Judging panels and implications - 2026 Olympics

[MacMadame]

The judging and technical panels for figure skating at the Olympics have been announced. Let the speculation and kibbitzing begin!

Panels
Team Event - Men -
Referee - Ms. Vera Tauchmanova CZE
Technical Controller - Ms. Leena Laaksonen FIN
Technical Specialist - Mr. Clarence Ong AUS
Technical Specialist - Mr. Raoul Leblanc CAN
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Christine Blanc SUI
Ms. Laila Davidsson SWE
Mr. Daniel Delfa ESP
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Hailan Jiang CHN
Mr. Anthony Leroy FRA
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Team Event - Women -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP

Technical Controller - Mr. Jeroen Prins NED
Technical Specialist - Ms. Claudia Unger GER
Technical Specialist - Ms. Zsofia Tokaji-Kulcsar HUN
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Anna Kantor ISR
Ms. Laimute Krauziene LTU
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Mr. Kevin Rosenstein USA
Ms. Adrienn Schadenbauer AUT
Ms. Alice Walder SUI

Team Event - Pairs -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP
Technical Controller - Ms. Susan Lynch AUS
Technical Specialist - Ms. Veronique Fleury FRA
Technical Specialist - Ms. Whitney Gaynor USA
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Ms. Ayumi Ono JPN
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Team Event - Ice Dance -
Referee - Mr. Rolf Pipoh GER
Technical Controller - Mr. Marcin Kozubek POL
Technical Specialist - Ms. Ayako Higashino JPN
Technical Specialist - Ms. Taehwa Yang KOR
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Mr. Christian Baumann GER
Mr. Feng Huang CHN
Ms. Leslie Keen CAN
Ms. Elena Khmyzenko GEO
Mr. Richard Kosina CZE
Ms. Patricia Moritz AUS
Ms. Marta Olozagarre ESP
Ms. Chihee Rhee KOR
Mr. Nicholas Russell GBR

Men -
Referee - Ms. Vera Tauchmanova CZE
Technical Controller - Ms. Leena Laaksonen FIN
Technical Specialist - Mr. Clarence Ong AUS
Technical Specialist - Mr. Raoul Leblanc CAN
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Agita Abele LAT
Ms. Christine Blanc SUI
Ms. Leanna Caron CAN
Ms. Laila Davidsson SWE
Mr. Daniel Delfa ESP
Ms. Nadezhda Fiodorova GEO
Ms. Hailan Jiang CHN
Mr. Yury Kliushnikov AZE
Ms. Jung Sue Lee KOR
Mr. Anthony Leroy FRA
Ms. Kristina Lundgren USA
Ms. Tiziana Morandi ITA
Ms. Nadezhda Paretskaia KAZ

Women -
Referee - Ms. Raffaella Locatelli ITA
Technical Controller - Mr. Jeroen Prins NED
Technical Specialist - Ms. Claudia Unger GER
Technical Specialist - Ms. Zsofia Tokaji-Kulcsar HUN
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Ms. Marina Beschea ROU
Ms. Helene Cucuphat FRA
Mr. Richard Grainge GBR
Ms. Young Kyung Han KOR
Ms. Ritsuko Horiuchi JPN
Ms. Anna Kantor ISR
Ms. Laimute Krauziene LTU
Ms. Nadezhda Paretskaia KAZ
Ms. Vessela Popova BUL
Mr. Kevin Rosenstein USA
Ms. Magdalena Rusiecka POL
Ms. Adrienn Schadenbauer AUT
Ms. Alice Walder SUI

