California Ice Skater Caught Up in Olympic Scoring Controversy

Madison Chock and Evan Bates allege French judge unfairly favored their competitors in ice dancing competition.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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American ice dancing duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who are based in California, were involved in the latest Olympic scoring controversy after finishing second to the French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. Chock and Bates alleged that French judge Jézabel Dabouis scored the French team much higher than other judges, creating a 13.64-point swing that ultimately decided the gold medal.

Why it matters

The judging controversy has sparked outrage online and raised questions about fairness and transparency in Olympic figure skating. As one of the most high-profile winter sports, the integrity of the scoring system is crucial to maintaining public interest and trust in the competition.

The details

According to scoring data, Dabouis scored the French team 6.45 points above the average and the American team 7.19 points below the average, a 13.64-point difference that proved decisive. The French team also avoided penalties for errors in their free dance performance. Fellow competitor Marco Fabbri said he felt Chock and Bates deserved to win.

  • The ice dancing competition took place on February 11, 2026 at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
  • The controversy emerged immediately after the event on February 11.

The players

Madison Chock

A figure skater from Redondo Beach, California who competed in the ice dancing event with her husband and partner Evan Bates, winning the silver medal.

Evan Bates

Madison Chock's husband and ice dancing partner, who competed with her at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry

A French figure skater who, along with her partner Guillaume Cizeron, won the gold medal in the ice dancing event.

Guillaume Cizeron

Laurence Fournier Beaudry's ice dancing partner, who won gold with her at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Jézabel Dabouis

A French figure skating judge who has been accused of unfairly favoring the French ice dancing team in her scoring.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's hard to retain fans when it's difficult to understand what is happening on the ice. … People need to understand what they're cheering for and be able to feel confident in the sport that they're supporting.”

— Madison Chock (Associated Press)

“I think it's also important for the skaters that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance because there's a lot on the line for the skaters when they're out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field.”

— Madison Chock (CBS News)

“I usually prefer the French team, but today, in my opinion, they didn't skate so well. So I think Madison and Evan would have deserved to win.”

— Marco Fabbri, Competitor (Associated Press)

What’s next

The International Skating Union has stated that it has 'full confidence in the scores given' and remains 'committed to fairness,' but it remains to be seen if any further investigation or action will be taken regarding the judging controversy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring fair and transparent judging in Olympic figure skating, a sport that has long been plagued by scoring controversies. It underscores the need for rigorous oversight and accountability of judges to maintain the integrity of the competition and the trust of fans and athletes.