Pairs Coach Daniel Aggiano gave GS the following comments on the judging of the Chinese team Wenjing Sui and Cong Han in the short program:
"This year, the lift in the short program is a Group 5 lift. There are five lifts to choose from: an Axel Lasso, a Reverse Lasso, a Back Lasso, a Toe Lasso, and a Step Lasso.
All of us coaches of the teams in the last group were standing backstage watching the screen, and we all thought the Chinese team did a press lift. We all agreed that this lift was going to get thrown out — it’s a fake reverse.
A reverse lasso is when the lady's arm is behind her back, a fake reverse is when her hand is front of her with the hand between her legs which is what they are doing.
The reverse, however, stops when the man puts his hand below his shoulder line and then pushes both hands up together.
We went back and watched the video again, and when I saw the photos, his hands were in line with his shoulders, not above. The rule clearly states that the right hand must be above the shoulder in the lifting process.
It stops being a group 5 lift when the hands go below the shoulder line of the man at the point of take off, making it a group 4 lift, which was the lift group of the short program last year.
The other Chinese team has a wonderful example, his arm is completely straight above his head, and he pushes it up and does the lasso correctly. All of us were quite shocked that, at this level of competition and with such an experienced panel, a mistake like this could happen.
I’ve spoken with other specialists and with other controllers, and they all agree that this was a Group 4 lift, not a Group 5 lift. For me, it doesn’t make a difference for my own team, but for every team, it’s just not fair that a mistake like this, which makes about an 8.8 point difference, can affect everyone.
If any other team had made this mistake and had it called out, it would be fair. But they’re returning Olympic champions, and of course, their comeback is exciting, still, it shouldn’t mean that they get different scoring or judging.
We are all human, and we make mistakes. But the fact that a panel at this level, at an ISU Grand Prix event, made a wrong call like this, in my opinion, it should be re-certified. I know there are procedures and that points can’t be changed, and that’s fine. But at least for the free skate and the next competitions, if this happens again, we need to make sure it’s called correctly."
I'm totally here for all the come backs!