Pairs -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP
Technical Controller - Ms. Susan Lynch AUS
Technical Specialist - Ms. Veronique Fleury FRA
Technical Specialist - Ms. Whitney Gaynor USA
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Salome Chigogidze GEO
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Peggy Graham USA
Ms. Aniela Hebel-Szmak POL
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Kerstin Kimminus GER
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Ms. Ayumi Ono JPN
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Ice Dance -
Referee - Mr. Rolf Pipoh GER
Technical Controller - Mr. Marcin Kozubek POL
Technical Specialist - Ms. Ayako Higashino JPN
Technical Specialist - Ms. Taehwa Yang KOR
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Mr. Christian Baumann GER
Ms. Jezabel Dabouis FRA
Ms. Janis Engel USA
Mr. Feng Huang CHN
Ms. Leslie Keen CAN
Ms. Elena Khmyzenko GEO
Mr. Richard Kosina CZE
Ms. Virpi Kunnas-Helminen FIN
Ms. Isabella Micheli ITA
Ms. Patricia Moritz AUS
Ms. Marta Olozagarre ESP
Ms. Chihee Rhee KOR
Mr. Nicholas Russell GBR

Comment from another thread (from @Karen-W)

Men's Panel - Called SCI
Women's Panel - Called Finlandia
Pairs Panel - Called Worlds 2025
Dance Panel - Called GPF

 

[MacMadame]

So to start, I have questions. I thought that the panels were decided via some sort of random process but @Karen-W says that the panel for certain events called at certain GP events. Is that just a coincidence?

Also, I have no memory of the calling of these panels. Are there ones that are particularly generous, stingy, and/or biased at the GP event they judged/called?

 

[tony]

So to start, I have questions. I thought that the panels were decided via some sort of random process but @Karen-W says that the panel for certain events called at certain GP events. Is that just a coincidence?

Also, I have no memory of the calling of these panels. Are there ones that are particularly generous, stingy, and/or biased at the GP event they judged/called?

Not random. I posted the technical panels 2 months ago. They always have some kind of trial event within the previous 12 months, and they’ve known their assignment here for a while.

GPF dance was scored a lot more generously than the two Rettstatt-led Grand Prix events that resulted in all the from the skaters.

Anyways, when the ISUResults or Olympics-specific page goes up and everything is officially released to the ‘public’, I’m sure there will be a lot of opinions about the tech panel compositions.

 

[Andrea82]

Feng Huang was suspended after his judging in 2018 Olympics
Weiguang Chen was suspended for her judging in 2018 Olympics. The suspension also included being banned from servicing in 2022 Olympics.
Salome Chigogidze couldn't judge in 2022 Olympics because she was suspended after her scoring in 2021 Worlds.


Taking from my post on the other general thread, the previous Olympic experiences of these judges are

Leah Bates * Olympic debut
Patricia Moritz (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Adrienn Schadenbauer * Olympic debut
Yury Klushnikov * already judged in Olympics 2006 (for Ukraine) and 2022
Vassela Popova * Olympic debut
Leanna Caron * already judged in Olympics 2018
Karen Howard * * already judged in Olympics 2014
Leslie Keen (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Weiguang Chen * judged at Olympics 2018
Feng Huang (Ice Dance) *judged at Olympics 2018, TC in Beijing 2022
Hailan Jiang * already judged in Olympics 2018
Richard Kosina * already judged in Olympics 2018
Daniel Delfa * already judged in Olympics 2014 and 2018
Marta Olozagarre (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 2022
Virpi Kunnas-Helminen * Olympic debut
Helene Cucuphat * already judged in Olympics 2010 and 2014
Jezabel Dabouis (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Anthony Richard Leroy * already judged in Olympics 2 * already judged in Olympics 2014, 2018 and 2022
Salome Chigogidze * Olympic debut
Nadezhda Fiodorova * switched from Belarus this summer * Olympic debut
Elena Khmyzenko * switched from Russia this summer * Olympic debut
Ann Findley * Olympic debut
Richard Grainge * Olympic debut
Nicholas Russell (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2022
Christian Baumann (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Kerstin Kimmunus * already judged in Olympics 2018
Attila Soos * Olympic debut
Anna Kantor * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 022
Isabella Micheli (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010. She participated as athlete in 1984 Olympics
Gloria Morandi * already judged in Olympics 2006
Tiziana Morandi * Olympic debut
Ritsuko Horiuchi * Olympic debut
Ayumi Ono * already judged in Olympics 2018
Nadezhda Paretskaia * Olympic debut
Laimute Krauziene * already judged in Olympics 2010, 2014 and 2022 (in Ice Dance)
Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas * Olympic debut
Aniela Hebel-Skmak * already judged in Olympics 2010,
Magdalena Rusiecka * Olympic debut
Marina Beschea * Olympic debut
Abele Agita * already judged in Olympics 2018
Young Kyung Han * Olympic debut
Jung Sue Lee * already judged in Olympics 2022
Chihee Rhee (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010 and served as referee in 2018
Christine Blanc * Olympic debut
Alice Walder * Olympic debut
Laila Davidson* Olympic debut
Janis Engel (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Peggy Graham * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kristina Lundgren * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kevin Rosenstein * Olympic debut
Saodat Numanova * already judged in Olympics 2018

