After a lengthy process marred by controversies, Team USA was finally granted an Olympic gold medal for a team skating event, marking a historic achievement two years after the Winter Games in Beijing.
The decision to award the medal to Team USA follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s announcement of a four-year ban imposed on Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva due to her banned substance use.
The revelation of Valieva’s ban prompted Team USA to share the news on social media, signaling a long-awaited victory for the American athletes. Valieva’s suspension, effective from December 2021 – when she failed the drug test preceding the Olympics – until 2025, entails the forfeiture of any accolades she obtained since late 2021.
Team USA wins Olympic gold (Credits: Axios)
Valieva’s case sparked considerable debate as she tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, yet was allowed to compete in the Beijing Games while the investigation was ongoing.
Despite her involvement, which contributed to the Russian Olympic Committee’s gold medal win in the team event, the International Olympic Committee opted against conducting a podium ceremony to honor the team’s achievement.
Team USA secured silver during the 2022 Winter Olympics, while Japan clinched the bronze medal. The U.S. Olympics and Paralympics Committee expressed satisfaction with the decision to suspend Valieva, describing it as a long-awaited resolution.
The committee commended the efforts of the Team USA athletes throughout the 2022 games, emphasizing the impending opportunity to celebrate their achievements alongside peers from across the globe.
Following the announcement of Valieva’s suspension, Team USA’s dream was realized as Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Nathan Chen, Madison Chock, Zachary Donohue, Brandon Frazier, Madison Hubbell, Alexa Knierim, and Vincent Zhou were officially declared the first U.S. Olympic figure skating team to secure gold in the history of the games.
This monumental achievement solidifies their place in Olympic history and is a testament to their unwavering dedication and perseverance.
