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MyKayla Skinner speaks out on controversial Olympic ice dance judging decisions

Published

3 hours ago

13 February 2026

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U.S. Olympic medal gymnast MyKayla Skinner spoke out against the judges who denied Madison Chock and Evan Bates gold in ice dance at the Winter Games this week.

Chock and Bates finished second to French rivals Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron after a controversial score by a French judge on the final routine.

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Mykayla Skinner of Team United States poses with the silver medal following the Women’s Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Aug. 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Skinner, a former athlete whose accolades were also determined by judges, said she is “sick” in the aftermath of the decision.

“I’m sick of athletes not getting what they worked so hard for and judges cheating,” Skinner told Fox News Digital.

Skinner is not alone.

Former U.S. champion gymnast Jennifer Sey also condemned the scoring that vaulted Beaudry and Cizeron over Chock and Bates, suggesting judges must be subject to more accountability.

“There has been corruption in Olympic level judged sports forever. In gymnastics, boxing and figure skating. There needs to be more careful selection of judges to vet for susceptibility to corruption, and more transparency in how scores are derived. Beyond that, corrupt judges need to be punished with hefty fines to discourage this cheating in the future,” Sey said.

Jennifer Sey founded XX-XY Athletics in March 2024. (Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a Winter Olympian who missed out on qualifying for Milan Cortina due to controversial rules weighed in as well.

Five-time skeleton U.S. Olympian Katie Uhlaender, who lost the chance to earn qualification after Team Canada withdrew athletes at a qualifier to reduce the amount of points the contest could offer, expressed her fondness for her fellow Americans in Chock and Bates.

“I’m so proud of Evan and Madison. I know how hard they fought for Gold in 2022, a fight that took years beyond the podium. They represented the United States well and deserved a moment on the podium at the Games as the Olympic Champions they are,” Uhlaender said.

US FIGURE SKATING STAR ALYSA LIU OPENS UP ON BEING TARGETED BY CHINESE SPYING OPERATION

“I know nothing about judged sports. I know they deserved to be on top of the podium in 2022, and that they gave the world and the United States the best they had. Go USA and thank you to them both for representing us so well.”

Skinner said she knew the “sacrifice” the athletes make to get to compete in the Olympics in the first place.

MyKayla Skinner of Team United States poses with the silver medal following the Women’s Vault Final on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Aug. 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

“I have so much respect for every athlete who competed, because I know firsthand how much sacrifice goes into preparing for the Olympics,” Skinner added. “But I do think there were performances from Team USA that deserved higher scores. When you dedicate your life to perfecting every detail, you expect judging to reflect that level of excellence.

“From my perspective as an Olympian, I saw routines that were clean, technically strong, and emotionally powerful. It’s hard not to feel like they were underscored. Our athletes showed gold-medal caliber performances, and I stand by that.”

Skinner added that the controversy was a bit more personal for her.

“This also hits close to home for me. At the 2016 Olympic Trials in gymnastics, I finished fourth in the all-around, and historically fourth and fifth place had been named to the team,” she said. “That year, the selection process didn’t follow what many expected. I learned firsthand that sometimes things don’t always feel fair in judged sports. But that’s exactly why transparency and consistency matter so much! Athletes deserve clarity and confidence that their work will be evaluated evenly.

“I’m incredibly proud of Team USA. Regardless of the medal color, they represented our country with heart.”

Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States compete during the ice dancing free skate in figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Chock and Bates were trailing the French couple by 0.46 of a point entering the free dance Wednesday night, and they were searching for their first ice dance Olympic medal with hopes that it would obviously be gold.

Their matador routine, dancing to a rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It, Black,” drew cheers from the crowd, and they finished with tears in their eyes.

They finished with 224.39 after notching a 134.67 score in their free dance.

Chock and Bates are two-time team gold winners after Sunday’s Team USA victory, but they had to watch one more routine to see if they could capture gold when Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron took the ice.

Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics

But the judges decided the French duo did enough to defeat the Americans in the end.

Beaudry and Cizeron scored a 135.64 in the free dance for a total of 225.82.

The judging has become a globally-discussed topic in recent days, with some arguing that the French duo should have been graded more harshly.

Chock suggested that she and Bates will consider appealing the scoring, in an interview with Access Hollywood.

