Olympic Figure Skating Remains Subjective Despite Scoring Changes

Controversy over judging decisions continues to overshadow the artistry and athleticism of the sport

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2026 Olympic figure skating events highlighted the ongoing challenges with the subjective nature of judging in the sport, despite efforts to make the scoring more objective. While skaters like Ilia Malinin, Madison Chock, and Evan Bates dazzled with their technical skills and artistry, the final results were marred by debates over judging decisions and accusations of bias. This article explores how the inherent subjectivity in figure skating scoring leaves room for controversy and detracts from the spirit of the Olympic competition.

Why it matters

Figure skating is one of the marquee events of the Winter Olympics, drawing huge audiences worldwide. However, the sport's reliance on subjective judging has long been a source of frustration for fans and athletes alike, with accusations of bias and unfair scoring decisions overshadowing the incredible performances. This issue goes to the heart of the Olympic ideal of fair and impartial competition.

The details

Despite efforts by the International Skating Union to make the scoring more objective by incorporating technical and component scores, the final results in Olympic figure skating still hinge on subjective evaluations by the judges. In the 2026 Olympics, this was evident in the ice dance competition, where the American pair of Madison Chock and Evan Bates narrowly missed the gold medal amid accusations of favoritism toward the French team. Similarly, in the men's competition, the 'Quad God' Ilia Malinin stumbled in his free skate but still won gold in the team event, sparking debate over whether his more difficult routine should have been scored higher than a flawless but less challenging performance.

  • On February 16, 2026, the figure skating events at the 2026 Winter Olympics concluded.
  • More than 16,000 people had signed a Change.org petition by midday on February 16, 2026 calling for the ISU and IOC to scrutinize the judging criteria and address potential biases.

The players

Madison Chock and Evan Bates

An American ice dancing pair who narrowly missed the gold medal in the 2026 Olympics amid accusations of judging bias toward the French team.

Ilia Malinin

An American figure skater known as the 'Quad God' for his technical prowess, who won gold in the team event but stumbled in the individual competition, sparking debate over the scoring system.

Yuma Kagiyama

A Japanese figure skater who competed against Malinin in the men's individual event.

Surya Bonaly

A retired French figure skater who was a three-time Olympian and three-time silver medalist in world competitions, and who has been critical of the subjective nature of figure skating judging.

International Skating Union (ISU)

The international governing body for figure skating that has implemented changes to the scoring system over the years in an effort to make it more objective.

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What they’re saying

“Our sport is so subjective. It's not like with a swimming time, you just click your time ... and can see exactly what the number was. In skating, it all depends ...”

— Surya Bonaly, Retired French figure skater (USA Today)

What’s next

The International Skating Union and International Olympic Committee have indicated they will review the judging criteria and scoring system used in the 2026 Olympic figure skating events to address concerns about potential bias and subjectivity.

The takeaway

Despite efforts to make figure skating scoring more objective, the sport remains inherently subjective, with judging decisions continuing to overshadow the incredible athleticism and artistry of the competitors. This ongoing issue highlights the challenges of maintaining the Olympic spirit of fair and impartial competition in sports that rely on subjective evaluations.