2026 Olys Free Dance PBP - Whale, Are We Ready For Some Bull Sheet Scores?

[taf2002]

Think even Dean has said that himself. I know Torvill was a big fan of Papadakis/Cizeron.

Whatever you think of him personally, winning two Olympic titles with two different partners just four years apart is unprecedented in ice dance.

What I don't understand is since the French has only been paired up for 11 months how/why does she already have citizenship?

What makes me feel fantastic about our team is that all 3 came in the top 10 - 2nd, 5th, & 10th. As Dick Button would say, that bodes well for the dance program.

 

[Cachoo]

Ilia Averbukh said the French deserved gold (even with a mistake) and that Stepanova/Bukin would have won silver. He then put the Canadians third, and then Chock/Bates fourth with Zingas/Kolesnik in 5th.

“1st place: The French (despite a mistake); 2nd: Stepanova and Bukin; 3rd: The Canadians; 4th: Perhaps Chock and Bates; 5th: The Americans Zingas and Kolesnik; and only after that, everyone else.” – Averbukh on the Olympic podium If Russian skaters w

Ilia Averbukh believes that Alekandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin could have contended for second place at the 2026 Olympics in Milan.

fs-gossips.com

Averbukh's gonna Averbukh. What is happening with Russian Ice Dance these days?

 

[MsZem]

What makes me feel fantastic about our team is that all 3 came in the top 10 - 2nd, 5th, & 10th. As Dick Button would say, that bodes well for the dance program.

Carreira and Ponomarenko finished just outside the top 10 (11th). But the overall point stands, especially with Zingas/Kolesnik having such a strong showing.

 

[terisa]

... But does anyone else think that if it wasn't a North American team who lost the outrage would not be as outrageous?

Depends on who's outraged. More population = more people to jump onto whatever bandwagon someone starts up. If the media is doing it, it's only because controversy sells. I wouldn't think the ISU would even pay attention unless someone more knowledgeable than the "General Public" or the mainstream media get on to it.

 

[rfisher]

I am certain if any team except an US team were 2nd, nobody would care

 

[VGThuy]

Even Mark Henretty isn’t coming away unscathed. Someone described his commentary here as “Smiley word salad.” The ISU posting this video does seem like PR damage control even though it’s just telling people to join “Showtime Replay.”

ISU Figure Skating ⛸ on Instagram: "Mesmerizing. Raw. Emotional. ✨ Ice Dance delivered unforgettable programs in Milano Cortina. 🇮🇹 Join @markhanretty for another ISU Showtime Replay as we relive the standout moments. #ISUShowtime #MilanoCortina20

1,383 likes, 61 comments - isufigureskating on February 12, 2026: "Mesmerizing. Raw. Emotional. ✨ Ice Dance delivered unforgettable programs in Milano Cortina. 🇮🇹 Join @markhanretty for another ISU Showtime Replay as we relive the standout moments. #ISUShowtime #MilanoCortina2026 #Olympics...

www.instagram.com

 

[taf2002]

Carreira and Ponomarenko finished just outside the top 10 (11th). But the overall point stands, especially with Zingas/Kolesnik having such a strong showing.

I just checked the wedgie data right before I posted. But if it's just 11th instead of 10th they still did good.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

I just checked the wedgie data right before I posted. But if it's just 11th instead of 10th they still did good.

They were 10th in the FD but 11th overall.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Depends on who's outraged. More population = more people to jump onto whatever bandwagon someone starts up. If the media is doing it, it's only because controversy sells. I wouldn't think the ISU would even pay attention unless someone more knowledgeable than the "General Public" or the mainstream media get on to it.

The controversies do get mentioned at the ISU seminars. But it is brought up as an educational point to advise judges that these days they are being scrutinised by skating fans and particularly the Olympics in regards to the reputation of the sport. Believe me the judges know all about various websites that track their individual events and marks they give at events. I have heard them comment they were shocked to find out about it but then accept that is par for the course of being an international or ISU judge. Even judging local comps here any coach and skater can see what I have given them.

 

[VGThuy]

But does anyone else think that if it wasn't a North American team who lost the outrage would not be as outrageous?

Other than Russia, probably not. The benefits of being a super power with powerful media backing your team to keep storylines going. I also think if FB/C didn’t make any errors the general audience could see, then they would have accepted the results more readily. It’s like Anton and his “stumble” which was really more of a quick landing and toe pick catching as he turned to step into the double toe. People pick apart things they can see with the visible eye, and when the scoring seems to hurt their team or someone they just like better (Sale/Pelletier), they will jump on it.

 

[VGThuy]

Viewers are now mad at Scott Hamilton for not calling the “corrupt” judging out with his positive post on the FD event, even when he shouted C/B out individually:

NBC analyst facing backlash for reaction to Madison Chock, Evan Bates scandal

NBC figure skating analyst Scott Hamilton is under fire for his reaction to the Madison Chock, Evan Bates controversy.

www.newsweek.com

It remains to be seen if this “scandal” has any legs or if it’ll go away once figure skating starts again and if Ilia wins the gold.

 

[manhn]

Are we still with "North American"?

ETA: Bad Bunny didn't mention "South Korea" during his Super Bowl performance.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I am now waiting for Trump to impose tariffs on France unless the result is overturned and he is given the gold medal.

 

[VGThuy]

I am now waiting for Trump to impose tariffs on France unless the result is overturned and he is given the gold medal.

Madison Chock has to kiss his ass first.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Madison Chock has to kiss his ass first.

