Madison Chock, Evan Bates Consider Appealing Scores for Olympic Ice Dance

American figure skating pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates would consider appealing the score in the recent Olympic ice dance final that awarded them silver while French rivals were awarded gold.

Chock was asked if they would consider appealing in an interview with Access Hollywood.

“I suppose we would consider it. I think skating is such a subjective sport, but I think in fairness it’s good when the judges are reviewed for their work. Not just after this competition, but every competition to just make sure there’s a fair and level playing field for all athletes,” Chock said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist

“We did everything we could. We wouldn’t have changed a single thing about our performance – or any of our performances or how we approached the week. We’re super proud of the work we put in – we left no stone unturned so we can leave the Games feeling satisfied and accomplished about ourselves.”

The pair were looking to win gold, but came in second place to the French duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.

A French judge rated Beaudry and Cizeron higher than Chock and Bates, ultimately helping the French team win gold over the Americans. The rating has been the subject of controversy on social media, with some arguing that Chock and Bates should have rated higher.

Chock and Bates were behind French couple by 0.46 of a point entering the free dance on Wednesday night, looking for their first ice dance Olympic medal, with hopes that it would be gold, of course.

U.S. OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATERS TALK ABOUT JUDGING THAT DENIED THEM GOLD AMONG QUESTIONS WIDESPREAD

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)

Their matador routine, where they danced to a rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black”, drew cheers from the audience and they finished with tears in their eyes.

They finished with 224.39 after scoring 134.67 in their free dance.

Chock and Bates have won two team golds after Sunday’s Team USA win, but they had to watch one more routine to see if they could capture gold as Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron took the ice.

But the judges decided the French duo did enough to defeat the Americans in the end.

Beaudry and Cizeron scored 135.64 in the free dance for a total of 225.82.

Chock has since called for the evaluation of referees.

Shock told CBS News“It would “definitely be helpful if it’s more comprehensible to viewers, just to see more transparent judging and understand … what’s really going on.”

“I think it’s also important for the skaters that the umpires are scrutinized and reviewed to make sure they’re giving their best performance as well,” she continued, “because there’s a lot at stake for the skaters when they’re out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the umpires giving us their all as well, and for it to be a fair and level playing field.”

Bates told USA Today, “We felt like we put on our absolute best performance that we could have. That was our Olympic moment. It felt like a winning skate for us, and that’s what we’re going to hold on to.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP

Silver medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States skate with their medals after competing in the ice dancing free skate in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 11, 2026. (Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Bates also praised the fans who are speaking out in support of the American couple amid the controversy.

“It means a lot that people are voicing their opinions on our behalf,” Bates said. “The way we skated and the way we’ve approached chasing those goals has hopefully resonated with people back home, even in our response. I think hopefully that can reflect the Olympic spirit as well.”