Ice dancing judging has been under a lot of scrutiny lately. There is a good reason for this: the judging is fixed. The Russian, French and Czech judges have been block judging. They have given the Russian and French teams better than they deserve, and have given the Canadian team, Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz, lower marks then they deserve.
In the compulsories, Pasha Gishuk and Evgeny Platov made a noticeable mistake but still were placed ahead of Bourne and Kraatz, who tied for 5th with another Russian couple.
No one has a complaint with the dancing. The dancing is wonderful, but the judging needs to be changed, or ice dancing should leave the Olympics.
At the beginning of the Olympics, the judges take an oath that they will judge fairly. This oath is not being kept. The Olympic ideal, that if you are the best, you will win, is gone. It is sad, really.
What Shae-Lynn and Victor are doing, talking about the judging, is great. The more we talk, the more chance there is that something will be done. I hope something will be done before ice dance's reputation is ruined conpletely.
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