The Ice Dance panel served at the following events this season:
Patricia Moritz (JGP Baku, Cup of China, Tallin, 4 Continents)
Leslie Keen (Kinoshita Group Cup, JGP Abu Dabhi, Skate Canada, Grand Prix Final)
Feng Huang (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Grand Prix Final)
Richard Kosina (JGP Varese, Nebelhorn, Skate Canada, Pavel Roman Memorial, Santa Claus Cup)
Marta Olozagarre (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Cup of China, Warsaw Cup, Europeans)
Virpi Kunnas-Helminen (Nice Trophé, NHK)
Jezabel Dabouis (GP France, GP Final, Europeans)
Elena Khmyzenko (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Denis Ten Memorial, Trialeti Trophy, GP France, GP Finlandia, Europeans)
Nicholas Russell (Trialeti Trophy, NHK, GP Final)
Christian Baumann (GP Finlandia, Europeans, Referee at Nebelhorn and NHK)
Isabella Micheli (JGP Varese, Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Swiss Ice Skating Open, NHK)
Chihee Rhee (Lake Placid, Kinoshita Group Cup, Cup of China, Skate Canada)
Janis Engel (Bolero Cup, Skate Canada, GP Final and Referee at Cup of China)

So to start, I have questions. I thought that the panels were decided via some sort of random process but @Karen-W says that the panel for certain events called at certain GP events. Is that just a coincidence?

Also, I have no memory of the calling of these panels. Are there ones that are particularly generous, stingy, and/or biased at the GP event they judged/called?

Referee, technical controllers and technical specialists are named by ISU

The draw is for the judges (and it is not totally random, those with a qualified skater have the precedence). The judges' draw is by country. Then Federation nominated the specific names among their judges (ISU level judges, with service in at least 2 ISU Championships or Olympic Qualifying competition).

 

[BittyBug]

Feng Huang was suspended after his judging in 2018 Olympics
Weiguang Chen was suspended for her judging in 2018 Olympics. The suspension also included being banned from servicing in 2022 Olympics.
Salome Chigogidze couldn't judge in 2022 Olympics because she was suspended after her scoring in 2021 Worlds.

This is so discouraging. If you do something egregious enough to be suspended, you should just be banned. One strike and you’re out.

 

[cholla]

Feng Huang was suspended after his judging in 2018 Olympics
Weiguang Chen was suspended for her judging in 2018 Olympics. The suspension also included being banned from servicing in 2022 Olympics.
Salome Chigogidze couldn't judge in 2022 Olympics because she was suspended after her scoring in 2021 Worlds.


