Figure Skating Scandals

[ferelu]

Hi! Does anybody know any scandals other than Tonya/Nancy and the 2002 olympics?

[Skatingsarah]

How about every dance event... lol ;)

[MizEdiesBoy]

Wasn't Sonja Henie involved in a few back in the 20's and 30's?

Didn't the banning of non-Euro skaters from the European championships in th 40's qualify as a scandal?

[dooobedooo]

Almost every rink I know is a hotbed of scandal; much of it pretty sordid, and quite a bit of it criminally culpable: - but no, you won't hear it from me, lest I fall foul of the dreaded Skating Mafia. eeek! 8O 8O 8O

The 2002 Olympics was certainly the main public scandal of recent times. And I belong firmly in the camp that thought the first (undoctored) result was the correct one!!

[CanuckSk8r]

Every event has some "scandelous" activities behind it, it's all a matter of opinion really. Even though there are rules and guidelines to follow when judging an event, it still comes down to someone's opinion and someone's interpretation. Whenever there is subjectiveness there will be disagreements IMO.
One of the events that come into my mind (PLEASE NO OFFENSE TO THE SKATERS - JUST MY OBSERVATION) the 1994 Olympics when G & G won their gold dispite have 3 small errors and the other two teams were flawless, some could say that result was tampered with. Or the Russian domination in pairs and dance for decades could be scandelous. There are endless possibilities IMO that could be perceived as scandelous, even right down to the club level. Unfortunately this is part of our sport, although I wish it wasn't.
It is interesting though to read about the behind the scences happening that occur!!!! Is that what you are looking for? Just for information purposes? I just don't know if some people would be offended by some of the things that will get uncovered!! Awesome idea!

[IceKween]

Wasn't there some sort of mini-scandal circling around Tanith Belbin at 2000 Nationals in Cleveland? I remember reading it on FSW, and I thought that the police were called. Anyone remember that one?

[Lynn226]

[QUOTE=CanuckSk8r]
One of the events that come into my mind (PLEASE NO OFFENSE TO THE SKATERS - JUST MY OBSERVATION) the 1994 Olympics when G & G won their gold dispite have 3 small errors and the other two teams were flawless, some could say that result was tampered with.[QUOTE]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that G&G were overmarked in Lillehammer. I would have given the OGM to M&D. They were perfect except for maybe one step that was out of unison after an element. I'd have to rewatch my dl to know for sure.

I've never been involved in the skating community - except as a fan. Is it really so much more scandolous then real life? Or does it just seem so because we see it on TV? I mean just about everybody has a "wuz robbed" story to tell - the promotion that should have been, etc.

[Twizzler]

I think the "wuzrobbed" scenarios could be a separate thread.

There have been plenty of judging scandals in addition to the 2002 SLC O's. There were the tap-dancing judges at the pairs event circa 2000.
There was the tape that Canadian judge Senft produced in which Yuri Balkov of Ukraine stated the order of the ice dancers before they skated. That was at the 1998 Olympics, I believe.
There was the Soviet judge that gave Alexander Fadeev a 5.9 for tech merit at, I believe, the 1985 Worlds after he fell all over the place.
All these judges were sanctioned.

[??!!?]

Wasn't there some sort of mini-scandal circling around Tanith Belbin at 2000 Nationals in Cleveland? I remember reading it on FSW, and I thought that the police were called. Anyone remember that one?

Oh yeah. I think I remember something about this too. But I can't quite recall the details. What was it that happened?

[Phuket]

Wasn't there some sort of mini-scandal circling around Tanith Belbin at 2000 Nationals in Cleveland? I remember reading it on FSW, and I thought that the police were called. Anyone remember that one?

No, it wasn't Cleveland 2000 Nationals, it was at the Boston 2001 Nationals. I wouldn't classify it as a mini-scandal either. 8O I also heard the police were called, but I have no way of knowing if that is true or not.

[schnood]

No, it wasn't Cleveland 2000 Nationals, it was at the Boston 2001 Nationals. I wouldn't classify it as a mini-scandal either. 8O I also heard the police were called, but I have no way of knowing if that is true or not.

Seriously? It sounds scary. What happened?

[what?meworry?]

well, it was a big deal. many parents were outraged. there were quite a few skaters involved, so it's probably not necessary to be more specific.

but the good that came out of it was that usfsa cracked down big time on private parties where alcohol was available to underage competitors, thankfully before anyone was ever seriously injured or died (like you read about at some college frat parties.)

since all parties involved have long since modified their behaviours, and many of them are still active competitors, it's probably a good idea to allow the lessons that were learned stay reasonably private and not be posted on a public forum. if the parties were still behaving like idiots, that would be a different matter.

as part of the crackdown the next year police were involved in picking up the few guys from the year before that didn't quite get the message.

i give a lot of credit to usfsa for acknowledging it and cleaning it up.

[what?meworry?]

[FONT=Times New Roman]Wasn't Sonja Henie involved in a few back in the 20's and 30's?

yes. it's too late at night for me to look up the details, but she was looked upon as a nazi sympathizer. there is an excellent documentary that is shown periodically on public tv about that.

ok, here's the first reference on a google search that comments on that. there are probably better articles.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/gen/feature?page=history1936

[TashaKat]

Almost every rink I know is a hotbed of scandal; much of it pretty sordid, and quite a bit of it criminally culpable: - but no, you won't hear it from me, lest I fall foul of the dreaded Skating Mafia. eeek! 8O 8O 8O

The 2002 Olympics was certainly the main public scandal of recent times. And I belong firmly in the camp that thought the first (undoctored) result was the correct one!!


