The Judging Controversy Thread

[drivingmissdaisy]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

 

[Figure 8's]

So you're saying there is a home advantage. I don't disagree with that. I don't think it's due to corruption but rather the judges being swayed by the audience reaction.

There is always a home advantage. That is a given, adoring crowds, not having to travel for starters. Olympics are held in various countries so it not like one has an advantage. And as dominant as Russia had been in some winter sports, it is surprising this is the first time it has been held there.

 

[usethis2]

Glad to see the NYT picking up on the story.

 

[yuki90]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

The PCS and GOE on Adelina is ridiculous.

 

[NineTails]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

Sure, very corrupt math:

One judge married to the head of the Russian Federation. Another was a Ukraine judge who was once suspended for fixing the Nagano Olympics.

 

[usethis2]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

I think you are misunderstanding him, to say the least. Kurt is being obscure - he is contradicting himself because "outskating" itself comprise getting more points by definition. (He did not say "Yuna Kim is a better skater," for example) He is trying to convey something else beneath the surface, without offending anyone. It doesn't take a genius to see what he's trying to say.

 

[pangtongfan]

So you're saying there is a home advantage. I don't disagree with that. I don't think it's due to corruption but rather the judges being swayed by the audience reaction.

And you think that is acceptable for the sport to have any credability moving forward, LOL! Atleast we agree on something, but it is not acceptable for location to affect scores EVER. The fact that this does happen shows that skating is in huge trouble in its current path. A skater should not feel like their chances of victory are lessened or gone since they are in a main rival's territory. Like S&S knowing they had no hope unless V&T fell atleast three times just because they were in Russia where V&T would get +3s for throws with a hand down or landed on two foot which were normally be a guaranteed -1, and moving on from there at the pro Russian Games.

 

[yuki90]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

Sotnikova scored 149.95 points in the free skate. It was a massive leap from her previous best, recorded last month, of 131.63. I asked Wylie how he would explain Sotnikova’s sudden improvement to the casual fan. He paused, and couldn’t come up with an answer.

“It’s figure skating at its finest, right?” he said.

Everyone around him laughed.

 

[pangtongfan]

And as dominant as Russia had been in some winter sports, it is surprising this is the first time it has been held there.

And after the scandal heard around the World here (in conjuction with rumors of the figure skating at these Games ever since the L'Equipe article came out 2 weeks ago and followed up with the promised results in Team, Dance, and Pairs) it will be over 100 years until they are held there again, if ever. I hope for the Russians it was worth the cost.

 

[vinganca]

It will be interesting to see how the Russian skaters compare score-wise from Sochi to S Korea...i doubt the judges will be so over-the-top generous.

 

[Ven]

I like this quote from Kurt: “Yu-na Kim outskated her, but it’s not just a skating competition anymore — it’s math,” Browning said, explaining that Sotnikova racked up little points here and there to move ahead of Kim.

She didn't rack up the points. She was given them on components. GIVEN. Her components scores were 0.09 behind Kim, essentially the same, which is clearly wrong.

 

[Ophelia]

It will be interesting to see how the Russian skaters compare score-wise from Sochi to S Korea...i doubt the judges will be so over-the-top generous.

We don't even have to wait till 2018. Worlds are in Japan next month, I believe.

 

[pangtongfan]

It will be interesting to see how she and other Russian skaters compare score-wise in S Korea...i doubt the judges will be so over-the-top generous.

I wonder which ones we will ever seen to compare. I doubt Sotnikova will stay for 2018, in fact I wouldnt be surprised if she wimps out of competing much outside of Russia ever again (and wouldnt fault her for that, it would be fully understandable all things considered). Julia will grow and be done by then likely. Stolbova & Klimov should be there, B&L no way, V&T who knows. I&K will be the dominant team by then so their scores will have gone up but they will actually be earning them by then perhaps until now, and B&S probably dunzo by then. So there will only be a couple skaters/teams to compare the scores of most likely.

 

[b-man]

Wonder why no one was complaining about the over scoring in Vancouver? A lot of the skaters got personal bests tonight so would you say every one was over scored? Or is it just because a Russian won gold? These skaters etc. that are trying create a scandal over the judging ought to become judges as they know so much better why the scores were given. It is really amazing at the poor sportsmanship. It is really ruining the spirit of the Olympics.

Maybe having a previously suspended judge on the judging panel in the biggest competition in four years, and having the spouse of the head of the Russian Federation on the judging panel is poor sportsmandship, ruining the spirit of the Olympic games. If the Russians want to maintain the Olympic spirit in their home games, they should give not have stacked the judging panel.

 

[usethis2]

She didn't rack up the points. She was given them on components. GIVEN. Her components scores were 0.09 behind Kim, essentially the same, which is clearly wrong.

She did rack up bogus GOE points as well. My jaw dropped when I saw her nonsensical GOEs.

 

[jaked]

You cannot argue with a person who has stockholm syndrome. Even if Putin kills his/her mother, he/she would sing his praise.

It's pretty obvious that many people's opinions here are clouded by their hate of Russia. This post is a perfect example.

 

[vinganca]

I agree. Not only ladies skate, the whole figure skating event in this Olympics was a joke.

i still can't believe Pechalat and Bourzat didn't win bronze in dance! :/

 

[kslr0816]

i think all you need to do is compare adelina's performance to yuna's 2010.. they're saying they were virtually the same quality of performance?

 

[pangtongfan]

i still can't believe Pechalat and Bourzat didn't win bronze in dance! :/

Of course they didnt. P&B vs Putin who is going to come out on top. P&B could probably beat I&K no problem, but I&K plus Putin, no chance.

 

[Juliasochi]

Of course they didnt. P&B vs Putin who is going to come out on top. P&B could probably beat I&K no problem, but I&K plus Putin, no chance.

Yes Russians without the aid of doping or bribery among judges tend to be quite ineffective dont they. There was no Yuri Balkov, Alla Shekhovtseva, or Victor Conte to save them from their inability to solve the terrific Finnish goaltending and defense. They had to do it all on their own merit, an unusual position for a Russian athlete, and one they typically struggle with.

They do extremely well in those judged events, syn. swimming, rhy. gymnastics which nobody really cares. FS is getting more and more obscure except the scandals. Meaningless metals... I probably watched one hour in total. I knew it would be fixed beforehand.

The crazy thing is those judges from East European countries and Soviet Union. They suffered so much under communist Russia but still feel indebted to Russia, culturally to prop up Russian athletes. Well typical Stockholm syndrome, I guess.