“I suppose we would consider it. I think skating is such a subjective sport, but I do think that for fairness it is good when the judges are reviewed for their work. Not just after this competition but every competition to just make sure there’s a fair and even playing field for all athletes,” Chock said.

Bates has praised their supporters who are speaking out during the controversy.

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“It means a lot that people are voicing their opinions on our behalf,” Bates said. “The way that we skated and the way that we’ve approached chasing these goals hopefully has resonated with people at home even in our response. I think, hopefully, that too can reflect the Olympic spirit.”

The International Skating Union (ISU) has since defended the scoring.

“It is normal for there to be a range of scores given by different judges in any panel and a number of mechanisms are used to mitigate these variations,” the ISU said, adding it has “full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness.”

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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.

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Man United facing huge Michael Carrick appointment twist after rivals agree deal

Published

5 minutes ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Michael Carrick has thrived with Manchester United since stepping up as head coach on an interim basis in January, but the Reds could find it tricky to land him permanently come the end of the season

Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter

19:06, 13 Feb 2026

Tottenham Hotspur could challenge Manchester United for Michael Carrick’s signature at the end of the season, it is claimed. The 44-year-old has impressed at Old Trafford since stepping in as a short-term successor to Ruben Amorim last month.

To date, Carrick is unbeaten at the helm of the United first-team, thanks to convincing wins over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Spurs, as well as a 1-1 draw with West Ham on Tuesday evening. As a result of his flying form, there is speculation that United could opt to offer the head coach a permanent role this summer.

However, they could face competition from Spurs for Carrick’s signature, if recent reports are anything to go by. Thomas Frank was handed his walking papers from the club on Wednesday morning after a disastrous eight-month stint in north London.

After going eight Premier League matches without a win, leaving Tottenham languishing in 16th in the standings and facing a growing chance of relegation, the Spurs board decided on a change of direction.

While there was speculation that the club would appoint a permanent manager to take up tenure ahead of next weekend’s North London Derby, it now appears that the once dominant force are following in the footsteps of United.

Reports suggest that former Juventus boss, Igor Tudor, will arrive in the capital to steer the ship until season’s end on an interim basis, when Spurs will also consider their options going forward.

The Athletic also claim that the 47-year-old may not have the option to take up a permanent role this summer.

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Instead, TEAMtalk report that Spurs could eye up the prospect of securing Carrick’s services this summer, with further suggestions that the club considered taking a gamble with the former Middlesbrough manager ahead of their appointment of Frank.

It comes as a number of experienced names have been linked with taking up a role at United this summer, from Oliver Glasner and Gareth Southgate to the likes of Luis Enrique and Andoni Iraola.

Carrick, meanwhile, has also emerged as a candidate to extend his own stay at Old Trafford, dependent on how he fares over the next 12 matches. However, the Reds have been dealt a couple of hammer blows in terms of managers ruling themselves out of the running as of late.

Thomas Tuchel has decided to stay with the England national team for another two years, while Carlo Ancelotti is set to sign a new four-year deal with Brazil.

Roberto De Zerbi has also found himself linked with Spurs after leaving his post with Marseille the same day Frank was sacked. There’s no doubt that Carrick will not be focused on the outside noise, however, instead dedicating his full attention to securing the best-possible finish for United.

Up next for United is a trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium to take on Everton come Monday, February 23. Currently fourth in the Premier League standings and looking at a real possibility of securing Champions League football for 2026/27, Manchester United will look to hold their position while amping up the pressure on a top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

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Sports

Sarri Angry Over Missed Red Card in Lazio Coppa Italia Win

Published

20 minutes ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri has criticised the referee after his side beat Bologna on penalties in the Coppa Italia quarter-final.

Sarri said Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson should have been sent off for a foul on Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the first half.

Dele-Bashiru, who started the match and played the full game, was pulled back as he ran towards goal, but no red card was given.

“Much worse has happened to us,” Sarri said.

“This guy is at fault and he blows his whistle in other areas of the pitch, but not there. Because if he blows his whistle there, he should give a red card. But the foul is there.”

Bologna scored first through Santiago Castro, but Lazio equalised in the second half when Tijjani Noslin finished a cross from Dele-Bashiru.

The match ended 1-1 and went to penalties, where Lazio won the shootout to reach the semi-finals.

The victory also extended Lazio’s unbeaten run away from home to six matches.

