefensible Scoring Process

The International Skating Union responded to mounting criticism by issuing a defensive statement claiming that scoring variations among judges are normal and that mechanisms exist to mitigate them. The ISU maintains “full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness”—a claim that rings hollow given the glaring disparities in this competition. This institutional defensiveness represents exactly the kind of bureaucratic stonewalling that frustrates everyday Americans who can clearly see when something isn’t right. The controversy highlights the urgent need for reforms to judge selection, transparent scoring systems, and real accountability measures to prevent future robberies of American athletes who train their entire lives for these moments.

The broader implications extend beyond one competition. When international bodies defend obvious irregularities rather than investigating them, it erodes trust in the entire Olympic system. American athletes deserve competitions decided by merit, not by which country’s judge happens to be on the panel. The petition and grassroots outcry demonstrate that regular Americans understand fairness and won’t accept excuses from unaccountable international organizations that protect their own rather than ensure honest competition.