I want to see an AI photo of Trump in Madison's costume.

 

[Sylvia]

I thought Robert Samuels wrote a good article on the FD (it's the only one I've read today that I thought was worth re-tweeting).

Would anyone like to gift link his WaPo article (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2026/02/11/olympic-ice-dance-chock-bates/) and post the link here and/or in the Dance Hall thread? He shared his Madi/Evan excerpt on X: https://x.com/newsbysamuels/status/2021942266005164149

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021942266005164149

"My take on why the controversial French team Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron defeated Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, despite most judges preferring the beloved veterans" https://x.com/newsbysamuels/status/2021844340100792404

 

[allezfred]

What I don't understand is since the French has only been paired up for 11 months how/why does she already have citizenship?

As has been explained previously, France has a fast track citizenship process for outstanding talent.

 

[Yazmeen]

Viewers are now mad at Scott Hamilton for not calling the “corrupt” judging out with his positive post on the FD event, even when he shouted C/B out individually:

NBC analyst facing backlash for reaction to Madison Chock, Evan Bates scandal

NBC figure skating analyst Scott Hamilton is under fire for his reaction to the Madison Chock, Evan Bates controversy.

www.newsweek.com

It remains to be seen if this “scandal” has any legs or if it’ll go away once figure skating starts again and if Ilia wins the gold.

Well, it's not just fading away here - from SB Nation:

"When we dig deeper into recent scores from this judge the whole picture of the Olympic scoring gets murkier. At the 2026 European Championships there appears to be similar bias in favor of France.


Dabois wildly over-scored the French pair in the short program, but really did damage in the free skate where she not only gave F. Beaudry/Cizeron a huge score, but dramatically underscored the two pairs who threatened them for gold. This came after seeing in short program that Italy and the United Kingdom were within striking distance.

At the 2025 Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Japan, there was more scoring inconsistency from Jézabel Dabois in the ice dance. In that event, F. Beaudry/Cizeron missed an element, and had a fall, which should have kept them off the podium, except for the fact this same judge turned in massive scores. At the Grand Prix we had Chock/Bares overscored as well, but not to the same level as the French pair was — who were a full standard deviation in z-score over.

There has been a consistent pattern from Jézabel Dabois over multiple events of juicing scores for F. Beaudry/Cizeron in the ice dance, while filing low scores for their opponents."

Olympic judge who cost Madison Chock and Evan Bates gold has a history of questionable scores

There’s some serious funny business going on.

www.sbnation.com

 

[Yazmeen]

\But does anyone else think that if it wasn't a North American team who lost the outrage would not be as outrageous?

Ahh, so we're back to the dayum "North Americans" again after 24 years...

Well, more than a few of us in the States have become a little sensitive when we see what appears to be unfair treatment of people in general these days. In fact, we're downright ON EDGE (pardon the skating analogy).

 

[allezfred]

Somebody calling the rhythm dance “the short program” is a massive red flag in how well they know the sport. In addition, if the French judge massively overscores her scores are getting thrown out by the system. They won’t count.

That’s before we get into the fact that North American judges have been doing the exact same thing for their skaters as long as this sport has existed.

 

[skipaway]

I thought Robert Samuels wrote a good article on the FD (it's the only one I've read today that I thought was worth re-tweeting).

Would anyone like to gift link his WaPo article

Got ya covered.

 

[ilovesalchows]

There is absolutely no way Averbukh would have been ok with FB/C winning over S/B if they had been skating in the last quad, regardless of how anyone skated. The platinum medal would already be minted.

 

[Coco]

Would someone be willing to share the gist of this recap? Won't have a chance to watch for a while.

French win TES because it's too easy to get + 3 GOE with a mistake. Also, there are too many choreographic elements.

 

[Sylvia]

Got ya covered.

Thank you @skipaway for posting your gift link in the Dance Hall thread :

WaPo Article on Free Dance

 

[Karen-W]

I'd say the story is gaining some traction out there with the normies/people who don't normally watch figure skating much less ice dancing. I've seen comments from a range of celebrities as well as this even getting some remarks from political & culture accounts that show up regularly in my timeline (ranging from conservative pundits to Access Hollywood). I don't know how long it will last but I do agree with the remark I read somewhere here on FSU (may have been the Dance Hall) that this result has actually made Chock/Bates more popular than they would have been had they won - "people's prince & princess", etc., so it is probably going to turn out alright for them in the end, especially since they do already have two Olympic gold medals to go with this silver.

 

[Ross H]

Since we put so much weight on comments from people who were actually in the arena:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021709920366940356

Polina posted this same message on Instagram - the top comment is from Amber: "Oh Polina you've lost me here girl"

 

[VGThuy]

Throwing out the highest and lowest scores can totally still be gamed. Ask Daniella Silivas about Nellie Kim.

 

[allezfred]

Throwing out the highest and lowest scores can totally still be gamed. Ask Daniella Silivas about Nellie Kim.

Would rather not talk about gymnastics so no.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Somebody calling the rhythm dance “the short program” is a massive red flag in how well they know the sport. In addition, if the French judge massively overscores her scores are getting thrown out by the system. They won’t count.

That’s before we get into the fact that North American judges have been doing the exact same thing for their skaters as long as this sport has existed.

Same as the analysis of the British judge in the RD. Their marks would have been tossed too.

 

[VGThuy]

This whole time, I thought people were name-calling the French Judge. I did not realize her name was actually “Jezabel”.