Saturday, February 16, 2002
Eisler: Decision won't change memory
By JENNIFER O'BRIEN -- London Free Press
It just wasn't as good as gold, said a local skating hero, reacting to an IOC decision to give a gold medal to Canadian figure skating pair Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.
"They got the gold now . . . but they'll always remember being on the podium in silver," Seaforth native Lloyd Eisler said by telephone from Salt Lake City, where he is working as an athlete service officer. "They never got to see the Canadian flag raised after the event, and that is such a big deal."
The controversy began Monday night when Russian skaters Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze were awarded a 5-4 decision over the Canadians at the free skate, surprising many observers.
After widespread condemnation of the decision, the International Skating Union suspended French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne, who said her federation pressured her to give the Russian pair the gold medal.
The move seemed intended to bring some credibility back to the Olympics, but it will take more than that, said a London-based Olympics expert yesterday.
"I think the credibility has already been taken away and if we accept this as credibility we are pretty gullible," said Kevin Wamsley, director of International Centre for Olympic Studies. "Canadians can be satisfied that the right thing was done, and the two athletes can be satisfied that they have their victory, but I wonder if that victory is tainted for everyone."
Wamsley said the hurried decision showed Olympic officials wanted to dull the bad publicity as quickly as possible.
"It's very political," he said. "We don't even know how far it goes."
It goes all the way down to the beginner levels, said a local figure skating coach.
"It happens at all levels, and that explains why Jamie and David handle everything so well," said Carol Moir of Ilderton, whose daughter Shari skates in dance at the senior level. "Every kid growing up through skating gets used to it. But this is so great for morale, because now they know something can be done."
Eisler, who with Isabelle Brasseur won the world pairs crown for Canada in 1993, said it could be a step in the right direction for the whole sport as well.
"At least the gold will set things straight on paper. And the ISU coming down so heavily will justify making some changes that can improve the image of our sport."
2002 Games Figure Skating Coverage