ITA about not discussing it as some of the *scandal* is not always what it is seems! Sometimes people say appalling things about others for revenge or whatever. There are some sick people, unfortunately, who will stop at nothing to 'get their own back' and, equally unfortunately, because of rink gossip, there are other well meaning people out there who will actually believe them! A few well placed tears and the victim is damned for eternity :evil:

[dooobedooo]

ITA about not discussing it as some of the *scandal* is not always what it is seems! Sometimes people say appalling things about others for revenge or whatever. There are some sick people, unfortunately, who will stop at nothing to 'get their own back' and, equally unfortunately, because of rink gossip, there are other well meaning people out there who will actually believe them! A few well placed tears and the victim is damned for eternity :evil:

I think I know this one, and yes ITA with you.
Things are not always what they may seem.
One of these days I'll write a book.

[jcspkbfan]

Speaking of figure skating scandals, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Surya refusing to accept her silver medal on the 1994 Worlds podium yet. 8O

And let's not forget the "toe-tapping" judges incident during the 1999 Worlds pairs event and the "Stéphane Bernadis was stabbed by an unknown attacker" incident at 2000 Worlds.

Gee, for all the talk about ice dance judging scandals (and I don't deny there's been more than a few of those over the years!) most of the more recent judging scandals have taken place during pairs events. Anyone have any theories or thoughts on this?

[John King]

Do you mean on-ice or off-ice?If the latter,then there's the DUIs of Oksana Baiul,Alexei Yagudin and Victor Petrenko,and the whole soap opera of Pasha Grischuk-Evgeny Platov-Maya Usova-Sasha Zhulin.

[Chico]

Well, I don't follow skating scandals. We have enough going on at my rink on any given day. Saying that, don't believe everything you hear. The truth is never this or that. Most likely someplace in the middle. Only the people invovled in an issue know the facts and even then things can be fuzzy. If your not involved, stay out of it. Seriously, mind your own business.

Chico

[Phuket]

Well, I don't follow skating scandals. We have enough going on at my rink on any given day. Saying that, don't believe everything you hear. The truth is never this or that. Most likely someplace in the middle. Only the people invovled in an issue know the facts and even then things can be fuzzy. If your not involved, stay out of it. Seriously, mind your own business.

Chico

I agree with don't believe everything you hear. However, I've found if you hear it again and again over time, from different sources, you might want to pay attention. It seems like a lie will die down pretty quickly, but the truth keeps popping up.

And yes, for the most part, if it doesn't involve you then it's best to stay out of it. On the other hand, that attitude has given us some of the abusive coaching situations we've discussed for the past year. In those instances, I think the abusers are counting on the rest of us to mind our own business.

[Chico]

I wouldn't stay out of an abusive coach situation. Heck, I'd probably get myself into trouble trying to protect the child. Saying that, just about everything else isn't my business. I don't agree with the hear alot theory. I believe what I know. I'm wary and watchful of everything else. Some folks just have big mouths.....big mouths don't make it true.

Chico

[skatepixie]

yes. it's too late at night for me to look up the details, but she was looked upon as a nazi sympathizer. there is an excellent documentary that is shown periodically on public tv about that.

ok, here's the first reference on a google search that comments on that. there are probably better articles.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/gen/feature?page=history1936

I thought it was just a thing where she felt she had to. Also, in 1936, she would have had no idea what was really going on and most likely just did it so that Hitler wouldnt be angry.

[MizEdiesBoy]

yes. it's too late at night for me to look up the details, but she was looked upon as a nazi sympathizer. there is an excellent documentary that is shown periodically on public tv about that.

ok, here's the first reference on a google search that comments on that. there are probably better articles.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/gen/feature?page=history1936

Thanks for responding. She must have been a contradictory woman - to be a Nazi sympathizer and to have an affair with Joe Louis as well. THAT was big news in the black community in the 40s and 50s. I wonder what Adolf would have said about THAT....

[TashaKat]

I think I know this one, and yes ITA with you.
Things are not always what they may seem.
One of these days I'll write a book.

Don't you mean BOOKS and that's just from one rink!!

[skatepixie]

Thanks for responding. She must have been a contradictory woman - to be a Nazi sympathizer and to have an affair with Joe Louis as well. THAT was big news in the black community in the 40s and 50s. I wonder what Adolf would have said about THAT....

Hmmm...thats one Ive never heard. One never knows with rumors...

[MizEdiesBoy]

Hmmm...thats one Ive never heard. One never knows with rumors...

But this wasn't a rumor. Joe Louis mentioned it in his autobiography (he also did Lana Turner), and EBONY did a story on it. They could only meet at night because in the 1940's it simply wasn't possible for them to be seen together. They were very discreet. They had to be. It could have ruined both their careers. And it was not mentioned in print until after Sonia's death in 1969. But people just knew, especially Joe Louis' entourage, and no doubt Sonia's as well.

Most people probably don't know about it because it's more well-known about in the African-American community. As a rule, they have never been big skating fans. The Louis/Turner thing was considered much more interesting. The mainstream community would not want to deal with it. My grandparents and my mom told me about it when I was a teenager. Joe Louis was not known to be a liar, and EBONY is a very reputable magazine, so I don't think it is just a rumor.

[skatepixie]

Ok...I guess its true then. I still wouldnt bet the farm on it...

[MizEdiesBoy]

Ok...I guess its true then. I still wouldnt bet the farm on it...

I WOULD, and would probably get a couple of cows in the deal as well.