Skate Canada wants voice heard in continued pursuit of 2022 Olympic bronze medal

High performance director Mike Slipchuk and other Skate Canada executives want clarity on why Canada remained in fourth place behind Russia in the 2022 Olympic team event after Monday's decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to disqualify Russian athlete Kamila Valieva for doping.

High performance director 'mystified' at recalculation of team event after Valieva DQ

Canadian female figure skater performing her routine at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Skate Canada wants the International Skating Union to explain why it hasn't credited Canadian skater Madeline Schizas, pictured, with one more point in each of the 2022 Olympic short and long programs for being moved to second spot from third after victorious Russian skater was disqualified on Monday. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/File)

Canada's fight for a 2022 Olympic figure skating bronze medal is far from over.

High performance director Mike Slipchuk and other Skate Canada executives want clarity on why Canada remained in fourth place behind Russia after Monday's decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to disqualify Russian athlete Kamila Valieva for doping at the Winter Games in Beijing.

Russia was stripped of the gold medal in the team event and dropped to bronze behind the United States and Japan. It lost a combined 20 points from Valieva's victories in the short and long programs and finished with 54, one point ahead of Canada. However, the International Skating Union neglected to add an extra point to the teams below Russia on Tuesday when it published the amended standings.

Under this scenario, Madeline Schizas of Oakville, Ont., should have had her point total raised by one in each of the programs for placing second instead of third following Valieva's disqualification, thus vaulting Canada into bronze-medal position.

On Wednesday morning, Slipchuk told Heather Hiscox of CBC News Network the ISU isn't following its rules. He noted while Schizas has been moved to second place, she is still being credited with third-place points and not the extra two to reflect her new standing.

"It's the difference of a medal. Russia still earned two points off a disqualification," Slipchuk said, with a wry smile. "With disqualifications, everybody moves up [a placement]. For some reason, [the ISU] chose not to do that this time.

"The rules of the rule book trump everything. How did this happen? Why has this happened? Everyone's a bit mystified how this has occurred. We're going to fight for what we feel is right."

Slipchuk pointed out the other athletes moved up one placement when Valieva was disqualified from her title win at the 2022 European championships.

The final decision on awarding medals is for the International Olympic Committee, which the ISU said was consulted before amending the results as the event organizer.

"The ISU is in close contact with the International Olympic Committee and the relevant ISU member federations in regard to the implementation of this decision," the governing body said Tuesday.

is currently gathering information and would proceed with "next steps" but didn't elaborate.

WATCH | Skate Canada's Mike Slipchuk wants clarity on 2022 Olympic medal decision:

Skate Canada to 'fight for what is right' in Olympic medal controversy

1 year ago
Duration 11:27
Skate Canada's high performance director Mike Slipchuk says they are considering all options, as they prepare to appeal the International Skating Union's awarding of medals, which kept Canada in fourth place in the 2022 Olympic team event, following the disqualification of Russia's Kamila Valieva in a doping case.

Canadians focused on Four Continents event

this week in Shanghai.

WATCH | Canada remains off Olympic team event podium after Valieva DQ:

No medal for Canada's 2022 Olympic team figure skaters despite Russian disqualification

1 year ago
Duration 1:58
Canada’s 2022 Olympic team figure skaters will not be bumped up to a bronze medal after the disqualification of Russian skater Kamila Valieva for doping. Russia’s team had enough points for third place without the points from Valieva’s skate.

iper Gilles and Paul Poirier were

With files from The Associated Press

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

Get up to speed on what's happening in sports. Delivered weekdays.

...

The next issue of The Buzzer will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in the Subscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.