Top 10 Figure Skating Controversies & Scandals

Top 10 Figure Skating Controversies and Scandals

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Figure Skating Controversies and Scandals.

For this list, we’ll be looking at the most absurd, dramatic and baffling incidents in the figure skating world.

What’s the craziest figure skating scandal you’ve ever heard of? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!

#10: The Katarina Rule

Figure skating fashion is distinct, beautiful and sometimes a bit odd. However, some costumes have had such an impact that they actually inspired rule changes. In 1988, East German skater Katarina Witt wore an elaborate blue costume that ruffled quite a few feathers, and we’re not even counting the ones along its trim. Her outfit prompted the so-called “Katarina Rule,” which stated that female skaters must wear skirts that cover their hips and posterior in competition. The skirt stipulation was dropped in 2003, allowing for female skaters to wear trousers, but strict rules regarding costumes are still in place. In ice dancing, for example, skaters’ costumes cannot hide their body lines. Those gorgeous outfits have to follow quite a few rules!

#9: Plushenko's "Platinum Medal"

Quadruple jumps, or quads, are nearly supernatural in their execution, but they don’t always lead to first-place finishes. Evegni Plushenko learned that the hard way during the 2010 Olympics, and the Russian skater didn’t respond with as much grace as he displayed during his silver-winning performance. Although Plushenko landed a quadruple jump during his routine, he came in second to American skater Evan Lysacek, who didn’t include a quad in his performance. Plushenko momentarily stepped onto the first-place podium during the awards ceremony. His website later claimed that he won a “platinum” medal during the Vancouver games, but it was eventually removed. Plushenko may not have won gold or platinum, but he sure won in the pettiness contest.

#8: Gold Medal Petition

While most skaters show more grace than Plushenko did when they unexpectedly come in second, their fans will usually rush to their defense. South Korean skater Yuna Kim was highly favored to top the podium at the 2014 Olympics. However, figure skating is full of surprises, and Kim wound up coming in second to Adelina Sotnikova of Russia. Skating fans around the world were outraged at the results. More than two million people signed an online petition demanding an investigation into the judging decisions. Prominent figures in the skating community also publicly questioned the results. As we’ll further explore later on, the subjective nature of figure skating can often lead to controversies and plenty of upset fans.

#7: Surya Bonaly’s Backflip

Doing a backflip is hard. Figure skating is hard. Doing a backflip while skating is downright magical. While the move is always greeted by cheers during exhibition performances, it is actually illegal in international competition. During the 1998 Olympics, Surya Bonaly of France not only performed a backflip, but she landed on one blade in an attempt to avoid having points deducted. The judges docked her score anyway, and Bonaly turned her back on them at the conclusion of her routine and faced the cheering audience instead. Bonaly retired from competitive figure skating shortly after, and she remains the sole Olympic figure skater to ever stick the landing of a backflip on one blade.

#6: Madge Syers' Groundbreaking Competition

Nowadays, people of all gender identities are welcome to participate in figure skating competitions. However, that wasn’t always the case. In 1902, Madge Syers broke barriers by entering the World Figure Skating Championships, which technically had no rules against women competing. She won silver, but the ISU unfortunately voted to bar women from the event the following year. Syers continued to enter skating competitions, even winning gold two years in a row at the British Figure Skating Championships. The ISU finally voted to establish an international ladies’ event in 1905, and Syers dominated the field until her retirement from the sport after the 1908 Olympics.

#5: Oksana Domnina & Maxim Shabalin's Offensive Routine & Costumes

Unfortunately, there have been several questionable routines throughout competitive figure skating’s history, but this one is the most infamous. At the 2010 European Championships, Russian ice dancers Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin skated in bodysuits and face paint. Their routine was supposedly an interpretation of Aboriginal Australian dance, but it was more offensive than anything. Aboriginal Australian leaders, including Bev Manton, pointed out that the performance was inappropriate and inaccurate. The response prompted Domnina and Shabalin to alter their costumes for the 2010 Olympics. Despite changes to their attire, the dance routine unfortunately remained exactly the same.

#4: Team USA's Baffling Decision

While there are some clear-cut components of figure skating, many aspects of the sport are subjective. Leading up to the 2014 Olympics, fans believed it was obvious that Mirari Nagasu would compete in Sochi. After all, Nagasu placed third at the 2014 Nationals and placed fourth at the 2010 Olympics. However, when Team USA was announced, Nagasu was snubbed in favor of Ashley Wagner, who placed a distant fourth at Nationals. Although she had to watch the 2014 Games on television, Nagasu was selected for the 2018 team. She got the last laugh when she became the first American woman in history to land the triple Axel during the Olympics.

#3: Russia's Doping Scandals

After the 2014 Olympics, a state-sponsored doping program came to light, and the Russian flag and national anthem were subsequently banned from the games. Athletes competed independent of their country, but that didn’t put a stop to the controversy. At the 2022 Olympics, the Russian athletes came in first place during the team event, but the medal ceremony never happened. It was revealed that Kamila Valieva, who was favored to win the individual gold, had tested positive for performance-enhancing substances during a previous competition. Valieva was allowed to compete in the individual event, but she didn’t even reach the podium. Even more drama unfolded, with Alexandra Trusova having a meltdown over winning silver and Anna Shcherbakova being left alone after winning gold.

#2: French Judging Scandal

At the conclusion of the 2002 Olympics’ pairs event, it seemed as if the Canadian pair Jamie Salé and David Pelletier had the gold in the bag. However, when the judges announced their scores, Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia were deemed the winners. The ISU conducted an investigation into the decision. French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne revealed that she was forced by Didier Gailhaguet, the president of the French Federation of Ice Sports, to vote in favor of the Russian skaters. Le Gougne and Gailhaguet were both temporarily suspended by the ISU for their involvement in the incident. Thankfully, the awards ceremony was repeated later on, and both the Russian and Canadian teams took home gold medals.

#1: Nancy & Tonya

In an ideal world, Tonya Harding would be most well-known for being the first American woman to land the elusive triple Axel in competition. Sadly, this world is far from ideal, so Harding’s name is mostly associated with the most scandalous event in figure skating history. On January 6, 1994, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked and had to withdraw from Nationals. Harding won the competition, solidifying her spot on the Olympic team. In the weeks between Nationals and the Olympics, it was revealed that Kerrigan’s attacker was hired by Harding’s bodyguard and ex-husband. Both skaters competed at the Olympics, with Kerrigan finishing second (and making some catty comments about the winner) and Harding finishing eighth. Harding was later stripped of her 1994 Nationals title and banned from the U.S. Figure Skating Association for life.