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A LITTLE BIAS NEVER HURT ANYBODY (EXCEPT THOSE WHO LOST)
Written by Akemi Do
A fraction of a point. A slightly higher component score. A judge that views one program as more beautiful, more elegant, and more worthy than another. In figure skating, the difference between standing on the podium and watching from the sidelines can be as small as a number on a scoreboard. But who really gets to decide these numbers? After all, artistry is subjective, isn’t it?
How is figure skating scored?
Figure skating scoring is often confusing because it combines technical elements with subjective artistic skills. Skaters earn points through their Technical Element Score (TES), which evaluates jumps, spins, and footwork, and their Program Component Score (PCS), which assesses skating skills, composition, and performance. Although the system has detailed rules, judges still have discretion when awarding Grades of Execution (GOE) and PCS marks. This subjectivity can leave room for personal preferences, reputational bias, and national bias, raising questions about the fairness and consistency of competition results.
The ideal skater
Throughout figure skating’s history, the definition of the ideal skater has continually evolved. In the 1900s, artistry, elegance, and presentation played a significant role in shaping the public's perception of a “perfect skater," which led to the term “ice princess." Over time, with the help of the Quad Revolution, technical difficulty increased, becoming a defining trait in competitions. The rise of athletic talent transformed skating and rewarded risk over artistry. There have been a few skaters that seemed to be the perfect mix of both words but ultimately had circumstances take it away from them.
What factors truly contribute to a judge's bias?
The problem is not necessarily that the judges are deliberately trying to disadvantage certain competitors. Bias can be much more subtle, influencing decisions without judges even realizing it. A skater’s reputation, nationality, previous achievements, or popularity may affect how their performance is perceived.
Expectations and reputation: More established and popular champions often enter competitions with impressive records and high expectations. Their previous achievements can create an image of excellence that influences how judges evaluate and perceive their performances. Meanwhile, lesser-known skaters may need to prove themselves repeatedly before receiving similar recognition. This creates a potentially self-reinforcing cycle in which high scores build reputations, and those reputations influence future scores. This cycle questions whether athletes are judged on their current performances and skills or on the reputation and expectations associated with their names.
Nationality: Furthermore, nationality plays a crucial role in this controversy, particularly when judges face pressure to favour athletes representing their own countries or athletes from more reputable countries. The 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics is one of figure skating's most notorious scandals. Canada's Jamie Salé and David Pelletier competed against Russia's Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze in the pairs event. Following the Russian pair's victory, allegations of judging misconduct and political arrangements emerged. French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne later admitted that she had been pressured and paid to favour the Russian team. The controversy eventually resulted in a second gold medal being awarded to the Canadian pair and the public demanding a new scoring system. Following the controversy, figure skating introduced a new scoring system to replace the traditional 6.0 system. The new system separated technical elements from programme components, creating a more detailed framework for evaluating performances. Furthermore, skaters from larger federations, such as Russia, Japan and the USA (historically), may receive higher scores due to their international reputation, greater resources and stronger presence in the sport. Judges may be more familiar with these skaters, which could influence their view of their performances and lead to differences in scoring.
Bribery: Bribery is the most serious factor that affects the fairness in figure skating. While it violates the sports rules (is highly illegal) and can lead to serious disciplinary consequences like disqualifications, suspensions and bans, some individuals (athletes, coaches, etc.) may still attempt to bribe judges to gain an unfair advantage, win medals, bring glory to their country, or secure fame and financial rewards. When judges accept money, gifts, or favours, they may give certain skaters higher marks or lower their competitors’ scores. This can change competition results and allow undeserving athletes to win medals. This corruption also discourages honest and talented skaters who work hard to improve their skills. Furthermore, bribery damages public trust and harms the reputation of the sport. The most famous scandal of bribery was the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games (see above in the nationality section), but there were other alleged scandals, such as the Winter Olympics Sochi 2014 (state-sponsored doping scandal and Russian favouritism).
At the end of the day, perhaps a little bias never hurt anybody. At the end of the day the winners get to celebrate their medals, and the judges go home. But somewhere behind the scenes, a skater is left wondering whether they lost to a better performance or simply to a biased system.
“You feel like a champion; you do, you know, but sometimes skating your best programme and coming second is hard to take.”
– David Pelletier 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Medallist
How is skating scored (extra information):
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