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Sports

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois world title fight confirmed with date and venue

Published

34 minutes ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Fabio Wardley has booked his first heavyweight world title defence, a cracking match-up against Daniel Dubois.

The champion from Ipswich beat Joseph Parker last year to take the WBO interim belt and was upgraded to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate. The Ukrainian was coming off the back of a stoppage win over Dubois, who has been out of the ring since but will look to bounce back in the biggest way with this shot at Wardley.

The fight is fantastic news for fans, and Wardley should be commended for not opting for a lesser challenge. As well as being an all-British affair, the pair are two of the division’s most destructive punchers, with 40 knockouts between them. Following reports that both had signed, Queensberry Promotions has now made the news official and announced the fight for May 9 at the Co-op Live, Manchester.

𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 😤🔥
Power meets power when Fabio Wardley defends his WBO World Heavyweight Championship against Daniel Dubois 💥#WardleyDubois | May 9 | @Cooplive, Manchester | Live on ⁦@DAZNBoxing⁩ pic.twitter.com/glf0dcNgPE
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) February 13, 2026

Fans, analysts and fighters are split on who comes out on top, with many feeling Wardley’s momentum and grit can see him keep his undefeated record against ‘Dynamite’ Dubois, who has been stopped in all three of his defeats so far. The challenger, however, would be quick to remind us of an impressive run of wins against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua to become champion himself in 2024. He will be the the first truly elite puncher Wardley has faced.

This announcement only adds to what looks to be a standout year for boxing’s top division. It will follow Tyson Fury’s comeback – who may target the winner if he comes through – as well as a veteran’s affair between Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua. Throw in the continued rise of Moses Itauma and whatever Usyk decides to do, as well as Agit Kabayel’s title charge, and the heavyweight division is booming.

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Peseiro Says Lookman Chose Nigeria After England Snub

Published

48 minutes ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has said Ademola Lookman decided to play for Nigeria after he failed to get a call-up from England.

Lookman was born in London to Nigerian parents and was eligible to play for both countries. He represented England at youth level and won the 2017 U-20 World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament.

However, he switched his international allegiance to Nigeria in 2020 and made his senior debut in 2022.

Peseiro revealed that the winger was disappointed after England stopped calling him up.

“He was just a kid, but he always told me how sad he was because after winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 and reaching the Under-21s, England stopped calling him up,” Peseiro said.

“He didn’t understand it; he thought he had a future there, but he had to accept it.

So, since his parents were Nigerian, he accepted the call a few months before I arrived.”

The Portuguese coach added that Lookman struggled at first with Nigeria but improved after he became a regular starter.

“Although he had made his debut, he didn’t always play. I saw his potential, made him a consistent starter, and he exploded,” Peseiro said.

“He began to have fantastic seasons and was crucial in getting us to the Africa Cup of Nations final and in Atalanta winning the Europa League with his three goals.”

Lookman has become one of Nigeria’s key players, scoring several goals and assists for the Super Eagles. He recently joined Atletico Madrid and is expected to play an important role for the Spanish club.

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Can a 68-year-old legend beat Tiger Woods? We might soon find out

Published

1 hour ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Nothing says happy new year quite like the arrival of Bernhard Langer in a media center at a senior event in Florida, and there Langer was the other day, 68 years old and still very much at it, taking questions about the state of his game in the preamble to the Chubb Classic presented by Servpro at the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples, a two-hour cross-state drive from Langer’s home in Boca Raton.

I am not there this year but I’ve been there in the past and if you like your golf tournaments mellow and under control — well, let me just say this: the Chubb Classic presented by Servpro at the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples will never be confused for the 2025 Ryder Cup at the Black course at the Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.

The last question posed to Langer was a doozy, a classic example of a category we like to call Only in Golf.

Tiger Woods turned 50 and he may be competing with you this year. Do you see yourself trying to beat him?

Langer: ”I try to beat everybody. It doesn’t matter who comes out here. The goal is to win. If you want to win, you need to beat him. So yes, that would be the goal.

“But my goal is not to play against Tiger Woods. My goal is to play against the golf course and myself and shoot the lowest score and then see if anybody can match that. If Tiger Woods is better, so be it.

“I’m sure we’re going to have some good matches. I hope he comes out. I hope he’s healthy enough. Nobody knows. He won’t let us know until a few weeks before. Usually that’s how he works.

“But it would be a thrill to play against him again.

