Madison Chock and Evan Bates have responded to the judging controversy following their silver-medal finish in ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics

• Chock and Bates described their silver medal as “bittersweet,” expressing pride in what they delivered on the ice and gratitude for the long journey together after 15+ years competing as a team. 

• In interviews, Bates acknowledged the subjectivity inherent in judged sports, noting that they “felt like we skated a winning performance” and that figure skating’s scoring isn’t something they can control. 

• Chock has also reflected on the emotional roller coaster of the past couple of days — both the pride in their performances and the disappointment about the narrow margin by which they missed gold. 

The controversy centers on large discrepancies in scoring from one judge — particularly a French judge who placed the French duo significantly higher than other judges, contributing to a 1.43-point margin that kept Chock and Bates in second. 

• In some media interviews, Chock has suggested that greater transparency in judging could benefit the sport. She said it would be “helpful if it’s more understandable for viewers” to see clearer criteria and that judges should be reviewed or vetted to ensure fairness across competitions. The couple hasn’t directly criticized the French pair or personal circumstances surrounding them, instead focusing on the performance and the sport’s structure as a whole. 

• Chock commented that they might consider some form of review or appeal to prompt fairer oversight in judging, though she acknowledged it’s unlikely to change the actual results. The duo has emphasized that they’ve “left no stone unturned” in preparation and delivered performances they are proud of, regardless of outcome.