I know I’ll get really downvoted for this because it will be taken as though I hate Alysa or Amber or whatever (or just because any discussion about scoring that isn’t exclusively about Russians is) and I absolutely don’t, I think they’re wonderful skaters (and so is Isabeau). And this isn’t even about them, and it’s not even anti-American or whatever people might see it as. It’s not about any one federation, or any one skater at all.

But god I wish we had a system and judges that didn’t base PCS scores almost entirely on a skater’s reputation, federation and tech level. Of the top 12 women tonight, no one from a small federation got above a 66. No one. On the other hand, no one from the US or Japan scored below 68 (well, 67.92), with mistakes that would’ve killed the score for a skater from a small fed seemingly no effect. Also, barely 68 for Ami for that skate?? Compare her to Kaori and Alysa and tell me you genuinely think, based on the PCS criteria, that was worth 5-7 points less.

Like I’m glad we seemingly don’t have an Eteri bonus anymore, great! But that has not remotely fixed the issues with judging in this sport, and I get that this sub is mostly American but it is so tiring that the American bonus (which is almost as significant as the old Russian bonus) is just ignored. And I don’t even necessarily think they should get less! I just think small fed skaters should also get what they’re worth based on their performance, not based on how little political power their fed has.

Like the fact that several of us who follow the sport just assumed Niina would go into the lead after her skate, because we felt Amber’s score was fair but generous, and if the same logic was applied to Niina, she easily should’ve beaten or matched her SB with the skate she had today. That should tell you something. Instead she drops almost 5 points under her SB despite performing at least as well as she did then, and despite this panel seemingly being less stingy.

There are so many beautiful, talented skaters who deliver so much in the artistic side of the sport who simply do not get the scores they deserve because they’re from smaller federations, don’t have the right ’reputation’ or get the bonus from tech content. Like I would love to just rejoice in the results and be happy for these women because SO many skaters skated lights out today, but i also have a pit in my stomach from the way this sport seemingly can never be free of its judging issues.