Taking from my post on the other general thread, the previous Olympic experiences of these judges are

Leah Bates * Olympic debut
Patricia Moritz (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Adrienn Schadenbauer * Olympic debut
Yury Klushnikov * already judged in Olympics 2006 (for Ukraine) and 2022
Vassela Popova * Olympic debut
Leanna Caron * already judged in Olympics 2018
Karen Howard * * already judged in Olympics 2014
Leslie Keen (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Weiguang Chen * judged at Olympics 2018
Feng Huang (Ice Dance) *judged at Olympics 2018, TC in Beijing 2022
Hailan Jiang * already judged in Olympics 2018
Richard Kosina * already judged in Olympics 2018
Daniel Delfa * already judged in Olympics 2014 and 2018
Marta Olozagarre (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 2022
Virpi Kunnas-Helminen * Olympic debut
Helene Cucuphat * already judged in Olympics 2010 and 2014
Jezabel Dabouis (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Richard Leroy * already judged in Olympics 2 * already judged in Olympics 2014, 2018 and 2022
Salome Chigogidze * Olympic debut
Nadezhda Fiodorova * switched from Belarus this summer * Olympic debut
Elena Khmyzenko * switched from Russia this summer * Olympic debut
Ann Findley * Olympic debut
Richard Grainge * Olympic debut
Nicholas Russell (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2022
Christian Baumann (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Kerstin Kimmunus * already judged in Olympics 2018
Attila Soos * Olympic debut
Anna Kantor * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 022
Isabella Micheli (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010. She participated as athlete in 1984 Olympics
Gloria Morandi * already judged in Olympics 2006
Tiziana Morandi * Olympic debut
Ritsuko Horiuchi * Olympic debut
Ayumi Ono * already judged in Olympics 2018
Nadezhda Paretskaia * Olympic debut
Laimute Krauziene * already judged in Olympics 2010, 2014 and 2022 (in Ice Dance)
Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas * Olympic debut
Aniela Hebel-Skmak * already judged in Olympics 2010,
Magdalena Rusiecka * Olympic debut
Marina Beschea * Olympic debut
Abele Agita * already judged in Olympics 2018
Young Kyung Han * Olympic debut
Jung Sue Lee * already judged in Olympics 2022
Chihee Rhee (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010 and served as referee in 2018
Christine Blanc * Olympic debut
Alice Walder * Olympic debut
Laila Davidson* Olympic debut
Janis Engel (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Peggy Graham * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kristina Lundgren * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kevin Rosenstein * Olympic debut
Saodat Numanova * already judged in Olympics 2018

The Ice Dance panel served at the following events this season:
Patricia Moritz (JGP Baku, Cup of China, Tallin, 4 Continents)
Leslie Keen (Kinoshita Group Cup, JGP Abu Dabhi, Skate Canada, Grand Prix Final)
Feng Huang (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Grand Prix Final)
Richard Kosina (JGP Varese, Nebelhorn, Skate Canada, Pavel Roman Memorial, Santa Claus Cup)
Marta Olozagarre (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Cup of China, Warsaw Cup, Europeans)
Virpi Kunnas-Helminen (Nice Trophé, NHK)
Jezabel Dabouis (GP France, GP Final, Europeans)
Elena Khmyzenko (Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Denis Ten Memorial, Trialeti Trophy, GP France, GP Finlandia, Europeans)
Nicholas Russell (Trialeti Trophy, NHK, GP Final)
Christian Baumann (GP Finlandia, Europeans, Referee at Nebelhorn and NHK)
Isabella Micheli (JGP Varese, Beijing Olympic Qualifier, Swiss Ice Skating Open, NHK)
Chihee Rhee (Lake Placid, Kinoshita Group Cup, Cup of China, Skate Canada)
Janis Engel (Bolero Cup, Skate Canada, GP Final and Referee at Cup of China)



Referee, technical controllers and technical specialists are named by ISU

The draw is for the judges (and it is not totally random, those with a qualified skater have the precedence). The judges' draw is by country. Then Federation nominated the specific names among their judges (ISU level judges, with service in at least 2 ISU Championships or Olympic Qualifying competition).

It's Anthony Leroy not Richard Richard Leroy is the Swizz team performance manager.

