US Olympic figure skater calls for judges to be vetted after controversial decision gave her silver

Two American skiers who got lost while backcountry riding near an Olympic venue in Livigno were rescued Tuesday with the help of thermal imaging drones. (Credit: Vigili del Fuoco)

Madison Chock and Evan Bates have responded to questions about judging in the recent Olympic ice dance pairs final. Chock called for judges to be vetted for the sake of transparency. 

The couple was looking to defend their gold medal, but came in second to the French duo of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron. 

A French judge graded Beaudry and Cizeron higher than Chock and Bates, which helped push the French team to gold over the Americans. The judging has been a topic of controversy on social media, with some arguing that Chock and Bates should have graded higher. 

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Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dancing free skate in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.  (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Chock told CBS News, "It would "definitely be helpful if it's more understandable for the viewers, to just see more transparent judging and understand ... what's really going on.

"I think it's also important for the skaters that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance," she continued. "Because there's a lot on the line for the skaters when they're out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field."

Chock's answer came shortly after she sang a different tune when asked by NBC News about judging.

"We’ve certainly gone through a roller coaster of emotions, especially