The U.S figure skating team, which originally earned a silver medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, has been officially elevated to gold medalists. The U.S Figure Skating governing body announced in late July that the team would receive their gold medals during a special ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics -- more than two years after the competition. That ceremony was held on Wednesday.
"Over the past 2.5 years, these athletes have conducted themselves with dignity and humility in their fight for clean sport and a level playing field across all Olympic sports," U.S. Figure Skating CEO Tracy Marek wrote in a statement. "We are elated that Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim and Vincent Zhou will be rightfully celebrated as gold medalists in Paris, receiving the Olympic moment they were denied at Beijing 2022.
"In addition to being proud of these athletes, U.S. Figure Skating would like to thank the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for its steadfast support in this matter and the International Olympic Committee for its commitment to making this ceremony a reality."
After two and a half years, Team USA receives their gold medals from the 2022 Winter Olympic figure skating team event. 🥇
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2024
📺 USA Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/Ml7PYSmoLP
The Russian Olympic Committee originally claimed gold behind a strong team performance led by Kamila Valieva. However, just 24 hours after the event, it was revealed that Valieva tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance -- causing her and her teammates to forfeit the gold medals and paving the way for a two-year long investigation. In January, the Court of Arbitration for Sports ruled that Valieva was disqualified from the Olympics and banned until 2025. Shortly thereafter, it declared the United States as the rightful gold medalists.
The CAS also denied three appeals from the Russian Olympic Committee about the decision to disqualify Valieva. In a press release, the court wrote: "Following the hearing that took place on June 12, 2024, the Panel deliberated and concluded that the results of Ms. Valieva in the Olympic Figure Skating Team Event were correctly disqualified in the Challenged Decision, and that the ROC Skating Team could not be awarded the gold medal."
Aside from the United States' gold-medal finish, Japan took home silver and Russia was instead awarded bronze. However, Canada, which finished fourth in Beijing, has since filed an appeal for bronze medals to the CAS, and that case remains ongoing.