Thank you for the listing!

 

[Karen-W]

Feng Huang was suspended after his judging in 2018 Olympics
Weiguang Chen was suspended for her judging in 2018 Olympics. The suspension also included being banned from servicing in 2022 Olympics.
Salome Chigogidze couldn't judge in 2022 Olympics because she was suspended after her scoring in 2021 Worlds.

This is so discouraging. If you do something egregious enough to be suspended, you should just be banned. One strike and you’re out.

I think if you ever have a judging suspension or ban then that should be the end of eligibility to serve on an Olympics judging panel in the future. Especially if the suspension occurred as a result of your judging at a previous Olympics.

And if a country has more than one judging suspension for infractions at an Olympics then they should not be allowed to have any Olympic judges in any discipline for at least a decade. Yeah, I'm looking at you, CHINA.

 

[Andrea82]

After a rapid check, this should be where the Single and Pairs served this season as judges (not counting when they were referees or technical controllers) in Senior Gran Prix, Europeans and Four Continents.

Bates Leah: GP France
Schadenbauer Adrienn
Kliushnikov Yurii: Cup of China, Skate America
Popova Vessela
Caron Leanna: Finlandia Trophy
Howard Karen: Skate Canada
Chen Weiguang: NHK, 4 Continents
Jiang Hailan: Cup of China, 4 Continents
Cucuphat Helene: GP France, FInlandia Trophy, Europeans
Leroy Anthony: NHK, GP Final
Chigogidze Salome: GP France, GP Final
Fiodorova Nadezhda:. Cup of China, Skate America, Europeans
Kimminus Kerstin: Finlandia Trophy, Europeans
Findlay Ann: 4 Continents
Grainge Richard
Soos Attila: GP France, GP Final
Kantor Anna
Morandi Gloria: Europeans
Morandi Tiziana
Horiuchi Ritsuko: Cup of China, Skate America, 4 Continents
Kozuka Ono Ayumi: GP Final, 4 Continents
Paretskaya Nadezhda: NHK, Skate America, GP Final, 4 Continents
Abele Agita: Cup of China
Krauziene Laimute: Skate Canada, Europeans
Van Gerwen Nicole: Europeans
Hebel-Szmak Aniela: Skate Canada, Europeans
Rusiecka Magdalena: Finlandia Trophy, Europeans
Beschea Marina: Europeans
Han Young Kyung: NHK, 4 Continents
Lee Jung-Sue:. Skate America
Delfa Soto Daniel
Davidsson Laila: Finlandia Trophy
Blanc Christine: Europeans
Walder Alice: NHK
Graham Peggy: Skate America
Lundgren Kristina:. NHK, GP Final
Rosenstein Kevin: GP France, GP Final
Numanova Saodat: Cup of China, 4 Continents

 

[Katha]

This seems fine for ice dance? I thought the GPF was judged pretty well and....yeah, good idea that they stayed away from Rettstatt. Apart from his terrible "ideas" for the RD, it would have not been a great look to have a TC who has already been accused of bias towards the US teams. And you just know that neither Cizeron nor Gilles/Poirier will have any hesitations of going after him at least. Same for Guignard/Fabbri.

I mean, I know G/P were upset about losing to Fear/Gibson. But IMO they really aren't doing themselves any favours with that reheated FD.

 

[tony]

This seems fine for ice dance? I thought the GPF was judged pretty well and....yeah, good idea that they stayed away from Rettstatt. Apart from his terrible "ideas" for the RD, it would have not been a great look to have a TC who has already been accused of bias towards the US teams. And you just know that neither Cizeron nor Gilles/Poirier will have any hesitations of going after him at least. Same for Guignard/Fabbri.

I mean, I know G/P were upset about losing to Fear/Gibson. But IMO they really aren't doing themselves any favours with that reheated FD.

Countries who have skaters/teams among the top 5 nations cannot have a technical panelist in their given event. It was never going to be Rettstatt.