Scandal Shaded Olympics of the Past
February 10th, 2006
The Olympics are supposed to be the purest form of competition. It's a chance for athletes to be r...(更多)
Scandal Shaded Olympics of the Past
February 10th, 2006
The Olympics are supposed to be the purest form of competition. It's a chance for athletes to be recognized for the name on the front of the jersey instead of the name on the back. But as Scott Haws told us, the Games are sometimes shaded with scandal.
Mention the words scandal or cheating in conjunction with the Olympics and you won't have a hard time finding examples, starting with the scandal that rocked the 2002 Games right here in Salt Lake City.
... ... When Jamie Sale and David Pelletier finished their final skate in the 2002 games, they were sure the gold was theirs. Unfortunately the judges didn't see it that way, and the disappointed duo had to settle for silver.
But allegations of misconduct by the judges, and finally a confession from a French judge lead to the Canadians and the Russians sharing the gold medal.
(Jon Jackson/"On Edge":)
"The French judge who confessed was only suspended for three years and now she's welcome to come back and judge again."
Utah native Jon Jackson was one of the judges in the 2002 Games. He testified at the skating scandal hearing and he even witnessed the confession by the French judge. So after Salt Lake City, Jackson set out on a crusade to clean up the sport he loved so much. Those efforts backfired and Jackson soon found himself on the outside looking in.
"My outcries and my outrage fell on deaf ears, and the international skating has now kicked me out of the sport."
But Jackson refused to remain silent. Since being kicked out of the ISU, he's written a book called "On Edge. Backroom Dealing, Cocktail Scheming, Triple Axels and How Top Skaters Get Screwed." It's a behind the scenes look at the world of skating through the eyes of someone who lived it both as a skater and as a judge. Someone who says despite his efforts, not much has changed since 2002 to the 2006 games in Torino.
"There were five judges who gave that Russian pair team first place wrongly. So, four of them will be judging again next week at the Italy games and I'll be watching from home."
"As long as that's tolerated within figure skating, then these scandals are going to continue to happen."
Despite Jackson's claims, the ISU (International Skating Union) says it has cleaned up and the sport may have changed since 2002, promising a clean game in Torino. Jackson meanwhile says he is looking forward to seeing the competition in Torino including showdown between Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cowen, and he says to watch out for Johnny Weir in the men's event.
... ...