“We had a great time about a year and a half ago when we played the PNC Championship together on Sunday, when he played with Charlie, his son, and I had Jason, my son, and we spent a Sunday together. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed each other’s company.”

Three quick notes.

I. Langer, born and raised in German, speaks perfect, precise English without a wasted word.

II. Langer is far too gentlemanly to note that he and Jason defeated the father-and-son Woods team in a one-hole playoff.

III. It is conceivable that Langer and Woods could play in the same senior event and Langer could finish ahead of Woods, despite the 18-year age gap. But not likely.

For totally unscientific comparison, I looked at the 11 major events in which Woods and Langer played in the same fields since Langer turned 50, in the summer of 2007.

bernhard langer on a fairway at charles schwab cup — The secret to Bernhard Langer’s success boils down to 3 little words

By:

Michael Bamberger

For instance, in April 2008, Langer missed the cut at the Masters and Woods finished in a tie for second.

In 2018, Langer — at age 60! — had a T38 finish at Augusta and a T24 finish at the British Open. But Woods, on another of his many comeback journeys that year, went T32 and T6, respectively, at those same events.

Langer is 1-for-11 in this odd comparison. In 2020, he had a T29 finish at the Masters and Woods, as the defending winner, had a T38 finish, when he famously made a 10 on the par-3 12th hole on Sunday.

Could it happen? Could Langer finish ahead of Woods in (for the sake of argument) a 72-hole, walking-only senior major, the senior events he would be most likely to play? Of course. Will it happen? It would be fun to see.

In the meantime, two quick images that tell you something about these two World Golf Hall of Famers.

When Woods won the 2019 Masters, there was a congo line of players waiting to high-five, fist-bump and bro-hug the winner on his way to the scoring room. Langer was the last person Woods saw before ducking into the clubhouse, scorecard in hand. They shook hands in a manner Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer would have recognized.

When Langer made a putt to win the 2024 PNC to secure a father-son win Tiger and Charlie Woods, as best I can tell, said this to Langer: “Bernhard? You’re the best. You’re the best, dude. Awesome.”

Well, that was Tiger at a glorified exhibition. A U.S. Senior Open is a whole different thing.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com

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Manchester United’s leading head coach candidate is looking more obvious by the day

Published

1 hour ago

13 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Manchester United will look to appoint a permanent head coach this summer but their options are running out.

17:58, 13 Feb 2026

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is running out of friends fast. And he’s also running out of options when it comes to finding the next permanent manager of Manchester United.

Ratcliffe has had the kind of week that cannot come to an end soon enough. His cretinous comments claiming immigrants have colonised the UK have ostracised the billionaire who lives in Monaco from his own club.

To such an extent that United put out a statement in response to Ratcliffe’s remarks – and didn’t even bother to mention him. But once he has picked himself up from the bus United threw him under, Ratcliffe will discover his problems are mounting.

And we’re not talking about his reputation being in tatters, or the fact that he is facing an FA investigation into suggestions he’s brought the game into disrepute. Should he still be one of United’s co-owners this summer, and there are now serious doubts this will be the case in light of recent events, he has to announce a long-term replacement for the sacked Ruben Amorim.

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And some of the names on his shortlist can now have a red line struck through them. Thomas Tuchel was United’s preferred choice, but he has just signed a new contract to continue as England boss after the World Cup.

Should England fail in North America this summer, Tuchel could well be sacked and would be available again. But this is not expected to happen.

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Carlo Ancelotti is another target of United’s, but is poised to sign a new deal to continue as Brazil manager. Gareth Southgate, who still has admirers in the United boardroom, is not interested in the job.

Unai Emery has no intention of being persuaded to leave Aston Villa, while Oliver Glasner’s stock has fallen almost as fast in recent weeks as Ratcliffe’s has in this one. Luis Enrique has been spoken to, but is poised to extend his deal with Paris Saint-Germain instead.

Julian Nagelsmann, meanwhile, is under contract with Germany unit 2028. In short, all roads appear to be leading towards Michael Carrick.

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Through no fault of his own, the former United midfielder is now in pole position to get the job on a full-time basis. Not because he has gone five games unbeaten since becoming interim manager, but because his potential rivals for the job are all ruling themselves out, for different reasons. Carrick might just be the best choice anyway, considering the impact he has made in recent weeks.

But at this rate, he might also become the only choice.

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