Skating’s Close Call: Award Joint Medals

Re “Skating on Thin Ice Over Judging,” Feb. 13: It was disheartening to see that Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier’s thrilling Olympic pairs figure skating performance was not recognized as gold medal-worthy by the skating judges.

The public and the critics will always remember that the two skaters deserved the gold. However, it’s not likely that the International Skating Union or the Olympic committee will reverse the judging unless gross corruption is uncovered. Also, it would not be fair to take the gold medal away from the Russians, who did their best to give a winning performance. Let me therefore suggest the following:

It is high time that we recognize that sometimes there are sports performances where subjective input is present to such a degree that letting personal judging preference influence the medal order is simply not acceptable. Why not use this occasion to start a new Olympic trend: Have the Olympic committee declare that Sale and Pelletier skated such an outstanding performance that they also deserve a gold medal. And that since the Olympic Games are truly about performing one’s best, new rules will be enacted to account for performances that deserve to receive joint gold medals.

It will please everyone, and it will be just.

Ronny Barkay

Los Angeles

*

Public opinion is not judicial opinion. Your article highlights a power that does not exist. Public opinion can and should change rules only, not those who perform under them. In this latest sports controversy, even the skaters are irrelevant to questioning the judges’ decision. The only thing the public should judge is the rules, not the judges.

Lawrence R. Gordon

Santa Monica

*

Supreme Court judges do it.

Olympic Games judges do it.

Let’s do it.

Let’s make No. 2 No. 1.

Bob Bloomfield

Rolling Hills Estates