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American figure skating pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates would consider appealing the score in the recent Olympic ice dance final that handed them silver while their French rivals took gold.
Chock was asked if they would consider appealing in an interview with Access Hollywood.
“I guess we would consider it. I think skating is a very subjective sport, but I think, to be fair, it’s good for judges to be reviewed for their work. Not just after this competition, but at every competition, to make sure there’s a fair and equal playing field for all athletes,” Chock said.
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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the figure skating ice dance team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
“We did everything we could. We wouldn’t have changed anything about our performance, any of our performances, or how we approached the week. We’re very proud of the work we did; we left no stone unturned, so we can come out of the Games feeling satisfied and fulfilled with ourselves.”
The couple was looking to win gold, but came in second place to the French duo formed by Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.
A French judge rated Beaudry and Cizeron higher than Chock and Bates, ultimately helping the French team win gold over the Americans. The evaluation has been the subject of controversy on social media, with some arguing that Chock and Bates should have received higher grades.
Chock and Bates were following the french couple by 0.46 points entering free dance on Wednesday night, and were looking for their first Olympic ice dance medal hoping it would obviously be gold.
US OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATERS TALK ABOUT THE JUDGMENT THAT DENIED THEM GOLD AMID WIDESPREAD QUESTIONS
Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the figure skating ice free skate at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangué)
His matador routine, dancing to a rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black,” drew applause from the crowd and ended in tears.
They finished with 224.39 after earning a score of 134.67 in their free dance.
Chock and Bates are two-time team gold winners after Team USA’s victory on Sunday, but they had to watch one more routine to see if they could capture the gold when Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron took the ice.
But the judges decided that the French duo did enough to defeat the Americans in the end.
Beaudry and Cizeron scored 135.64 in the free dance for a total of 225.82.
Chock has since called for the judges to be investigated.
shoe said CBS News“It would definitely be helpful if it was more understandable for viewers, to see more transparent trials and understand… what’s really going on.”
“I think it’s also important for the skaters that the judges are vetted and reviewed to make sure they’re also giving their best performance,” he continued, “because there’s a lot at stake for the skaters when they’re out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges give us their all too and for it to be a fair and level playing field.”
Bates told USA Today: “We felt like we gave our best performance that we could have. It was our Olympic moment. It felt like a winning skate to us, and that’s what we’re going to hold on to.”
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Silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States skate with their medals after competing in the figure skating ice free skate at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 11, 2026. (Francisco Seco/AP Photo)
Bates also praised fans who are speaking out in support of the American couple, amid the controversy.
“It means a lot to have people express their opinions on our behalf,” Bates said. “Hopefully the way we skate and the way we’ve approached achieving these goals has resonated with people back home even in our response. I think hopefully that can reflect the Olympic spirit as well.”
