While his initial response struck a diplomatic tone, growing backlash from fans ultimately prompted Olympic legend Scott Hamilton to confront the judging controversy more directly. This time, he acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment, suggesting the impact of the result ran far deeper than many realized.
On Wednesday night at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered what many considered a flawless free dance, earning a score of 134.67. Competing in their first Olympic Games as a married couple, the reigning U.S. champions appeared poised for gold.
Instead, the top spot on the podium went to French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who posted a 135.64 to secure victory at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026.
Almost immediately, scrutiny centered on the judges’ score breakdown. One French judge awarded Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron nearly eight points more than Chock and Bates — a margin widely viewed as an outlier compared to the rest of the panel. The discrepancy fueled accusations of potential bias and ignited calls within the figure skating community for a closer review of the judging process.
Hamilton, now serving as an NBC analyst during Olympic coverage, initially took to social media with a celebratory message: “Phenomenal night of Ice Dance… I’m especially proud of Madison Chock and Evan Bates for delivering one of their all-time greatest performances.”
But many fans felt the moment called for stronger words. Social media quickly filled with responses urging Hamilton to address the perceived scoring irregularities head-on. Some argued that respected voices within the sport have a responsibility to defend its integrity. Others questioned whether failing to confront controversial judging could damage public trust in figure skating.
As criticism mounted, Hamilton’s follow-up remarks struck a more candid note. While remaining measured, he acknowledged the heartbreak behind the scenes — conversations and doubts that arise when athletes feel their best performance may not have been rewarded fairly.
In a sport where medals are often decided by fractions of a point, transparency and trust are everything. For Chock and Bates, the silver medal represents both an extraordinary achievement and a moment clouded by controversy. And for Hamilton, the episode underscores a broader tension within figure skating: balancing respect for the system with the need for accountability when questions arise.
