In a significant turn of events, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland confirmed on Monday night that the United States is set to receive the gold medal in the 2022 Olympic team figure skating competition. This decision comes following the suspension and disqualification of Russia’s Kamila Valieva earlier on Monday. The announcement marks the culmination of a nearly two-year-long saga, providing closure for the athletes who had been patiently awaiting their Olympic medals. However, details about when and where the medal ceremony will take place are yet to be determined.
The confirmation from the USOPC followed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) response to the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision on Valieva’s case. The IOC expressed its satisfaction with the clarity provided by the CAS ruling and welcomed the resolution, allowing the athletes from the team figure skating competition to finally receive their long-awaited medals. The IOC emphasized its intention to award the medals based on the established ranking, a process that will be overseen by the International Skating Union (ISU). The IOC plans to coordinate with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to organize a dignified Olympic medal ceremony.
The ISU, responsible for determining the definitive results of the competition, is expected to release a comprehensive statement regarding the implications of the CAS decision on the following day. The IOC’s decision to speak out before the ISU’s official statement remains unclear.
The recent developments come after 720 days of uncertainty, stemming from an incident on February 7, 2022, when Kamila Valieva, then 15, led Russia to the gold medal in the Olympic team event at the Beijing Winter Games. The United States secured the second position, followed by Japan in third, and Canada in fourth. However, the medal ceremony for the event was abruptly canceled the next day, throwing the results into disarray. Valieva was found to have tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine six weeks prior at the Russian championships. The CAS ruling dictated that Valieva’s four-year suspension would commence from the date of the test, December 25, 2021.
The resolution of this prolonged and complicated situation brings relief to the U.S. figure skating team and underscores the significance of the CAS decision in providing clarity and closure. As the athletes await the official medal ceremony, the focus now shifts to the ISU’s statement, which is expected to shed light on the implications of the decision and solidify the results of the competition. The IOC’s commitment to ensuring a dignified ceremony for the athletes reflects the importance placed on recognizing their achievements despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the event.