Olympic Events Based

OLYMPIC EVENTS BASED on judges’ marks rather than time or distance often lead to differences of opinion. In the 2002 Games, pairs figure skating created a debate unparalleled in Olympic history.

Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, the reigning world champions, performed a flawless free skate using music from Love Story. Pelletier stretched out full-length and kissed the ice at the end of their awesome program. As the pair bowed to every corner of the arena, the crowd voiced its enthusiastic approval and waved hundreds of Canadian flags.

But applause turned to boos when the judges awarded the Canadians their lowest scores ever for the breathtaking program. Even with the low scores, the pair stood on top of the leaderboard.

The duo’s strongest competition, Russia’s Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, led after the short program but did not appear to match the Canadians in either technical merit or presentation in the free skate. Anton faltered in landing a double axel–double toe loop.

But as the judges announced the scoring, the crowd gasped. Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze received nothing lower than 5.7 for technical merit. Presentation generated all 5.8s and 5.9s. The Russian couple edged out the Canadians for the gold, running the string of Russian victories in pairs to 11.

A closer look at the scores showed judges from the United States, Canada, Germany, and Japan ranked the Canadian pair first, while Russia, Poland, China, Ukraine, and France opted for the Russians. Newspaper articles carried such words as “Gold medal performance wins silver,” and “Judges steal gold medal.”

Several days later the French judge admitted coercion. The International Olympic Committee investigated and eventually ruled both teams should be awarded gold medals.

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POINT Following the ice dance original program, the IOC held a second medal ceremony for the pairs. Both teams stood atop the podium. Both flags rose. Both national anthems played.

Yelena and Anton graciously smiled and posed with Jamie and David as hundreds of cameras flashed. Justice prevailed for the Canadians.

Judges usually try to be objective. But they’re human. They have prejudices. They make mistakes. A few even take bribes or broker deals. Only God judges perfectly fairly.

GOAL! Have you ever had a judgment call go against you? Did it cost you a victory? Maybe you shouted, “That’s not fair!” But you can praise God for his justice.