Regardless of what the political world was at the time of the 2002 Olympics, the North America vs. Russia (or the world) 'sides' was still a huge thing going into those Games. How many times can we go over the talks of 'trading medals' or ordinals that was even making noise before the event started? (ETA here- even back then, skating message boards would see the judging panel draws and immediately exclaim that X skater had no shot because of the composition of the panel). The US (and Canadian) media was trying to shove injustices down fans' throats for the entire Olympiad, running off of the B/K stuff in Nagano. Yet every time a questionable result happened benefitting North America (typically involving Canadian skaters- ex. B/K GPF 2002 win, S/P winning the short there, S/P 2001 Worlds win, D/L bronze at least once at Skate Canada), it was all fine and dandy. Of course, Russia/former USSR didn't help themselves with instances like the taped conversation during Nagano or the tapping of the foot at 1999 Worlds. But Jean Senft went along with the precious plan in an attempt to get B/K bronze in Nagano and then became some supposed saint after it didn't happen. Nope...
I've talked about this a few other times, but when Lifetime TV picked up the Grand Prix for pairs/dance starting in the 1999-2000 season, we got a lot more of a glimpse into behind the scenes stuff, kiss and cry conversations, things that happened once skaters walked out of that area, and the like. The Cup of Russia telecast that season went above and beyond to show how much B/K and Dubova were complaining, but at the same time kept showing judging breakdowns to make it seem like certain judges were aligned together to make sure FP/M won. 2001 Worlds came around and fans were super pissed at the dance result: a combination of not agreeing with L/A being on the podium and rather wanting B/K and/or sentimental favorites D/V there instead. But the way the media kept portraying it throughout the years wasn't helping. I wasn't even in high school yet when the Lifetime stuff started airing and even I thought it was all nonsense how hard they were trying, and I was also annoyed with North American media going above and beyond to scream scandal at seemingly every turn, and then of course keep their mouths shut when it was reversed and benefited their skaters.
I really loved S/P at Skate America in 1999. I felt B/S were the far superior skaters and really wanted them to win in SLC. I thought the SP was no contest regardless of the ending pose fall, and I remember thinking at the end of S/P's performance that the judges would probably give it to them, but I still thought it belonged to B/S. So of course, I was pleasantly surprised for a few seconds until NBC went into crisis mode and Bezic didn't try to even explain the things she had been previously citing as reasons for why B/S came in with a little advantage.
2001 Worlds really was the tipping-point for me to see the hypocrisy in action. S/P staying 3rd in the short program over P/T-- okay, there can be an argument made. But the LP and winning over B/S? Nope. Not IMO.
In the end, it did result in the IJS being created and even though 6.0 had a real thrill to it (especially when those ordinals cascaded in on the screen), IJS is just so much better in many ways. I love that we actually do see movement, and I'm glad we are out of the days where qualifying rounds counted so much into a final score at Championships that a skater who won their qualifying group and finished 3rd place in the short program didn't 'control their own destiny', as Gannon loved to say. Rizzo from 19th / 1st this weekend? In 6.0, his base mark likely would've been way down for skating so early and he would've been stuck way outside the top 10.
It’s really black and white if you ask me.
